President of Equatorial Guinea arrives in Beijing for FOCAC summit

President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo arrived in Beijing on Sunday evening to attend the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which will be held in the Chinese capital from Sept 4 to 6.

The visit marks President Obiang's second visit to the country this year after he paid a state visit to China three months ago.

Over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Equatorial Guinea, the two countries have treated each other as equals and provided mutual support.

China is the largest trading partner and engineering contractor for Equatorial Guinea.

Within the frameworks of the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the FOCAC, the two countries have achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation, significantly improving the living standards of the people of Equatorial Guinea.

The two countries have constantly deepened the exchange and cooperation in culture, education and public health among other sectors.

President Obiang has visited China 11 times in the past, and during his state visit in May 2024, the two heads of state announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

Many African leaders, including Chairman of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, will lead delegations to the summit.

President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the summit on Sept 5.

The theme of the summit is "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future."

Following the 2006 FOCAC Beijing Summit, the 2015 FOCAC Johannesburg Summit and the 2018 FOCAC Beijing Summit, the upcoming summit is another happy reunion of the friendly family of China and Africa. It is also the largest diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years and attended by most foreign leaders.

President of Equatorial Guinea arrives in Beijing for FOCAC summit

President of Equatorial Guinea arrives in Beijing for FOCAC summit

President of Equatorial Guinea arrives in Beijing for FOCAC summit

President of Equatorial Guinea arrives in Beijing for FOCAC summit

President of Equatorial Guinea arrives in Beijing for FOCAC summit

President of Equatorial Guinea arrives in Beijing for FOCAC summit

The ongoing Israeli offensives against the Gaza Strip have killed 41,182 Palestinians and injured another 95,200, according to data released by the Gaza-based health authorities on Saturday.

In the past 48 hours alone, the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza have resulted in 64 deaths and 155 injuries, the health authorities added.

In the early hours of Saturday, an Israeli warplane struck a residential house in the al-Tuffah neighborhood, east of Gaza City, according to the Palestinian civil defense authorities.

The airstrike killed at least 11 Palestinians, including several women and children, the authorities said.

A statement issued by the Israeli military said that the airstrike targeted a Hamas commander.

The Israeli military also launched two bombings near schools sheltering displaced people - one in the northwestern part of Gaza City and another in southeastern Gaza City - resulting in 10 deaths.

However, the Israeli military has only acknowledged the latter strike, claiming that several Hamas militants were hiding in the school.

According to local sources and eyewitnesses, many people were killed in an Israeli shelling of a tent housing displaced people in the al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis City in the southern Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army has not yet commented on these incidents.

On Saturday, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued an evacuation order via social media after two rockets were fired from Gaza towards the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon.

In his evacuation order, Adraee called on Palestinians in parts of Beit Lahia, a northern city near the Gaza-Israel border, to evacuate, saying that the designated area is "currently considered a dangerous combat zone."

Also on Saturday, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning Israel's evacuation of Palestinians from the northern Gaza Strip as a dangerous act.

The ministry claimed that Israel's actions are a prelude to the annexation of Gaza's territory and establishment of Israeli settlements.

Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 41,182