Latest news with #62ndAfricaDay
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia regards Africa as continent of future, strategic partner
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia sees Africa as a continent of the future, a strategic partner, and a rising hub of global growth and inspiration, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin said. Speaking at the 62nd Africa Day celebration reception, he said over the decades, Malaysia's ties with African nations have steadily strengthened through trade, investment, education, and cultural exchanges. He reaffirmed Malaysia's solidarity with Africa in advancing constructive, inclusive, and practical efforts to address historical legacies and promote a more just and equitable international order. 'As ASEAN Chair this year, Malaysia recognises the vast potential for enhanced cooperation with Africa—not only bilaterally, but also through interregional platforms. 'As regional organisations with shared principles of peace, sustainable development, and inclusivity, the potential of an ASEAN-AU (African Union) future collaboration offers fertile ground for mutual growth and capacity building,' he said. In the education sector, Mohamad said Malaysia's higher learning institutions have welcomed more than 16,800 African students as of March this year. Under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP), the country has also successfully hosted 10,343 participants from Africa. This, coupled with the high number of African tourists visiting Malaysia—reportedly reaching 167,000 in 2024—reflects the vibrancy and deepening of people-to-people connections, he added. Total bilateral trade between Malaysia and Africa grew steadily to reach US$14.41 billion in 2024. For the first quarter of 2025 alone, trade has already reached US$2.19 billion—indicating continued growth and strong potential to surpass last year's total, he said. Meanwhile, the Dean of African Heads of Mission who is also the High Commissioner of Namibia to Malaysia, Herman Pule Diamonds said Africa is the next growth frontier, boasting innovative financing solutions to strategic responses to international market volatility, as occasioned by the onset of the current tariff wars. 'Africa's continued momentum in its efforts at pioneering food security is there for everyone to see. As the saying goes, ASEAN, you will never walk in solitude, if you walk with Africa,' he said. The Africa Day is celebrated by 19 missions in Malaysia which include Algeria, Egypt, Estwatini, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe The Africa Day is an annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity formed on May 25 1963. It was later transformed into the African Union on July 9 2002. This year the theme is 'The Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Repatriations.' The occasion is dedicated towards celebrating Africa's achievements and opportunities while reflecting on the challenges and solutions to pertinent issues, including the attainment of peace, security and development of the continent.
Herald Malaysia
27-05-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Pope: May every baptized Christian feel called to be a sign of hope in our world
As pilgrims and representatives of the African continent celebrate Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo XIV makes a surprise visit and invites everyone to live our faith as a sign of hope in our world. May 27, 2025 Pope Leo XIV takes a group photo with those who attended the Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on May 26, 2025 By Devin WatkinsMass was celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica on Monday afternoon for Ambassadors of African nations who are accredited to the Holy See, along with several people taking part in the Jubilee pilgrimage. At the end of the Mass, which came a day after the 62nd Africa Day, Pope Leo XIV made an unannounced appearance to greet the delegations and offer his encouragement. In his off-the-cuff remarks, spoken in English, the Pope said the 2025 Holy Year 'inspires us all and invites us all to look for hope, but also to be signs of hope.' 'How important it is that each and every baptized person feel himself or herself called by God to be a sign of hope in the world today,' added the Pope. Faith gives Christians strength, he continued, noting that our faith enables us 'to see the light of Jesus Christ in our lives and to understand how important it is to live our faith, not only on Sundays, not only during a pilgrimage, but each and every day'. Pope Leo said faith allows us to be 'filled with the hope that only Jesus Christ can give us.' He expressed his hopes that 'all of us together will continue to walk united as brothers and sisters to praise our God, to recognize that everything we have and everything we are is a gift from God, and to place those gifts at the service of others.' The Pope then thanked the Ambassadors and pilgrims for living their own faith in Jesus Christ. He said the group was 'well accompanied' by Cardinal Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences; Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect Emeritus of the (then-) Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; and Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization. In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV invited everyone to join his prayer for the group: 'Thank you, Lord Jesus, and may your name be praised.'--Vatican News
