Evaristus M. Irandu, full professor, Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya

The new look China Daily Global Edition newspaper is an innovative and ingenious way of informing an increasingly enlightened and information hungry global audience. The structure of the new edition is not only appealing but presents comprehensive coverage of topical issues of interest to a much larger audience than previously. This facelift was long overdue and is much in keeping with the information age. The management and editorial board of the newspaper should be applauded for this great effort. The paper will certainly be a must-read globally.

Minister Wang’s speech echoes President Xi’s New Year speech in many respects. The minister has reiterated the president’s unequivocal declarations that gone are the days of China’s closed door policy and isolationism. Both have emphasized that as a global superpower, China has enormous diplomatic responsibility of ensuring world peace is maintained. The minister takes cognizance of the fact that without global peace, China cannot realize the dreams of the founding fathers of the modern Peoples’ Republic of China established about 70 years ago. The minister was categorical that as a member of the global community China is obligated to honor and respect multilateral agreements, a prerequisite for win-win cooperation with all other nations of the world. However, he also stressed that his country will not subordinate its legitimate interests to anyone.

Dr Henry Kibet Rotich, Kenyan lifelong reader of China Daily

The mention of China Daily brings to fore my tantalizing memories of my first years in China. So fresh that I can remember when I landed in Beijing in 1998 September. I was totally illiterate for the first time. I could not read, write, speak since everything was in Chinese and it was my first encounter with Chinese language. My first day in class was a "daymare" if such word does exist. I kept looking at the teacher talking and writing strange things on the board for the better part of the week.

A few years later China Daily was introduced and published in English. I used to buy each time to read news articles and also learn some Chinese. It opened up my understanding of China and I remember the stack of China Daily papers that I kept in my room. It was a treasure to me. I used to encourage my Chinese friends to read to improve their English language skills too. Why do I believe the launch of China Daily Global Edition will be a success?

When I was on plane from Nairobi to France enroute to China I was with a group of Kenyan going to USA and Europe they were wondering why on earth I was going to China. One of them gave me her email so that I could write to her what is in China because then not many people knew much about China.

China Daily is an objective newspaper that gives a balanced view of issues globally. In Kenya I still read this paper because I also get good information which sometimes is overlooked in other media outlets. I look forward to finding China Daily in every corner of the world so that the global citizens can benefits in the opening up of China and demystify negative perception that is sometimes driven by ignorance of some outlets.