The "African Partners" media campaign organized by China Media Group (CMG) will promote China-Africa media exchanges and deepen bilateral practical cooperation, said presidents of African countries.
The event, served as a supporting activity for the 2024 Summit of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), is aimed to deepen media exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa, while enhancing cultural exchange and mutual learning in the digital era.
Several African presidents also expressed their desire to strengthen media exchanges between China and Africa and deepen practical cooperation via video messages at the event.
"Because China is a friend of Africa. I support the China Media Group conference summit in Beijing. I am sending our young people, I want them to be involved. You know, there is nothing I don't know about China, and they know us also, but I want the young people to link up with you young people," said Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
"The China Media Group has hosted this cultural exchange event for the summit. I wish it a great success. I believe it will become an important fulcrum for cultural exchanges between Africa and China," said Faustin-Archange Touadera, President of the Central African Republic.
"Seychelles and China is a long standing relationship, it's the only way to make good relations survive and be able to sustain them. It's only people to people. I am looking forward to being in Beijing for the summit, and I look forward to seeing very good relations between China and Seychelles continue to grow," said Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan.
The 2024 Summit of the FOCAC will be held in Beijing from Sept 4 to 6 with the theme of "Joining hands to advance modernization and build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future."
African presidents express best wishes to 2024 FOCAC supporting media event
African presidents express best wishes to 2024 FOCAC supporting media event
African presidents express best wishes to 2024 FOCAC supporting media event
African presidents express best wishes to 2024 FOCAC supporting media event
Many Singaporeans support raising the re-employment age, partly to stay busy and active in retirement, and to help address demographic challenges in the workforce.
Like many other Asian countries, Singapore is grappling with a rapidly aging population. The government predicts that by 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 or older, up from one in 10 two decades ago.
A survey on retirement and employment conducted last year in the country found broad support for raising the national retirement age, with about 88 percent of those aged 50 and above in favor.
Some supported increasing the retirement age because continuing to do what they love, rather than retiring, keeps them feeling youthful and fulfilled.
When Nancy Hor, a retired IT operations manager, left her job five years ago, she wasn't sure how to fill her time.
"I'm a workaholic. At the very first stage after I retired, I felt I could not find balance," she said.
Hor, now 70, said it took her some time to adjust. In her spare time, she stays busy line dancing and spending time with her family.
But she said that if she had had the choice, she would have liked to stay employed a little longer.
"I think it's good for the elderly that even they have some job to do, and keep them busy," said Hor.
In March, authorities announced plans to raise the retirement age to 64 and the re-employment age to 69 by 2026.
Singapore's Minister of State for Manpower, Gan Siow Huang, said the changes to the rules protect senior workers from dismissal due to age-related issues before they reach the statutory retirement age. Employers are also required to offer re-employment to eligible workers until they reach the statutory re-employment age limit.
This follows a similar move made two years ago to raise the retirement and re-employment ages to 63 and 68, respectively. The city-state is also aiming for a retirement age of 65 and a re-employment age of 70 by 2030.
"That is to reduce the impact on businesses, so it gives time for businesses to adapt their policy. This gradual increase in retirement age basically provides a framework for individuals like myself, who want to continue to be gainfully employed," said Patrick Chang, a retirement planning specialist and the author of the A to Z guide to retirement planning.
Chang said that businesses will need to make adjustments to accommodate the changes, including offering retraining for senior workers.
He noted that the changes won't impact those who still wish to retire earlier, but given Singapore's demographic challenges, the country cannot afford to remain idle.
"If we don't do it now, the social cost could be high. We cannot wait until the time when we need it today, and then we get something done. It will probably be a bit too late, and the cost of getting to that solution will be higher," said Chang.
Many Singaporeans support raising retirement, re-employment ages
