Page 234 - China

US companies based in China grow more pessimistic about bilateral ties

Ties between the two countries have worsened in recent months, with Chinese President in March criticizing the US for what he called a strategy of "containment and suppression"

Rajnath to hold bilateral meet with Chinese counterpart on SCO sidelines

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) pursues a policy based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, the defence ministry said on Tuesday ahead of hosting a key meeting of the grouping on Friday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to hold bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu on the sidelines of the SCO defence ministerial conclave in Delhi, people familiar with the matter said. The bilateral talks between Singh and Li are taking place days after the Indian and Chinese armies held 18th round of military talks on ending the three-year border row in eastern Ladakh. Li, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and their counterparts from other member countries of the SCO, except Pakistan's Khawaja Asif, are set to attend the defence ministerial meeting being hosted by India under its presidency of the influential grouping. In a statement, the defence ministry said counter-terror cooperation and matters concerning regional peac

China scraps Covid-19 test requirement for inbound travellers from April 29

China on Tuesday said it will remove COVID-19 nucleic acid test requirements starting from April 29 for international travellers visiting the country. Travellers entering China need not provide a COVID-19 nucleic acid test result starting from April 29 but still need to have an antigen test result taken within 48 hours before boarding a flight, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here. "Starting from April 29, inbound travellers may choose to take antigen tests within 48 hours prior to boarding other than nucleic acid tests," Mao said. Airlines will no longer check pre-departure testing results, she said. "We would like to remind inbound and outbound travellers to look after their health in the run-up to their departure and strictly follow the COVID protocols of China and their travel destinations so that they can have a healthy and pleasant trip and a safe journey home," she said. China will continue to refine prevention and control policies in a

Chinese defence minister to visit India this week to attend SCO meet

China on Tuesday announced that its Defence Minister General Li Shangfu will visit India this week to attend the meeting of SCO defence ministers from April 27 during which he is expected to hold talks with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on ending the prolonged eastern Ladakh standoff which has severely strained bilateral ties. Considered a close associate of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Gen. Li's India visit is regarded significant as it comes amid the vexed standoff between the armies of India and China in eastern Ladakh since May 2020. Upon invitation, Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister General Li Shangfu will attend the meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in New Delhi, India, from April 27-28, China's Ministry of National Defence (MND) said in a statement. During the meeting, General Li will address the conference and meet with the heads of delegations from relevant countries to ...

BRICS draws membership bids from 19 countries before annual summit

The emerging-markets bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will meet in Cape Town on June 2-3 to discuss its enlargement, Anil Sooklal, South Africa's ambassador to the group, said

Amid pressure from IMF, Pak Army chief visits China to further defence ties

Pakistan's Army chief General Asim Munir has arrived in China on a four-day official visit aimed at boosting bilateral defence ties. This is Gen. Munir's fourth overseas visit ever since he took command of the Pakistan Army in November last year. In January, he visited Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) on his first official visit abroad since his appointment. A month later, he visited the United Kingdom on a highly important visit on Britain's Ministry of Defence invitation to discuss security-related strategic issues. After his UK visit, Gen Munir again visited the UAE. "COAS is on a four-day official visit to China for enhancing bilateral military relations, the army's media wing said in a statement on Monday without providing any further details about the trip. It is common for the new army chief in Pakistan to undertake a visit to China within weeks of his appointment. The delay this time is attributed to the internal situation in Pakistan. The visit comes amidst ..

Xis effort to counter US narrative falters after China envoy angers Europe

In a statement Monday night, the Chinese embassy in Paris said that Lu gave "an expression of personal points of view" that shouldn't be "over-interpreted"

Oil stable as investors ponder strong travel demand in China, rate hikes

Brent crude fell 3 cents to $82.70 a barrel at 0620 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude also eased 3 cents to $78.73 a barrel

India, China agree to speed up Ladakh standoff resolution: Chinese ministry

The Chinese defence ministry said on Tuesday that top military officials of India and China during their latest round of talks have agreed to "speed up" the settlement of "relevant issues" related to the prolonged standoff in eastern Ladakh besides safeguarding peace in the border areas. The 18th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side on April 23, the Chinese Defence Ministry here said in a statement. The talks were held ahead of Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu's planned visit to India to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on April 27 and 28. The two sides had a friendly and candid exchange of views on relevant issues, said the People's Liberation Army (PLA) statement. Under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries and based on the achievements of the meeting between the two foreign ministers, both sides agreed to maintain close contact and dialogue through ..

Can India realise its demographic dividend & outperform an ageing China?

In a world-historical shift, India is surpassing China to become the world's most populous country. But the question often heard in recent days - whether India can realize its demographic dividend?

China affirms ex-Soviet nations' sovereignty after European backlash

The Chinese government said Monday it respected the sovereignty of former Soviet Union republics after Beijing's ambassador to France caused an uproar in Europe by saying they weren't sovereign nations. The governments of former Soviet republics Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were among those who rejected Ambassador Lu Shaye's comment to a French broadcaster. While answering a question about the status of Crimea, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014, Lu said that there was no agreement to solidify their status as a sovereign country." A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that China respects the sovereign status of the former Soviet countries after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Mao NingMao said Beijing's position is consistent and clear but gave no indication whether Lu's comment was considered incorrect. The ambassador drew a parallel between Ukraine and the other former Soviet republics that declared independence from Moscow when the Soviet Union broke up in ...

Eye on China: Australia plans biggest defence shake-up since World War II

Australia's military is not "fit for purpose" as it currently stands, the Defence Strategic Review released on Monday found

India and China need to prepare for ageing populations, says UN

The UN estimates that by 2040, people 65 or over in China will outnumber those under age 25. By 2050 they could comprise 30% of the total population

China goes beyond its territory to harass, intimidate citizens: Report

The country uses surveillance and data collected on individuals for intimidation, blackmail and coercion of its opponents, based in foreign countries

Chinese government affirms ex-Soviet nations' sovereignty after uproar

The Chinese government said Monday it respects the sovereignty of former Soviet Union republics after Beijing's ambassador to France caused an uproar in Europe by saying they aren't sovereign nations. The governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania rejected Ambassador Lu Shaye's comment to a French broadcaster. While answering a question about the status of Crimea, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014, Lu said there was no agreement to solidify their status as a sovereign country." Beijing declared it had a no-limits friendship with Moscow before its 2022 invasion of Ukraine but has tried to appear neutral, calling for a cease-fire and peace talks. China has repeated Russian justifications for the invasion. China respects the sovereign status of the former soviet countries after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, said foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. Mao said Beijing's position is consistent and clear but gave no indication whether Lu's comment was considered ...

Eastern Ladakh row: India, China hold 18th round of military talks

India and China held a fresh round of high-level military talks on Sunday with a focus on resolving the remaining issues in eastern Ladakh as the border row enters the fourth year, people familiar with the matter said. The 18th round of military talks took place ahead of Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu's visit to India next week to attend a key meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation being hosted by New Delhi under its presidency of the grouping. Sunday's military talks came around four months after the last round of the dialogue between the senior Army commanders of the two sides. The talks were held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, the people familiar with the developments said. It is learnt that the Indian side insisted on resolving the issues at the remaining friction points of Demchok and Depsang in eastern Ladakh as soon as possible. The Indian delegation at the dialogue was led

Tibetan, Himalayan Buddhist associations come in support of Dalai Lama

Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhist Associations came in support of Dalai Lama alleging China is behind the "ill-spreading" of the video against Dalai Lama to tarnish his image

Defence ministers of Russia, China may attend SCO meet in India next week

Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu are expected to attend a key meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to be hosted by India next week under its presidency of the grouping, people familiar with the development said on Saturday. There is no confirmation yet on in-person participation of Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in the SCO defence ministerial meeting scheduled for April 27 and 28, they said, adding he is likely to join the deliberations virtually. The people said defence ministers of China, Russia and other SCO member countries except Pakistan have confirmed their in-person attendance. However, there was no official announcement on the participation at the defence ministerial meeting by the SCO member states. The visit by Li, if it takes place, would come amid the three-year border standoff in eastern Ladakh. The SCO defence ministerial meeting in New Delhi would be followed by the foreign ministerial meeting o

China oils a West Asian deal

The US, currently obsessed with its campaigns against Russia and oil, may respond over time. But Iran and Israel are both capable of surprise manoeuvres

China under Xi more hostile, India is most important bulwark: Expert

"So, while the US and the United Kingdom work to bolster Australia's defence, a smaller investment in India could pay greater dividends in case a war ever erupts," Rubin said