Page 9 - Xi Jinping

After 5-year hiatus, first batch of pilgrims arrives at Manasarovar lake

The first batch of Indian pilgrims visiting Tibet to pray at Mount Kailash and Manasarovar Lake, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva, arrived at the holy place on Thursday, according to Chinese officials. "Pleased to know that the first batch of pilgrims has arrived at Lake Mapam Yun Tso (Manasarovar) in Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, China, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong posted on X. The journey of 36 pilgrims to Mt. Kailash and Manasarovar Lake assumed significance as they were the first group of Indian pilgrims to visit the holy place after a five-year hiatus. The relations between the two countries were frozen for over four years following the Eastern Ladakh standoff. The two countries agreed to resume ties after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, last year. The resumption of the Kailash and Manasarovar Yatra is stated to be the first step initiated by the two ...

Xi Jinping to skip Brics Summit in Rio, Li Qiang to lead Chinese delegation

Xi Jinping's absence marks a first since taking office; Brazil expresses disappointment as Premier Li Qiang prepares to represent China at the July 6-7 Brics Summit in Rio de Janeiro

NZ Prime Minister Luxon discusses trade with Chinese Prez Xi jinping

The prime minister of New Zealand stressed the importance of his country's trade ties with China in a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday. Christopher Luxon, on his first visit to China since becoming prime minister in late 2023, flew to Beijing after two days of meetings with officials and business leaders in Shanghai, China's commercial centre. He wants to maintain healthy trade relations with China, an important market for New Zealand products, despite differences over regional and global security issues and China's growing divide with the United States. Our trade and economic links are complementary and contribute to prosperity in both countries, he was quoted as saying in a news release following his meeting with Xi. Luxon said he raised the necessity of reducing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region and the importance of what he called the key role that China can play in helping to resolve global challenges such as the war in Ukraine. In a complex world, open dial

Putin, Xi Jinping agree to exchange information on Iran-Israel conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed to exchange sensitive information on the Iran-Israel conflict, the Kremlin said on Thursday. President Putin and Xi Jinping in their hour-long phone call have agreed to issue orders to their relevant agencies to share information on Iran, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov announced. He said both leaders hold a similar stance and "strongly condemn Israel's actions that violate the UN Charter and other norms of international law". Israel launched Operation Rising Lion last week, targeting Iran's nuclear, missile and military infrastructure. Iran later launched retaliatory strikes on Israel. On Wednesday, Russia and the United Arab Emirates called for an immediate cessation of the Israel-Iran conflict and an intensification of political and diplomatic efforts to resolve Tehran's nuclear issue. According to the Kremlin, President Putin discussed the issue during a telephonic conversation with hi

New Zealand halts millions of funds to Cook Islands over its China ties

New Zealand has halted millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands over the breadth and content of agreements the smaller Pacific nation made with China, officials from the New Zealand Foreign Minister's office said on Thursday. New Zealand, which is the smaller Pacific nation's biggest funder, won't consider any new money for the Cook Islands until the relationship improves, a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters told The Associated Press. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Relations between other Pacific islands and their larger regional backers Australia and New Zealand have stumbled over ties with China in recent years as Beijing has vied to increase its Pacific sway. But the latest move by New Zealand's government was striking because it reflected growing friction between two countries with strong constitutional ties Cook Islands is self-governing but shares a military and passports with New Zealand .

Trump to extend TikTok's deadline by 90 days; to sign order: White House

President Trump has signed an executive order delaying the ban on TikTok for a third time, giving ByteDance 90 more days to secure a divestment deal

Australians equally distrust both Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, survey finds

A new Lowy Institute survey found that 72% of Australians don't trust Donald Trump to act responsibly in global affairs, slightly more than the 71% who expressed distrust in China's Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping offers condolences to PM Modi, Murmu in Air India plane crash

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday extended condolences to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the loss of lives in the plane crash at Ahmedabad. At least 265 people were killed on Thursday when the London-bound Air India plane crashed into a medical college complex in Ahmedabad and burst into a ball of fire less than a minute after take-off. In his message to President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi, Xi expressed shock upon learning about the heavy casualties in the crash. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, he conveyed deep condolences over the loss of lives, extended sympathies to the injured and the bereaved families, and wished the injured a swift recovery, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent a message of condolence to Prime Minister Modi. A London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday. Among the dead were 241 on

China delays trade progress and wields rare earths to outwit Trump

Beijing has gained time to build up its own strengths by drawing out negotiations with the United States, using its chokehold over critical minerals

China imposes 6-month cap on rare-earth export licences to US amid talks

China is limiting rare-earth export licences for US firms to six months, using it as leverage in trade talks while the US agrees to ease some restrictions on key goods like jet engines and ethane

'Relationship is excellent': Trump confirms trade deal with China finalised

Trump says a trade deal with China has been finalised, with key agreements on rare earth supplies, tariffs, and student visas, pending final approval from both leaders after talks in London

US, China hold trade talks in London after Trump-Xi Jinping's phone call

High-level delegations from the United States and China are meeting in London on Monday to try and shore up a fragile truce in a trade dispute that has roiled the global economy. A Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng is due to meet US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at an undisclosed location in the city. The talks are due to last at least a day. They follow negotiations in Geneva last month that brought a temporary respite in the trade war. The two countries announced May 12 they had agreed to a 90-day suspension of most of the 100 per cent-plus tariffs they had imposed on each other in an escalating trade war that had sparked fears of recession. Since then, the US and China have exchanged angry words over advanced semiconductors that power artificial intelligence, rare earths that are vital to carmakers and other industries, and visas for Chinese students at American universities. President

US-China trade talks in London to tackle fresh disputes, tariff truce

US-China trade talks in London this week are expected to take up a series of fresh disputes that have buffeted relations, threatening a fragile truce over tariffs. Both sides agreed in Geneva last month to a 90-day suspension of most of the 100%-plus tariffs they had imposed on each other in an escalating trade war that had sparked fears of recession. Since then, the US and China have exchanged angry words over advanced semiconductors that power artificial intelligence, rare earths that are vital to carmakers and other industries, and visas for Chinese students at American universities. President Donald Trump spoke at length with Chinese leader Xi Jinping by phone last Thursday in an attempt to put relations back on track. Trump announced on social media the next day that trade talks would be held on Monday in London. Technology is a major sticking point The latest frictions began just a day after the May 12 announcement of the Geneva agreement to pause tariffs for 90 days. The U

Xi will restart rare earth supply, trade talks set for June 9: Donald Trump

Trump and Xi held a 90-minute call on Thursday that saw the two agree to defuse growing tensions spurred by concerns over the flow of critical minerals needed by American firms

US, Chinese officials to hold new round of trade talks in London next week

Senior US administration officials will meet with a Chinese delegation on Monday in London for the next round of trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing, President Donald Trump said Friday. The meeting comes after a phone call between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday, which the US president described as a very positive conversation as the two countries attempt to break an impasse over tariffs and global supplies of rare earth minerals. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will represent the US side in the trade talks. The meeting should go very well, Trump wrote on his social media platform Friday afternoon.

Xi's message to Trump: Rein in the hawks trying to derail the truce

A meeting with Xi Jinping, China's top leader, in Japan in 2019, during President Trump's first term. The leaders spoke by phone on Thursday after weeks of worsening tensions between two nations

Stock Market close highlights: Sensex up 747 pts, Nifty tops 25k as investors cheer RBI rate cut

Sensex Today | Stock Market close highlights, Friday, June 6, 2025: RBI MPC cut repo rate cut to 5.5%, more-than-expected. The announcement triggered a sharp rally in bank, auto, real estate stocks

No more questions on rare earths now: Trump after 'very good' call with Xi

After what he described as a "very good" 90-minute call with Xi Jinping, Trump says US-China trade talks will resume soon with rare earth issues resolved

Trump speaks with Xi over tariffs amid stalled talks between US, China

President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, have spoken amid stalled negotiations between both countries over tariffs that have roiled global trade. The discussion on Thursday followed Trump suggesting it was tough to reach a deal with Xi. I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!, Trump posted Wednesday on his social media site. Trade negotiations between the United States and China stalled shortly after a May 12 agreement between both countries to reduce their tariff rates in order to have talks. Behind the gridlock has been the continued competition for an economic edge.

As incomes shrink, Beijing's nightlife shifts behind closed doors

China's economic slowdown is reshaping its nightlife, as middle-class professionals abandon upscale bars for low-cost, unlicensed home speakeasies hidden inside city apartments