Afghanistan

UNAMA Calls for Climate Change in Afghanistan to Be Addressed: Tolo News

As the UN climate change summit began in Egypt on Sunday, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) called for urgent global cooperation to stop the destructive effects of climate changes in Afghanistan.“The Afghan people stand on the precipice of devastating climate projections. As COP27 opens today, the UN in Afghanistan calls for urgent collective action to halt the destructive impact of the altering climate in the country that is one of the least prepared against climate shocks but is ranked the sixth most affected in the world to climate-related threats,” UNAMA report reads. Click here to read…

Islamic Emirate: Moscow Format Should Have Kabul Delegate: Tolo News

In response to TASS news agency’s reporting that Kabul would be absent from the “Moscow Format” meeting on Afghanistan which will take place in Moscow in mid-November, the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Emirate said that this meeting would be incomplete without a representative from the current government. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

PM Hasina: Bangladesh an ideal place for investment: Dhaka Tribune

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said many renowned companies from around the world are setting up their factories in the economic zones of Bangladesh. “Bangladesh has emerged as an ideal place for investment with a favourable investment climate. We are building 100 Special Economic Zones across the country with all amenities available. Many of the world’s famous companies are setting up their factories in these zones,” she said. Click here to read…

IMF team attends BERC presentation on setting power, gas tariffs: Dhaka Tribune

The visiting team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been keen to know how the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) sets power and gas tariffs. A four-member IMF delegation, led by Rahul Anand, head of its Asia and Pacific Division, has been in Bangladesh since October 26 to discuss the government’s request for a $4.5 billion loan and held a series of meetings with its different departments. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Sagar: Indian Army personnel, 350 trainees from Bhutan, Sri Lanka visit ICCC – Free Press Journal

India Army personnel, along with the 350 trainee soldiers from Bhutan and Sri Lanka, visited the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) set up by Sagar Smart City Limited on Friday to learn more about monitoring of administrative services. Click here to read…

Revival of a traditional art form – Kuensel Online

The exhibition by Rinzin Dorji and Penjor Dorji includes a piece that is 100 percent made in Bhutan, using nettle canvas and mineral paint. The event was organised to showcase works of art with the use of natural pigments – organic and mineral-based. The Executive Director of RTA, Rinzin Ongmo Dorji said that although RTA’s main mandate is to promote the traditional art form of weaving, the organisation also works towards promoting the other traditional crafts in the country. Click here to read…

Maldives

Tourism occupancy averages at 58.8 percent – Avas

According to the MMA’s October data, the occupancy rate stood at 58.8 percent this year, up 6.6 percent compared to the same period last year. While tourism occupancy peaked in February this year, standing at 72.7 percent, it stood at 70.1 percent earlier in January. According to MMA statistics, the number of flights to the Maldives is also increasing. The number of international flights arriving in the Maldives reached 11,070 as of September. There were 8,698 flights during the same period last year. Click here to read…

Goods worth MVR 39 bln imported thus far this year – Avas

The Maldives’ imports from January to September this year stood at MVR 39 billion. According to the central bank, Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) data, while goods worth MVR 39 billion have been imported thus far this year, imports stood at MVR 27 billion during the same period last year. This year’s figures are up by MVR 12 billion compared to 2021. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Australia under pressure to sanction Myanmar military after Amnesty

International report and leaked ANZ Bank transactions – ABCNet

The Australian government is under pressure to impose sanctions on Myanmar’s military junta and activists are calling on ANZ Bank to reconsider its dealings in the South-East Asian nation amid new revelations about jet fuel supply chains and transactions. An Amnesty International report released on Thursday called on the international community to “urgently prevent shipments of aviation fuel from reaching the Myanmar military”. Click here to read…

Crime Surges Under Myanmar Junta as Rule of Law Crumbles – The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s citizens have witnessed surging crime in their neighborhoods since the military coup last year, as law enforcement deteriorates and the regime is unable to run the country properly. The country’s business hub, Yangon, is no exception. Click here to read…

Myanmar to top Asean summit agenda as G20 and Apec draw big powers to region – SCMP

Southeast Asia’s territorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea are likely to take a back seat when officials gather this week amid growing violence in military-ruled Myanmar and heightened Sino-US tensions, analysts have said. Top diplomats from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are set to convene in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh for an annual summit, which is also expected to draw world leaders to the region. The meeting often takes centre stage in Southeast Asia’s year-end diplomatic bustle but this time, it would wrestle for attention with other high-profile forums, including the G20 and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summits in Bali and Bangkok, respectively. Click here to read…

Nepal

Hamro Nepali Party aims to emerge as an alternative force – Khabar Hub

The Hamro Nepali Party has made public its election commitment paper for, aiming at establishing itself as an alternative political force. At a program organized in Lalitpur on Sunday, the party said time has come to break the traditional standard of Nepali politics. The party launching ‘stick campaign’ said its political philosophy and principle would be ‘Nepal-ism’. The party has shared the national programme of constructing seven ring roads linking mountain, hill and Tarai regions in each province. The commitment document also stated that long term plan would be made for the development of health, education, agriculture and tourism. Click here to read…

Climate shocks add risks to Nepal’s power projects – Kathmandu Post

People’s Hydropower Company Limited had planned on completing the 54MW Super Dordi Hydropower Project B in 2021 before the landslide debris brought by the Dordi stream in Lamjung damaged the project’s dam in the monsoon last year. “We had completed 95 percent of the dam-related work, and the project’s overall physical progress was over 70 percent when the massive debris brought by floods damaged the intake,” said Keshav Bahadur Rayamajhi, managing director of People’s Hydropower Limited. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Imran endorses PM-suggested SC probe panel: Dawn

The PTI’s long march, which came to a standstill after the assassination attempt on Imran Khan in Wazirabad, will resume its journey on Tuesday (tomorrow) from the same place where the party chairman was injured in the gun attack. Click here to read…

PM Shehbaz arrives in Egypt to attend climate change summit: Dawn

PM Shehbaz was received at the international airport of Sharm El Sheikh by Egypt’s senior officials and the officers of the Pakistani embassy. The prime minister was accompanied by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, cabinet members and other senior officials. Click here to read…

Pak-China ties: challenges & avenues: The Express Tribune

In a 47-point communique, both sides have brought up all issues of mutual interest worthy of in-depth analysis. In this limited space, I will address four points, particularly on the socioeconomic front. According to the numbers available publicly, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has already brought $46 billion worth of capital to Pakistan including concessionary loans, commercial debt and investment with state guarantees. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

President meets UN Secretary General: Daily Mirror

President Ranil Wickremesinghe met the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres in Egypt, Cairo where he briefed the Secretary-General on the Government’s plans on the National Environmental Policy.
The Secretary General recalled memories of his first visit to Sri Lanka in 1978, President Media Division (PMD) said. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

US Sanctions Hindering Govt Services: Muttaqi: Tolo News

The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi said that the US-imposed sanctions on Afghanistan have hindered the activity of the current Afghan government. Speaking at the Tashkent conference held on the Afghan situation, Muttaqi called the decades-long war and US sanctions as the main reasons for the poverty in Afghanistan. Click here to read…

Islamic Emirate Leader Bans ‘Unproven Allegations’ Against Members: Tolo News

A statement of the Islamic Emirate leader, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, said allegations against officials of the Islamic Emirate that lack proof are forbidden. The statement, issued by Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, said several Islamic Hadiths suggest that unproven allegations are considered lies and are worthy of punishment. Click here to read…

With ‘Third Generation of Afghan Children Born in Exile’; Afghanistan Becomes the Third-Largest Displaced Population: The Khaama Press

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) report, Afghanistan has the third-largest refugee population and the region’s largest displaced population after the Taliban took control, with 2.7 million refugees scattered across 98 countries. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

External debt servicing: Payment to peak at $5.15b in 2030- The Daily Star

Bangladesh’s foreign loan servicing burden will peak in fiscal 2029-30 with repayment of $5.15 billion, which experts deem to be very much within the safe territory — quelling fears that the country might become the next emerging economy after Sri Lanka and Pakistan to run into external debt distress. Click here to read…

No fertiliser crisis despite 2 plants’ closure- The Daily Star

Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque yesterday said there would be no fertiliser crisis in the country before the next boro season despite the closure of two plants amid gas shortage. Click here to read…

Govt formally seeks $4.5b from IMF- The Daily Star

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has sent in a formal request to the IMF for a $4.5 billion loan, putting to bed the speculations on whether the country would be seeking the support from the Washington-based multilateral lender at all. Click here to read…

Maldives

First Couple observes military parade held to commemorate Independence Day – Raajje

The First Couple of Maldives have observed the special parade and procession showcased by the Maldives National Defence Force to commemorate the Maldives’ 57th Anniversary of Independence. Click here to read…

RSF seeks revision of Maldives law forcing journalists to reveal sources – RSF

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has joined nine other human rights organisations in calling on the government of the Maldives to repeal or amend a provision forcing journalists to reveal their sources. Included in a reform of the Evidence Act, this measure was ratified by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on 18 July. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Ethnic Armed Organisations Condemn Myanmar junta executions – Mizzima

On Monday 25 July Ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) condemned the Myanmar junta’s execution of four men, including prominent democracy activists Phyo Zeya Thaw and Kyaw Min Yu (Ko Jimmy) over the weekend. Click here to read…

‘Deserved Many Death Sentences’: Myanmar’s Military on Execution of 4 Activists’ The Quint

A day after Myanmar’s military junta revealed that it had executed four pro-democracy activists accused of allegedly assisting in carrying out “terror acts,” a military spokesperson on Tuesday, 26 July, said that the four activists “deserved many death sentences,” AFP reported. Click here to read…

Myanmar Military’s Long History of Executing its Enemies – The Irrawaddy

The hangings of National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmaker Ko Phyo Zeya Thaw, pro-democracy veteran Kyaw Min Yu, widely known as ‘Ko Jimmy’, Ko Hla Myo Aung and Ko Aung Thura Zaw have caused outrage around the world, and clearly show that it is a folly to believe that any kind of dialogue with the thugs in power in Naypyitaw is possible or would be the way forward. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal-Bangladesh meeting on power cooperation likely next month- The Kathmandu Post

Two sides to discuss power trade and attracting Bangladeshi investment in energy sector. Click here to read…

International rights groups call for amendment to Nepal’s transitional justice bill- The Kathmandu Post

New draft falls short of promised reforms to protect victims’ rights, the rights organisations say. Click here to read…

Nepal Police submits report on Finance Ministry hard drive to probe panel- The Kathmandu Post

UML members in the panel want to study Janardan Sharma’s phone call details, but ruling party members say that would violate privacy rights. Click here to read…

Everything you need to know about new amendment to the Citizenship Act- The Kathmandu Post

Amendment opens the door for thousands of children of parents who got citizenship by birth to acquire citizenship by descent; non-resident Nepalis are also eligible for citizenship. Click here to read…

Editorial: An expected change in Punjab: Dawn

In its widely anticipated judgement on a petition filed by Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Bandial ordered the immediate notification of the success of the petitioner in the election for chief minister, paving the way for a change in the country’s most populous province and political heartland. Click here to read…

Nawaz Sharif wants early elections: The News

Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif wants early general elections and has discussed with the senior party leadership the option of quitting the government in the Centre, credible sources have confirmed. Click here to read…

Flood alert issued for Punjab: The Express Tribune

As the spell of “abnormal” monsoon rains continues to lash the country, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Tuesday issued a low-medium flood alert for the Chenab river, asking all concerned districts to stay on high alert and take precautionary measures to protect the populations in the adjacent districts. Click here to read…

President Alvi swears in Pervaiz Elahi as new Punjab CM: The Express Tribune

Hours after the Supreme Court struck down Punjab Assembly deputy speaker’s ruling, President Dr Arif Alvi administered the oath of Punjab chief minister to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi at the President House in wee hours of Wednesday. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Susil Premajayantha appointed Leader of the House- The Daily Mirror

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha has been appointed as the Leader of the House in Parliament. Click here to read…

SriLankan says paid interest on US$ 175mn bond after sovereign debt default- The Daily Mirror

National carrier SriLankan Airlines yesterday said it paid the interest in full on its US$ 175 million bond due in 2024 using company funds. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka asks China for help with trade, investment and tourism- The Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka has asked China to help with trade, investment and tourism to help it grow sustainably, Colombo’s envoy to Beijing said on Monday as it negotiates for an emergency US$ 4 billion package to help it emerge from an economic meltdown. Click here to read…

Gotabaya Rajapaksa to return- The Daily Mirror

Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will return to the country from Singapore, Cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunewardena said today. Click here to read…

PLA’s attack helicopters start routine border patrols in high-altitude Karakoram: Global times

July 14, 2022

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) attack helicopters started to join transport helicopters in routine border patrols in the high-altitude Karakoram Mountains, a move analysts said on Thursday will enable the PLA border defense troops to gain enhanced air support and better safeguard the country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Click here to read…

IMF says China needs more fiscal, monetary support to fight COVID slowdown: Reuters

July 14, 2022

The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday that China needs to add more fiscal and monetary policy support to combat an economic slowdown brought on by continued COVID-19 lockdowns, but less-restrictive pandemic containment policies also were needed. Click here to read…

Former provincial legislator stands trial for accepting bribes: Xinhuanet

July 14, 2022

Zhang Xinqi, a former senior legislator of east China’s Shandong Province, on Thursday stood trial at the Intermediate People’s Court of Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, charged with accepting bribes. Click here to read…

China approves new domestically developed “artificial heart”: Xinhuanet

July 14, 2022

China’s National Medical Products Administration has issued marketing approval for a China-developed “artificial heart” for severe heart failure. The “heart” is an implantable ferrofluids-driven left ventricular assist device, according to the TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital based in north China’s Tianjin Municipality. Click here to read…

Former Shandong official accused of bribery: China Daily

July 14, 2022

Zhang Xinqi, former deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial People’s Congress, was accused of taking 155 million yuan ($23 million) in bribes by the Nanjing Intermediate People’s Court in Jiangsu province on Thursday. Click here to read…

Media outlets fulfill social responsibility, report says: China Daily

July 14, 2022

More than 300 media outlets in China have issued social responsibility reports this year, tripling the number in the previous year, according to the 2021 Media Outlets Social Responsibility Report released recently. Click here to read…

Xi inspects Urumqi in China’s Xinjiang, second visit in eight years: Global Times

July 15, 2022

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected a university, an international land port area, a residential community and a museum in the city of Urumqi, capital of Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday morning. Click here to read…

More Chinese volunteers take actions to bring back clearer water and fresh air to Xizang: Global Times

July 15, 2022

A group of people wearing blue waistcoats scatter around the hillside bending down to pick up garbage such as discarded plastic bottles left by tourists. Suddenly a Golden Retriever dog runs into the crowd holding a plastic bottle in its mouth. Click here to read…

Xi says Xinjiang is a hub in Belt and Road cooperation: Xinhuanet

July 15, 2022

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said as the Belt and Road cooperation advances, Xinjiang is no longer a remote corner but a core area and a hub. Click here to read…

Xi stresses making Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps stronger, more prosperous: Xinhuanet

July 15, 2022

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has stressed efforts to make the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) stronger and more prosperous. Click here to read…

Senior CPC official urges BRICS to build anti-corruption governance system: Xinhuanet

July 15, 2022

A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Wednesday called on the BRICS countries to jointly safeguard multilateralism and build a fair and reasonable international anti-corruption governance system. Click here to read…

World 5G Convention to be held in China’s Heilongjiang: Xinhuanet

July 15, 2022

The 2022 World 5G Convention will be held from August 10 to 12 in Harbin, the capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, the event organizers said. The event, to be held both online and offline, will be co-hosted by the Heilongjiang provincial people’s government, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Industry and Information TechnologyClick here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 64 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet

July 15, 2022

The Chinese mainland Thursday reported 64 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 30 in Gansu and 17 in Guangdong, the National Health Commission said Friday. Altogether 368 local asymptomatic carriers were newly identified in 10 provincial-level regions on Thursday. Click here to read…

Chinese premier pledges to ease burden of receiving medical treatment: China Daily

July 15, 2022

Premier Li Keqiang has stressed the need to reduce the burden that people face in receiving medical treatment, and to advance medical reforms. Efforts should be accelerated to ensure that high-quality medical resources become more broadly available and are distributed in a more balanced manner, Li said in an instruction to a national teleconference on medical reform held in Beijing on Thursday. Click here to read…

Chinese premier stresses faster implementation of macro policies: Xinhuanet

May 18, 2022

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called for an accelerated pace and ramped-up efforts in the implementation of macro policies. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while chairing a symposium on stabilizing growth, held in Yunnan Province on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s address at the conference of the 70th anniversary of CCPIT and Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit: Xinhuanet

May 18, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the conference of the 70th anniversary of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit via video link on Wednesday.

Following is the full text of the address: Click here to read…

Chinese FM to chair BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting via video link: Xinhunaet

May 18, 2022

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs on Thursday via video link, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced Wednesday. Click here to read…

More China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Myanmar: Xinhuanet

May 18, 2022

Another batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Myanmar’s Yangon on Wednesday, said a statement from the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar. Click here to read…

Plateau acclimatization training accelerates generation of recruits’ combat capability: China Military

May 18, 2022

Recently, a training base under the PLA Xizang Military Command and the Department of Highland Military Medicine of the PLA Army Medical University jointly launched a pilot program of “low-pressure hypoxia cabin acclimation training” for recruits to be stationed in the highland area of Xizang. Click here to read…

Li pledges support for platform, digital sectors: China Daily

May 19, 2022

Premier Li Keqiang pledged stronger support for the platform economy and the digital economy on Wednesday, including steps to help businesses get listed both in China and abroad, as part of broader steps to counter the downside pressure facing the economy. Click here to read…

Applications for car permits required to leave Shanghai: China Daily

May 18, 2022

Shanghai police said on Wednesday that people who need to leave the city by driving car must apply for a permit, which will be valid for six hours starting from the stipulated departure time. People can apply for a permit at their community committees. The permit will be approved and issued by the corresponding subdistrict or township government. Click here to read…

High-speed rail lines to accelerate: China Daily

May 18, 2022

Trains on one of China’s major high-speed rail lines will soon speed up as China rolls out its plan to further accelerate its already expeditious rail service. Starting June 20, high-speed trains will be able to operate at the increased maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour along the high-speed rail section linking Beijing and Wuhan, Hubei province, and part of the railway linking Beijing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province, according to China State Railway Group, the national train operator. Click here to read…

New technologies help improve efficiency in research laboratories: China Daily

May 18, 2022

In a laboratory at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, a robotic arm is busy moving vials and petri dishes to measure the amount of serum protein in drug samples－an initial step in evaluating a medication’s efficacy. Click here to read…

At least 13 Chinese cities encourage families with 2 or 3 kids with preferential housing policies: Global Times

May 18, 2022

At least 13 cities across China have implemented preferential housing policies, starting from May, to encourage families with two or three children to buy more homes. The incentives include breaking the property-purchasing limit which allows one household to buy only one or two houses, and offering housing loans and subsidies. Click here to read…

Officials vow to tackle ‘stuck points’ in implementing support policies for small firms: Global Times

May 18, 2022

Chinese officials vowed on Wednesday to remove the “stuck points” in implementing policies aimed at easing the burden for small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), as well as stressing a number of key missions for supporting the companies, such as increasing capital support and pushing for expansion of market demand. Click here to read…

Global investors snap up stocks of Chinese internet platforms amid growing policy support: Global Times

May 18, 2022

As the US threatens to delist a new batch of Chinese companies, foreign capital is rushing to increase holdings of Chinese internet stocks trading in the US, a trend that analysts said reflects the vigor of the platform economy in the world’s largest emerging market after a round of deep rectification. Click here to read…

Higher weighting of RMB in SDR basket to facilitate RMB’s internationalization: People’s Daily

May 18, 2022

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised the weighting of the Chinese renminbi (RMB) in the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) currency basket from 10.92 percent to 12.28 percent on May 11, after completing a quinquennial review. The composition of the basket – which includes the U.S. dollar, the euro, RMB, the Japanese yen, and the British pound sterling – remains the same, with the weighting of RMB continuing to rank in the third top spot. Click here to read…

‘Women in China want a house and a car’ so man looks for foreign wife and loses US$21,500 in scam: South China Morning Post

May 18, 2022

A dispute over a failed matchmaking service has put the spotlight on marriage scams in China and rules that prevent businesses from connecting foreigners with single Chinese people. Wu Zhimin, a father from Shijiazhuang, the capital city of Hebei province in northern China, said he had turned to a matchmaking service two years ago owned by a man named Chen Junhong because his son was struggling to find a romantic partner.
“My friends and relatives introduced my son to women who all demanded that my family provide a house and a car, which our circumstances did not permit,” said Wu in an interview with Hebei Television. “A matchmaker surnamed Chen told me his service could introduce foreign women to my son,” he recalled. Click here to read…

Students protest as discontent rises over China’s policy: Taipei Times

May 19, 2022

Administrators at an elite Beijing university have backed down from plans to further tighten restrictions on students as part of China’s “zero COVID-19” strategy after a weekend protest at the school, students said on Tuesday. Click here to read…

Shanghai rolls out plan to support more enterprises’ resumption amid epidemic situation easing: Global Times

May 19, 2022

Chinese financial hub Shanghai rolls out plan to support more enterprises to resume work and production which will progress in two phases, a vice mayor said Thursday, as the epidemic situation gradually eases in the city after weeks of closed-off management to beat down COVID-19 infections. Click here to read…

Top diplomat Yang Jiechi warns the US against playing ‘Taiwan card,’ vows China’s firm actions to safeguard sovereignty in phone talk with Sullivan: Global Times

May 19, 2022

China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi held a phone conversation on Wednesday with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan upon request in which he warned the US against playing the “Taiwan card” and vowed that China will take firm actions to safeguard its sovereignty and security interests and the US can count on China to keep its promise. Click here to read…

Xi calls for joint efforts to defeat COVID-19, reinvigorate global trade: Global Times

May 19, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for joint efforts to defeat COVID-19, reinvigorate trade and investment, unleash the power of innovation in driving development, and improve global governance, as the world is facing a pandemic and drastic changes both unseen in a century. Click here to read…

5 million shared bikes using Beidou-based chips: China Daily

May 19, 2022

More than 5 million shared bikes on the Chinese mainland are using positioning and navigation services enabled by the country’s Beidou Navigation Satellite System, according to an industry insider. Click here to read…

Preservation capacity enhanced at China’s seed bank for cold-region crops: China Daily

May 19, 2022

The expansion of China’s only seed bank for cold-region crops has been completed recently to raise its seed preservation capacity from 80,000 to 200,000 samples. As the genes of most plants are contained in their seeds, germplasm resources have become the carriers of the genetic information of plants. A seed bank serves as the most important facility for preserving such resources. Click here to read…

Chinese vice premier stresses importance of cooperation between country’s eastern, western regions: China Daily

May 19, 2022

Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua on Wednesday called for continued efforts in collaboration and paired assistance between the eastern and western regions of the country. Click here to read…

China’s new urban infrastructure construction makes urban governance, people’s life easier: Quishi

May 19, 2022

Trough diagram showing the spatial distribution of safety hazards to urban infrastructure with four colors that represent different levels of risks, i.e. red, orange, yellow and blue, the system makes locations with potential hazards clearly visible. Since its implementation over four years ago, the system has cumulatively forecast and issued early warnings against more than 6,000 emergencies including gas pipeline network leakage, excessive biogas concentration, water distribution network leakage and road cave-in, helping reduce the incidence of the city’s underground pipe network accidents by 60% and improve hazard screening efficiency by 70%, according to Li Xuan, deputy director at the center for urban lifeline operation monitoring equipped with the system. Click here to read…

Bilingual version of Xi’s discourses on safeguarding human rights published: Quishi

May 19, 2022

A Chinese-English bilingual version of extracts from Xi Jinping’s discourses on respecting and protecting human rights has been published by the Central Compilation and Translation Press. The bilingual version, featuring nine themes, is aimed at helping readers at home and abroad develop a deep understanding of the rich implications of Xi’s important statements, as well as the country’s endeavors on respecting and protecting human rights. Click here to read…

Beijing reports 50 new confirmed local COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet

May 19, 2022

Beijing reported 50 new confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and five local asymptomatic cases on Wednesday, the Beijing municipal health commission said Thursday. Click here to read…

Shanghai reports 82 confirmed, 637 asymptomatic local COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet

May 19, 2022

China’s Shanghai reported 82 confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and 637 local asymptomatic cases on Wednesday, the municipal health commission said Thursday. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 191 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet

May 19, 2022

The Chinese mainland on Wednesday recorded 191 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 82 were in Shanghai, according to the National Health Commission’s report Thursday. Click here to read…

Panchen Rinpoche attends religious activities in Tibet: Xinhuanet

May 19, 2022

Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po on Wednesday attended religious activities in the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, capital city of southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po, a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, vice president of the Buddhist Association of China, and president of the association’s Tibet branch, arrived in Lhasa on May 10. Click here to read…

Full Text: Youth of China in the New Era: Xinhuanet

April 21, 2022

The State Council Information Office of China on Thursday published a white paper titled “Youth of China in the New Era.” The following is the full text of the report.

Youth of China in the New Era
The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China
April 2022Click here to read…

Full Text: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s keynote speech at the opening ceremony of BFA annual conference 2022: Xinhuanet

April 21, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech via video at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2022 on Thursday. Following is the full text of the speech: Click here to read…

Xi proposes Global Security Initiative: Xinhuanet

April 21, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday proposed a Global Security Initiative to promote security for all in the world. Xi put forward the initiative while delivering a keynote speech via video at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022. Click here to read…

Chinese defense minister holds phone talks with U.S. counterpart: Xinhuanet

April 20-, 2022

Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe on Wednesday held phone talks with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. In the phone talks, Wei said that China and the United States should earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state. Click here to read…

China intensifies crackdown on bribery: Xinhuanet

April 20, 2022

The National Supervisory Commission and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate on Wednesday jointly released five typical cases involving individuals and organizations offering bribes. Click here to read…

China rolls out private pension scheme: Xinhuanet

April 21, 2022

China on Thursday rolled out a private pension scheme to complement the nation’s current pension system in its latest effort to tackle the strains of an aging population. The scheme allows Chinese citizens to contribute up to 12,000 yuan (about 1,872 U.S. dollars) annually to individual pension accounts that would be subject to closed-end management, according to guidelines released by the State Council. Click here to read…

Chinese authority to unveil supportive measures for NEV industry: Quishi

April 21, 2022

China is to take measures to bolster the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry, including extending the preferential policy for NEV purchase tax, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said Tuesday. Click here to read…

Tibet moves forward with cultural preservation: Quishi

April 21, 2022

The Tibet autonomous region achieved remarkable results in 2021 on traditional cultural inheritance and protection, an official said at a work conference recently in Lhasa, the capital. Click here to read…

Academic database faces furor over fees: China Daily

April 21, 2022

China’s largest online academic database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, is under scrutiny after a library of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said it would stop using the service due to its expensive subscription fee. Click here to read…

Wuhan hospital accused of medical insurance fraud: China Daily

April 20, 2022

A hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, was fined about 59.2 million yuan ($9.2 million) for defrauding the national medical insurance program of more than 23 million yuan, the National Healthcare Security Administration said on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 2,830 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases, 2,634 in Shanghai: China Daily

April 21, 2022

The Chinese mainland Wednesday reported 2,830 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 2,634 were in Shanghai, according to the National Health Commission’s report Thursday. Apart from Shanghai, 17 other provincial-level regions on the mainland saw new local COVID-19 cases, including 95 in the northeastern province of Jilin, and one in Beijing. Click here to read…

Harbin locks down six districts due to COVID: China Daily

April 20, 2022

Harbin, Heilongjiang province implemented “static management” in its main urban areas, according to a statement released by the city’s epidemic control and prevention headquarters on Wednesday. Starting at noon on Wednesday, residents are urged not to enter or leave six districts — Daoli, Daowai, Nangang, Xaingfang, Pingfang and Songbei — which will be locked down until next Tuesday, the statement said. Click here to read…

Shanghai reports 52 COVID-19 patients in critical conditions; death tally reaches 17: Global Times

April 20, 2022

Shanghai authorities urged to prioritize the treatment of severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients to reduce the number of severe cases and mortality rate, as the city on Wednesday reported seven more COVID-19 patient deaths, adding to a total number of 17 amid this around of Omicron outbreak. Click here to read…

Two Shanghai districts eliminate community infections: Global Times

April 20, 2022

Shanghai is seeing a glimmer of hope after battling the Omicron variant for almost a month and a half, with two districts announcing they have stamped out infections within communities, and the number found outside quarantine areas has fallen for consecutive days. Click here to read…

Veteran Chinese envoy heads CEEC visit, to clarify misunderstanding over Ukraine: Global Times

April 19, 2022

A Chinese delegation led by a veteran diplomat will visit eight Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) this week. Analysts said that the trip aims to further promote cooperation as this year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-CEEC mechanism, and to dismiss misunderstandings, especially over China’s stance on the Ukraine crisisClick here to read…

Two new Type 055 large destroyers, a new Type 052D destroyer confirmed in PLA Navy service: Global Times

April 20, 2022

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy displayed three of its latest warships that have recently entered service – two Type 055 10,000 ton-class large destroyers and a Type 052D destroyer – prior to its 73rd founding anniversary on Saturday. Click here to read…

G20 members should cooperate in providing stability for a volatile world, says Chinese finance minister: Global Times

April 21, 2022

Faced with risks and challenges, G20 members should cooperate in providing stability for a volatile world, Chinese Finance Minister Liu Kun said during the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting held on Wednesday and ThursdayClick here to read…

China moves to guarantee energy supply by increasing coal production capacity: Global Times

April 20, 2022

China plans to increase its coal capacity by 300 million tons this year and improve coal production review and approval mechanism, officials said at a meeting on Wednesday, in a move to ensure energy supplies after a power crunch last year and also to bring coal prices down, officials said. Click here to read…

China’s Xi pushes back on sanctions, de-coupling: Reuters

April 21, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated China’s opposition to unilateral sanctions and “long-arm jurisdiction” in a speech on Thursday, without directly mentioning the West’s punitive actions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Click here to read…

IMF chief warns of risks from a prolonged China slowdown: Reuters

April 21, 2022

A prolonged slowdown in China would have substantial global spillovers, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday, but added that Beijing has room to adjust policy to provide support. Click here to read…

Shanghai eyes reopening as cases fall: Taipei Times

April 21, 2022

Shanghai yesterday reported no new cases of COVID-19 outside quarantined areas in two districts, raising hopes that the tide was turning in its battle against the epidemic, with some factories across the city making a gradual return to work. In an event highly publicized on state media, electric vehicle company Tesla Inc resumed production at its Shanghai plant on Tuesday after a stoppage of more than three weeks. Click here to read…

‘Liaoning’ may be vulnerable like ‘Moskva’: Taipei Times

April 21, 2022

China’s Soviet-build aircraft carrier Liaoning could be as easily sunk as the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, the Nikkei Shimbun reported yesterday. The Russian guided-missile cruiser Moskva sank on Thursday last week after Ukraine said it struck the ship with locally made Neptune anti-ship missiles. Russia has denied the ship was hit, instead saying it sank after a fire broke out on the vessel. Click here to read…

China’s Xi Jinping rails against ‘cold war mentality’, US hegemony in call for global cooperation: South China Morning Post

April 21, 2022

President Xi Jinping has sent a strong message to Washington and its allies that China will firmly oppose decoupling, while its economy can play a lead role in global recovery as the world stands at a crossroads between the coronavirus pandemic, trade conflicts and war in Ukraine. In a speech on Thursday, Xi called for stronger macro coordination between major economies to prevent “severe and negative” spillover effects from policy decisions and to help stabilise the global supply chain. Click here to read…

China’s bride prices still rising despite crackdowns on outdated sexist custom for rights to a woman’s labour and her body: South China Morning Post

April 21, 2022

After dating a woman for several years, a man from northwest China said he had to break up with her because he couldn’t afford the nearly 300,000 yuan (US$47,00) bride price when they considered marriage. “I asked locals and was told this is commonplace. I hope you can crack down on this phenomenon,” wrote the man, surnamed Qin, last month on the page of “Messages to Leaders” on people.com.cn, an online channel for public complaints in China. Click here to read…

U.S. trade chief seeks “frank conversations” with China: Xinhuanet
October 5, 2021

U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai said on Monday that the United States seeks “frank conversations” with the Chinese side on issues including implementation of the phase-one economic and trade agreement, and industrial policies. Tai made the remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, on the Biden administration’s approach to the U.S.-China trade relationship. Click here to read…

Aerobatics and new military jets: Airshow China concludes in Zhuhai: China Military
October 4, 2021

The China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, or Airshow China, concluded on Sunday in Zhuhai City, south China’s Guangdong Province. Dozens of aerobatics were performed by China’s top air display teams, providing eye candy for the audience, while the public debut of the J-16D electronic warfare jet and other equipment showcased the latest technology development in the Chinese army to enthusiasts. Many Chinese enterprises also received orders from global clients after displaying their latest product at the show. Click here to read…

China goes all out to cope with power outages: People’s Daily
October 5, 2021

China is making all-out efforts to ensure the nation’s power supply after power outages halted factory production and hit families in some regions, amid calls for a better electricity pricing mechanism and improved energy structure. The power squeeze has compelled multiple provinces in China to implement power rationing, with factory operation hours limited and power usage capped. Factories across various industries, including furniture, food and chemical production, have suspended their operations and rescheduled production. Click here to read…

Policy Address proposals focus on cooperation with mainland: China Daily
October 5, 2021

Hong Kong’s political groups and organizations expressed the hope that the 2021 Policy Address will help the city better utilize opportunities offered by national development, by releasing the potential of an idle border area and strengthening Hong Kong residents’ national identity. Click here to read…

Hopson Development plans to acquire 51% of Evergrande’s property management unit: Global Times
October 4, 2021

Property developer Hopson Development Holding Co is reportedly to acquire about 51 percent of the indebted Evergrande group’s property management unit, and the deal could be valued at more than 40 billion HKD ($5.14 billion), according to media reports. Evergrande group has been on a selling spree lately, scrambling to raise funds to help resolve its serious debt woes and avert a default. Click here to read…

China is not heading toward a market economy, often due to its own policies, report concludes: South China Morning Post
October 5, 2021

China has fallen short of meeting its stated reform goals and is not on track to become a market economy, a report assessing China’s development has concluded. As a result, the United States and other market economies must develop commercial rules to protect their systems better when they deal with China until it becomes a more open economy, according to the report, China Pathfinder, published by the Atlantic Council and Rhodium Group on Tuesday. Click here to read…

Fantasia, another debt-laden Chinese property developer, defaults on US$205 million bond, as Evergrande crisis rolls on: South China Morning Post
October 5, 2021

Fantasia Holdings Group, the Shenzhen-based property developer founded by the niece of a former Chinese vice-president, has failed to repay US$205 million of debt due on Monday.

The default will add to fears about the financial health of the Chinese property sector, as the liquidity crisis at China Evergrande Group – the world’s most indebted property developer – continues to unfold. Click here to read…

IMF briefed on probe into China’s ‘Doing Business’ report rankings at World Bank: South China Morning Post
October 5, 2021

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Monday its board of directors has been briefed by lawyers from the law firm whose investigation found that current managing director Kristalina Georgieva and other officials pressured World Bank employees to alter data affecting the business rankings of China and other nations. The IMF said the 190-nation lending agency’s board of directors met with representatives of the WilmerHale law firm as part of an ongoing review of the issues raised by the firm’s investigation into the World Bank’s “Doing Business 2018” report. Click here to read…

Hong Kong leader says Beijing has no timetable for anti-sanctions law: Reuters
October 5, 2021

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that Beijing has no timetable to extend an anti-sanctions law to the global financial hub, where financial institutions are concerned over the impact it could have on their operations. Lam, speaking at her weekly news briefing, said Beijing would take into account the city’s status as an international financial centre if it decides to extend the law to Hong Kong. Click here to read…