TPA reporter

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Cyril Ramaphosa who was reelected as President of South Africa on June 14.

In his message, Xi Jinping noted that China and South Africa have profound political mutual trust and fruitful practical cooperation in various fields, which is a model of solidarity and cooperation among developing countries and the Global South.

Xi Jinping said that during his fourth state visit to South Africa in August last year, he and Ramaphosa reached important consensus on a wide range of issues, marking a new chapter in building a high-level China-South Africa community with a shared future.

Xi Jinping also said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-South Africa relations and stands ready to work with Ramaphosa to elevate the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level and jointly contribute to world peace, stability, and prosperity.

China expresses condolences over death of Malawi’s vice president

China deeply mourns the tragic death of Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima and other victims in a recent plane crash, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on June 12.

Spokesperson Lin Jian conveyed China’s condolences to relatives of the victims at a regular press briefing.

The vice president and nine other individuals, who were on board a military aircraft, have been confirmed dead after the plane went missing in the morning of June 10, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said on June 11.

Lin Jian said that China expresses deep condolences over the tragic death of Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima and other victims and extends sincere sympathies to their bereft families.

China and Malawi are sincere and friendly partners for development. At this difficult time, the Chinese government and people stand firmly with the government and people of Malawi and believe that Malawi will surely tide over the difficulties and walk out of grief under the leadership of President Lazarus Chakwera, the spokesperson said.

China-Europe freight trains report record high transport volume in May

China-Europe freight train services recorded the highest monthly transport volume in May, according to the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway).

The number of China-Europe freight train services in May increased by 14 percent year on year to 1,724 trips, while cargo transport totaled about 186,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of goods, up 13 percent from a year ago.

The company said the transport volume in May was the highest monthly record in history.

Since the start of the year, China Railway has accelerated the construction of a modern railway logistics system, carefully organized cargo transportation, and continued to improve the railway system’s freight transport capacity and service quality.

Data from the company also showed that in May, the nation’s railways transported 337 million tonnes of goods, up 2.8 percent year on year.

According to China Railway, 6,184 China-Europe freight trains were operated from January to April, delivering 675, 000 TEUs of goods, accounting for a year-on-year increase of 10 percent and 11 percent, respectively.

Between January and April, five China-Europe freight trains with full timetables began steady weekly service between Xi’an and Duisburg, Germany, and Chengdu and Lodz, Poland.

This expansion, along with 16 additional overseas return points, strengthened China-Europe freight options to meet the diverse needs of global customers.

(C) Chinese Newsletter, Botswana Embassy