BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday sent a message of condolences to Nepali President Ram Chandra Poudel over a mudslide disaster that hit Nepal recently.

In his message, Xi noted that a severe mudslide disaster occurred recently at the Gyirong-Rasuwa border crossing between China and Nepal, causing heavy casualties, leaving people missing and resulting in property losses.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi expressed deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathies to the bereaved families, the injured and people in the disaster-stricken areas.

Xi noted that China is making every effort to search for and rescue missing persons, relocate and resettle affected people, provide prompt medical treatment to the injured, minimize casualties and prevent secondary disasters.

China and Nepal, Xi said, are connected by mountains and rivers and share a common destiny, adding that China is ready to actively assist Nepal in its rescue efforts and provide support and assistance to the best of its capability.

Xi also expressed his belief that both peoples will be able to work together to overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes as soon as possible.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent a message of condolences to Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah. ■

BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) — « Wherever I go on my overseas visits, what fascinates me the most are the civilizations created by people of different countries and ethnic groups, » Chinese President Xi Jinping once said.

Egypt, cradle of one of the world’s most ancient civilizations, has held a special appeal for Xi. « I marveled at the Nile, mother of the Egyptian civilization, and was amazed by the wisdom and strength of the Egyptian people, » Xi wrote in a signed article published in an Egyptian newspaper prior to his first state visit to Egypt in 2016.

A decade later, as Xi is set to embark on his second state visit to Egypt, the Nile will continue witnessing more remarkable stories of exchanges and mutual learning between the two ancient civilizations.

This photo taken on April 9, 2024 shows a view at the Luxor Temple in Luxor, Egypt. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

During the 2016 visit to Egypt, Xi traveled to Luxor, an ancient city nestled on the banks of the Nile widely described as one of the world’s largest open-air museums.

With a keen interest in different cultures and histories, Xi has made a point of visiting historical sites during overseas trips, from the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza in Mexico to the Acropolis Museum in Athens and the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram in India.

Under a clear night sky in Luxor, Xi and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi toured an ancient temple along its main avenue. As they walked, Xi and Sisi exchanged views on the distinctive features of their two ancient civilizations, recalling their long history of exchanges and mutual learning.

More than 2,000 years ago, China and Egypt were connected by the ancient Silk Road, along which not only porcelain and glassware, but also knowledge and ideas, flowed between the two civilizations.

These archaeological sites in Luxor, Xi said, are a concentrated reflection of ancient Egyptian civilization and provide a wealth of material for studying its history, culture, society and technological development.

Mamdouh Eldamaty, then Egyptian minister of antiquities who accompanied Xi on his tours of Luxor, said Xi showed a keen interest in ancient Egyptian civilization, with his remarks reflecting profound historical insight and strategic vision.

The archaeologist said he was deeply impressed by Xi’s broad knowledge, open-mindedness, strong appreciation for culture, and humble attitude toward learning.

At the iconic Luxor Temple, Xi and Sisi jointly witnessed the launch of the 2016 China-Egypt Culture Year, a landmark moment in bilateral cultural exchanges.

The event marked the first time that China had jointly held a Culture Year with an Arab country, opening a new chapter of cultural interactions between China, Egypt and the wider Arab world in the years that followed. ■

Un tribunal fédéral américain a condamné trois hommes reconnus coupables d’avoir participé à un réseau de soutien financier et logistique à des combattants séparatistes camerounais. Selon le ministère américain de la Justice, les fonds et équipements fournis devaient notamment servir à fabriquer et utiliser des engins explosifs improvisés au Cameroun.

Francis Chenyi Sr., 52 ans, Lah Nestor Langmi, 49 ans, et Claude Ngenevu Chi, 43 ans, ont été condamnés par un tribunal fédéral de Kansas City, dans le Missouri. Francis Chenyi et Lah Nestor Langmi écopent chacun de 180 mois de prison, soit 15 ans, suivis de trois ans de liberté surveillée. De son côté, Claude Ngenevu Chi a été condamné à 63 mois de prison, également suivis de trois ans de liberté surveillée.

D’après les éléments présentés par la justice américaine, les trois hommes ont contribué au financement et au soutien logistique de combattants séparatistes actifs dans les régions anglophones du Cameroun. Les fonds auraient notamment servi à l’acquisition de composants destinés à la fabrication d’engins explosifs improvisés (EEI), ainsi qu’à leur développement et à la formation à leur utilisation.

La justice américaine reproche également à Langmi d’avoir participé à la coordination d’opérations d’enlèvement. Parmi les faits évoqués figure l’enlèvement, par des séparatistes, du chef traditionnel Fonmbam Aforteka et du cardinal catholique Christian Tumi, après un affrontement avec les forces camerounaises. Selon les documents judiciaires, Chenyi aurait contribué au financement de cette opération.

Par ailleurs, la justice indique que les accusés auraient coordonné des transferts de fonds depuis les États-Unis vers le Cameroun et participé à des projets visant des attaques à l’aide d’explosifs, notamment autour de plusieurs villes du Nord-Ouest et à proximité du stade de la Coupe d’Afrique des Nations 2021.

Ce n’est pas pour la première fois que la justice américaine condamne des citoyens camerounais pour leur soutien aux séparatistes dans la crise qui secoue les régions du Nord-Ouest et du Sud-Ouest du Cameroun depuis plusieurs années.