Victorian Amateur Football Association teams, St Bernards and Old Melburnians were playing a club game on Saturday when two-year-old Pippa Biggs wandered onto the field.St Bernard's player Alex McLead chose to pick up Pippa rather then chase the ball, and carried her over the boundary line.

WION Global Round-Up: Toddler rescued off football pitch in Australia

US officials listed $300 billion more of Chinese goods for possible tariff hikes while Beijing vowed Tuesday to "fight to the finish" in an escalating trade battle that is fuelling fears about damage to global economic growth.

China says it'll fight trade war 'to the finish'

The Beijing Daxing International Airport, a new airport under construction, started its first test flights on Monday, with a plane of China Southern Airlines landing on a western runway.

Beijing new airport starts test flights on Monday

The US has ordered tariff hikes on all imports from China. Watch the full video to know more.

US orders tariff hike on all imports from China

In this segment, Watch WION speaks to Mr. Jayadev Ranade, A China analyst over the India-China trade.

Exclusive: WION speaks to Mr. Jayadev Ranade, A China analyst over the India-China trade

Amid escalating trade war between Beijing and Washington, China's ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui has called for relaxation in trade hours and increase in number of business days along the Nathu La corridor, giving an impetus to Sino-Indian economic ties.

Chinese envoy suggests relaxation in biz hours to boost trade along Nathu La

A brawl broke out in Hong Kong's Legislative Council on Saturday as pro-democracy lawmakers and those loyal to Beijing discussed a extradition law that would extend Beijing's powers over the financial hub.

Brawl breaks out in Hong Kong's legislative council, lawmaker wheeled away on stretcher

China said on Tuesday that the vexed issue of designating Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN will be "properly resolved" but it did not give any timeline, days after Chinese President Xi Jinping met Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in Beijing. Watch this video to know more.

China: Support issue of Masood Azhar listing

'Will be properly resolved': China on Masood Azhar's listing as global terrorist by UN

Four prominent leaders of Hong Kong's democracy movement were jailed on Wednesday for their role in organising mass protests in 2014 that paralysed the city for months and infuriated Beijing.

The prison terms are the latest hammer blow to the city's beleaguered democracy movement which has seen key figures jailed or banned from standing as legislators since their demonstrations shook the city but failed to win any concessions.

Nine activists were all convicted earlier in April of at least one charge in a prosecution that deployed rarely used colonial-era public nuisance laws over their participation in the Umbrella Movement protests, which called for free elections to appoint the city's leader.

Their trial renewed alarm over shrinking freedoms under an assertive China which has rejected demands by Hong Kongers for a greater say in how the financial hub is run.

Two key leaders of the mass protests -- sociology professor Chan Kin-man, 60, and law professor Benny Tai, 54 -- received the longest sentences of 16 months in jail, sparking tears in court and angry chants from hundreds of supporters gathered outside.

Two other leaders -- activist Raphael Wong and lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun -- received eight months while the rest either had their jail terms suspended or were given a community service order.&nbsp;

One defendant, lawmaker Tanya Chan, had her sentencing adjourned because she needs surgery for a brain tumour.

The jail terms are the steepest yet for anyone involved in the 79-day protest which vividly illustrated the huge anger -- particularly among Hong Kong's youth -- over the city's leadership and direction.

As Wong was led away by guards he proclaimed: "Our determination to fight for democracy will not change."

Tai and Chan founded a civil disobedience campaign known as "Occupy Central" in 2013 alongside 75-year-old Baptist minister Chu Yiu-ming, one of the defendants to have his jail term suspended.

Their original idea of taking to the streets to demand a fairer system and the right to directly elect Hong Kong's leader was a precursor to the student-led Umbrella Movement a year later that brought parts of the city to a standstill.

'Chilling warning'

Authorities in Hong Kong and the mainland have defended the prosecutions as a necessary measure to punish the leaders of a direct action movement that took over key intersections of the city for many weeks.

But activists and rights groups have argued that the use of the vaguely worded public nuisance laws -- and wielding the steeper common law punishment -- is an insidious blow to free speech and a new tactic from prosecutors.

"The long sentences sends a chilling warning to all that there will be serious consequences for advocating for democracy," said Maya Wang, Human Rights Watch's senior researcher on China.

But city leader Carrie Lam remained unmoved by such criticisms. Asked by reporters on Wednesday whether the jailings would damage Hong Kong's free speech reputation, she replied: "I can't see any impact."

There were emotional scenes outside the courthouse with the defendants met by a noisy crowd of supporters shouting "Add Oil!", a popular Cantonese phrase to signal encouragement.&nbsp;

Others sang "We Shall Overcome", the gospel song that became an anthem of the civil rights movement in the United States.

Speaking after the sentencing, Tanya Chan told the crowds: "I hope Hong Kongers will not lose hope, will not be afraid, will not have regrets or back down now".

Many supporters were holding umbrellas, an emblem of the 2014 protests after they were used by young demonstrators to defend themselves against police batons, tear gas canisters and pepper spray.

Joseph Lo, 59, was wearing a yellow T-shirt with the phrase "I was not incited" -- a reference to the charges laid against the protest leaders.

"We were not incited by these nine people," he told AFP, adding he hit the streets in 2014 because of the refusal to grant Hong Kongers universal suffrage and the police's decision to fire tear gas at protesters.

While the financial hub enjoys rights unseen on the Chinese mainland under a 50-year handover agreement between Britain and China, there are fears those liberties are being eroded as Beijing flexes its muscles and stamps down on dissent.&nbsp;

Hong Kong's leader is elected by a group of just 1,200 largely pro-Beijing appointees, in a city of seven million.&nbsp;

Judge Johnny Chan ruled that the 2014 protests were not protected by Hong Kong's free speech laws because the demonstrations impinged on the rights of others.

During sentencing, Chan said the defendants had expressed no regret for the "inconvenience and suffering caused to members of the public". He added that an apology was "rightly deserved... but never received" from the protest leaders.

Four prominent leaders of Hong Kong's democracy movement were jailed on Wednesday for their role in organising mass protests in 2014 that paralysed the city for months and infuriated Beijing.

Four prominent leaders of Hong Kong's democracy movement were jailed on Wednesday for their role in organising mass protests in 2014 that paralysed the city for months and infuriated Beijing. The prison terms are the latest hammer blow to the city's beleaguered democracy movement which has seen key figures jailed or banned from standing as legislators since their demonstrations shook the city but failed to win any concessions. Nine activists were all convicted earlier in April of at least one charge in a prosecution that deployed rarely used colonial-era public nuisance laws over their participation in the Umbrella Movement protests, which called for free elections to appoint the city's leader. Their trial renewed alarm over shrinking freedoms under an assertive China which has rejected demands by Hong Kongers for a greater say in how the financial hub is run. Two key leaders of the mass protests -- sociology professor Chan Kin-man, 60, and law professor Benny Tai, 54 -- received the longest sentences of 16 months in jail, sparking tears in court and angry chants from hundreds of supporters gathered outside. Two other leaders -- activist Raphael Wong and lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun -- received eight months while the rest either had their jail terms suspended or were given a community service order. One defendant, lawmaker Tanya Chan, had her sentencing adjourned because she needs surgery for a brain tumour. The jail terms are the steepest yet for anyone involved in the 79-day protest which vividly illustrated the huge anger -- particularly among Hong Kong's youth -- over the city's leadership and direction. As Wong was led away by guards he proclaimed: "Our determination to fight for democracy will not change." Tai and Chan founded a civil disobedience campaign known as "Occupy Central" in 2013 alongside 75-year-old Baptist minister Chu Yiu-ming, one of the defendants to have his jail term suspended. Their original idea of taking to the streets to demand a fairer system and the right to directly elect Hong Kong's leader was a precursor to the student-led Umbrella Movement a year later that brought parts of the city to a standstill. 'Chilling warning' Authorities in Hong Kong and the mainland have defended the prosecutions as a necessary measure to punish the leaders of a direct action movement that took over key intersections of the city for many weeks. But activists and rights groups have argued that the use of the vaguely worded public nuisance laws -- and wielding the steeper common law punishment -- is an insidious blow to free speech and a new tactic from prosecutors. "The long sentences sends a chilling warning to all that there will be serious consequences for advocating for democracy," said Maya Wang, Human Rights Watch's senior researcher on China. But city leader Carrie Lam remained unmoved by such criticisms. Asked by reporters on Wednesday whether the jailings would damage Hong Kong's free speech reputation, she replied: "I can't see any impact." There were emotional scenes outside the courthouse with the defendants met by a noisy crowd of supporters shouting "Add Oil!", a popular Cantonese phrase to signal encouragement. Others sang "We Shall Overcome", the gospel song that became an anthem of the civil rights movement in the United States. Speaking after the sentencing, Tanya Chan told the crowds: "I hope Hong Kongers will not lose hope, will not be afraid, will not have regrets or back down now". Many supporters were holding umbrellas, an emblem of the 2014 protests after they were used by young demonstrators to defend themselves against police batons, tear gas canisters and pepper spray. Joseph Lo, 59, was wearing a yellow T-shirt with the phrase "I was not incited" -- a reference to the charges laid against the protest leaders. "We were not incited by these nine people," he told AFP, adding he hit the streets in 2014 because of the refusal to grant Hong Kongers universal suffrage and the police's decision to fire tear gas at protesters. While the financial hub enjoys rights unseen on the Chinese mainland under a 50-year handover agreement between Britain and China, there are fears those liberties are being eroded as Beijing flexes its muscles and stamps down on dissent. Hong Kong's leader is elected by a group of just 1,200 largely pro-Beijing appointees, in a city of seven million. Judge Johnny Chan ruled that the 2014 protests were not protected by Hong Kong's free speech laws because the demonstrations impinged on the rights of others. During sentencing, Chan said the defendants had expressed no regret for the "inconvenience and suffering caused to members of the public". He added that an apology was "rightly deserved... but never received" from the protest leaders.

Hong Kong democracy leaders jailed over Umbrella Movement protests

The Indian politico-diplomatic policy contour, in relation to two major events slated for end April in the Chinese calendar, is indicative of a carefully nuanced posture that Delhi is adopting towards Beijing, even as the world’s largest democracy is in the middle of a major national election.

The Modi led NDA government is in caretaker mode and a new Prime Minister will assume office after May 23 but some import-laden Indian policies that are unfolding this week warrant scrutiny.

On April 23 (Tuesday), two Indian naval ships – the INS Kolkata, a guided-missile destroyer and INS Shakti the fleet tanker will be part of the International Fleet Review (IFR) that China is conducting off Qingdao as part of the 70th-anniversary celebrations of the PLA Navy. Chinese President Xi Jinping will review the 50 naval ships assembled from 13 nations (excluding the host) on Tuesday. Major foreign navies represented at the PLA(N) IFR &nbsp;include Russia, Japan and India and some ASEAN nations. It may be recalled that India had conducted an IFR in February 2016 that saw 100 ships from 50 navies anchored off Visakhapatnam and the assemblage included two PLA(N) frigates.

International fleet reviews are a demonstration of a nation’s politico-diplomatic and military credibility as also acceptability and China is engaged in a similar pursuit against the backdrop of regional anxiety and unease over the kind of military assertiveness that Beijing has demonstrated in recent years in relation to its territorial claims in the East Asia-western Pacific continuum.

But in contrast to this friendly overture apropos the Qingdao IFR, Delhi has decided that India will not be part of the second OBOR (one belt-one road) summit being held in Beijing later in the week (April 26). This summit meeting has been billed as the biggest diplomatic event for China in 2019 and is acknowledged as a hugely ambitious personal project of President Xi Jinping that has complex strategic implications linked to the ‘rise of China’.

Delhi had stayed away from the inaugural summit in 2017 due to the manner in which India’s sovereignty claims over POK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) were ignored among other concerns. Yet given the manner in which the post-Doklam tension was sought to be assuaged at the informal Xi-Modi summit Wuhan, it was expected that India would review its non-participation at the second OBOR (aka Belt and Road Initiative) &nbsp;summit. &nbsp;&nbsp;

However, in what was seen as a major disappointment for Beijing, earlier in March, the Indian ambassador to China Vikram Misri explained the rationale for the Indian refusal to be part of the 2019 summit. Misri noted: &nbsp;"Above all, connectivity initiatives must be pursued in a manner that respects the sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity of nations".

He further added: "No country can participate in an initiative that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity. To be honest, we have made no secret of our views and our position on the BRI is clear and consistent and one that we have conveyed to the authorities concerned.”&nbsp; 
 
It is understood that most of the global community would be present at the second BRI &nbsp;summit, including nations with whom China currently has an uneasy or tense relationship including the USA and Japan and India’s determined ‘absence’ would be visible.

The inference that could be made is that by adopting two very different policy &nbsp;options in relation to the PLA (Navy) IFR on April 23 and the BRI summit on April 26, Delhi &nbsp;is signalling both malleability and resolve in what may be described as an ‘issue-based’ and carefully calibrated approach in its overall China policy.

In yet another development, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has set up a new division designated the Indo-Pacific and it is understood that this division will integrate policies pertaining to the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and deliberations related to the Quad. The latter refers to maritime/naval consultations between the USA, Japan, India and Australia.

The Indo-Pacific is both a geographic entity that links the two oceans – the Indian and the Pacific; and a nascent strategic construct mooted by the USA in some detail in October 2017. The Indian formulation in relation to the Indo-Pacific was outlined by PM Modi at the Shangri-La dialogue in mid-2018 which dwelt on the centrality of ASEAN in this maritime framework. China has its own reservations about this yoking of the two oceans and the strategic sub-text advanced by the USA and the Indian decision to formally create a new division dedicated to the Indo-Pacific will not go unnoticed.

Managing the bilateral with China will be a major challenge for the next Indian government and the policy contours of end April, as manifest in the IFR and the BRI summit, will remain important punctuation in this uneasy relationship between the two Asian giants.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The Indian politico-diplomatic policy contour, in relation to two major events slated for end April in the Chinese calendar, is indicative of a carefully nuanced posture that Delhi is adopting towards Beijing, even as the world’s largest democracy is in the middle of a major national election.

The Indian politico-diplomatic policy contour, in relation to two major events slated for end April in the Chinese calendar, is indicative of a carefully nuanced posture that Delhi is adopting towards Beijing, even as the world’s largest democracy is in the middle of a major national election. The Modi led NDA government is in caretaker mode and a new Prime Minister will assume office after May 23 but some import-laden Indian policies that are unfolding this week warrant scrutiny. On April 23 (Tuesday), two Indian naval ships – the INS Kolkata, a guided-missile destroyer and INS Shakti the fleet tanker will be part of the International Fleet Review (IFR) that China is conducting off Qingdao as part of the 70th-anniversary celebrations of the PLA Navy. Chinese President Xi Jinping will review the 50 naval ships assembled from 13 nations (excluding the host) on Tuesday. Major foreign navies represented at the PLA(N) IFR include Russia, Japan and India and some ASEAN nations. It may be recalled that India had conducted an IFR in February 2016 that saw 100 ships from 50 navies anchored off Visakhapatnam and the assemblage included two PLA(N) frigates. International fleet reviews are a demonstration of a nation’s politico-diplomatic and military credibility as also acceptability and China is engaged in a similar pursuit against the backdrop of regional anxiety and unease over the kind of military assertiveness that Beijing has demonstrated in recent years in relation to its territorial claims in the East Asia-western Pacific continuum. But in contrast to this friendly overture apropos the Qingdao IFR, Delhi has decided that India will not be part of the second OBOR (one belt-one road) summit being held in Beijing later in the week (April 26). This summit meeting has been billed as the biggest diplomatic event for China in 2019 and is acknowledged as a hugely ambitious personal project of President Xi Jinping that has complex strategic implications linked to the ‘rise of China’. Delhi had stayed away from the inaugural summit in 2017 due to the manner in which India’s sovereignty claims over POK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) were ignored among other concerns. Yet given the manner in which the post-Doklam tension was sought to be assuaged at the informal Xi-Modi summit Wuhan, it was expected that India would review its non-participation at the second OBOR (aka Belt and Road Initiative) summit. However, in what was seen as a major disappointment for Beijing, earlier in March, the Indian ambassador to China Vikram Misri explained the rationale for the Indian refusal to be part of the 2019 summit. Misri noted: "Above all, connectivity initiatives must be pursued in a manner that respects the sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity of nations". He further added: "No country can participate in an initiative that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity. To be honest, we have made no secret of our views and our position on the BRI is clear and consistent and one that we have conveyed to the authorities concerned.” It is understood that most of the global community would be present at the second BRI summit, including nations with whom China currently has an uneasy or tense relationship including the USA and Japan and India’s determined ‘absence’ would be visible. The inference that could be made is that by adopting two very different policy options in relation to the PLA (Navy) IFR on April 23 and the BRI summit on April 26, Delhi is signalling both malleability and resolve in what may be described as an ‘issue-based’ and carefully calibrated approach in its overall China policy. In yet another development, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has set up a new division designated the Indo-Pacific and it is understood that this division will integrate policies pertaining to the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and deliberations related to the Quad. The latter refers to maritime/naval consultations between the USA, Japan, India and Australia. The Indo-Pacific is both a geographic entity that links the two oceans – the Indian and the Pacific; and a nascent strategic construct mooted by the USA in some detail in October 2017. The Indian formulation in relation to the Indo-Pacific was outlined by PM Modi at the Shangri-La dialogue in mid-2018 which dwelt on the centrality of ASEAN in this maritime framework. China has its own reservations about this yoking of the two oceans and the strategic sub-text advanced by the USA and the Indian decision to formally create a new division dedicated to the Indo-Pacific will not go unnoticed. Managing the bilateral with China will be a major challenge for the next Indian government and the policy contours of end April, as manifest in the IFR and the BRI summit, will remain important punctuation in this uneasy relationship between the two Asian giants. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Managing bilateral relations with China will be a major challenge for the next Indian government

Warships from India, Australia and several other nations arrived in the eastern Chinese port city of Qingdao on Sunday (April 21) to attend a naval parade, part of a goodwill visit as China extends the hand of friendship despite regional tensions and suspicions.

Indian, Australian warships arrive in China for naval parade

China will show off new warships including nuclear submarines and destroyers at a parade next week marking 70 years since it's navy's founding, a senior commander said on Saturday, as <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-china-report-progress-in-beijing-trade-talks-206635&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiOguuzgt7hAhXE6nMBHWxhBFwQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Sv5CgupavonOVJXZ4WClg">Beijing </a>flexes its increasingly well-equipped military muscle.

President Xi Jinping is overseeing a sweeping plan to refurbish the People's Liberation Army (PLA) by developing everything from stealth jets to aircraft carriers as China ramps up its presence in the South China Sea and around self-ruled Taiwan.

The navy has been a key beneficiary of the modernisation plan as China looks to project power far from the country's shores and protect its trading routes and citizens overseas.

Last month, Beijing unveiled a target of 7.5 per cent rise in defence spending for this year, a slower rate than last year but still outpacing China's economic growth target.

Deputy naval commander Qiu Yanpeng told reporters in the eastern city of Qingdao that Tuesday's naval parade - likely to be overseen by Xi himself, though China has not confirmed that - will feature 32 vessels and 39 aircraft.

"The PLA Navy ship and aircraft to be revealed are the Liaoning aircraft carrier, new types of nuclear submarines, new types of destroyers, as well as fighter aircraft," Qiu said, without giving details. "Some ships will be revealed for the first time."

The Liaoning, the country's first carrier, was bought second-hand from Ukraine in 1998 and refitted in China.

It's not clear if China's second carrier, an as-yet-unnamed ship developed and built purely in China, will also take part, but in the past few days, state media has run stories praising recent sea trials.

Around a dozen foreign navies are also taking part. While Qiu did not give an exact number, China has announced the parade would include ships from Russia, Singapore, India, Thailand and Vietnam - which frequently complains of Chinese military activity in the disputed South China Sea.

China's last naval battles were with the Vietnamese in the South China Sea, in 1974 and 1988, though these were relatively minor skirmishes.

Chinese navy ships have also participated in international anti-piracy patrols off Somalia's coast since late 2008.

Strong Navy 'Essential'

Qiu reiterated China's frequent stance that its armed forces are not a threat to anyone and that no matter what happens it will never "pursue hegemony".

"It is fair to say that the PLA Navy has not brought war or turbulence to any place," Qiu said.

But China has been scared by its past and needs good defences at sea, he added.

"A strong navy is essential for building a strong maritime country," Qiu said. "From 1840 to 1949, China was invaded by foreign powers from the sea more than 470 times, which caused untold suffering and deep wounds to the Chinese nation."

China has frequently had to rebuff concerns about its military intentions, especially as military spending continues to scale new heights.

Beijing says it has nothing to hide and has invited foreign media to cover next week's naval parade and related activities, including a keynote speech by navy chief Shen Jinlong, who is close to Xi.

Zhang Junshe, a researcher at the PLA's Naval Research Academy, told reporters after Qiu had spoken that inviting foreign navies to take part in the parade was a sign of China's openness and self-confidence, noting China had also done this for the 60th anniversary in 2009.

"New nuclear submarines and new warships will be shown - this further goes to show that China's navy is open and transparent," said Zhang.

China will show off new warships including nuclear submarines and destroyers at a parade next week marking 70 years since it's navy's founding, a senior commander said on Saturday, as Beijing flexes its increasingly well-equipped military muscle.

China will show off new warships including nuclear submarines and destroyers at a parade next week marking 70 years since it's navy's founding, a senior commander said on Saturday, as Beijing flexes its increasingly well-equipped military muscle. President Xi Jinping is overseeing a sweeping plan to refurbish the People's Liberation Army (PLA) by developing everything from stealth jets to aircraft carriers as China ramps up its presence in the South China Sea and around self-ruled Taiwan. The navy has been a key beneficiary of the modernisation plan as China looks to project power far from the country's shores and protect its trading routes and citizens overseas. Last month, Beijing unveiled a target of 7.5 per cent rise in defence spending for this year, a slower rate than last year but still outpacing China's economic growth target. Deputy naval commander Qiu Yanpeng told reporters in the eastern city of Qingdao that Tuesday's naval parade - likely to be overseen by Xi himself, though China has not confirmed that - will feature 32 vessels and 39 aircraft. "The PLA Navy ship and aircraft to be revealed are the Liaoning aircraft carrier, new types of nuclear submarines, new types of destroyers, as well as fighter aircraft," Qiu said, without giving details. "Some ships will be revealed for the first time." The Liaoning, the country's first carrier, was bought second-hand from Ukraine in 1998 and refitted in China. It's not clear if China's second carrier, an as-yet-unnamed ship developed and built purely in China, will also take part, but in the past few days, state media has run stories praising recent sea trials. Around a dozen foreign navies are also taking part. While Qiu did not give an exact number, China has announced the parade would include ships from Russia, Singapore, India, Thailand and Vietnam - which frequently complains of Chinese military activity in the disputed South China Sea. China's last naval battles were with the Vietnamese in the South China Sea, in 1974 and 1988, though these were relatively minor skirmishes. Chinese navy ships have also participated in international anti-piracy patrols off Somalia's coast since late 2008. Strong Navy 'Essential' Qiu reiterated China's frequent stance that its armed forces are not a threat to anyone and that no matter what happens it will never "pursue hegemony". "It is fair to say that the PLA Navy has not brought war or turbulence to any place," Qiu said. But China has been scared by its past and needs good defences at sea, he added. "A strong navy is essential for building a strong maritime country," Qiu said. "From 1840 to 1949, China was invaded by foreign powers from the sea more than 470 times, which caused untold suffering and deep wounds to the Chinese nation." China has frequently had to rebuff concerns about its military intentions, especially as military spending continues to scale new heights. Beijing says it has nothing to hide and has invited foreign media to cover next week's naval parade and related activities, including a keynote speech by navy chief Shen Jinlong, who is close to Xi. Zhang Junshe, a researcher at the PLA's Naval Research Academy, told reporters after Qiu had spoken that inviting foreign navies to take part in the parade was a sign of China's openness and self-confidence, noting China had also done this for the 60th anniversary in 2009. "New nuclear submarines and new warships will be shown - this further goes to show that China's navy is open and transparent," said Zhang.

China to show new warships as Beijing flexes military muscle on navy anniversary

China will show off new warships including nuclear submarines and destroyers at a parade next week marking 70 years since its navy's founding, a senior commander said on Saturday (April 20), as Beijing flexes its increasingly well-equipped military muscle.

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/italy-plans-to-join-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-report-201456&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiCu-DAqs_hAhUOaI8KHf7PDj8QFggIMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3hK1yo7qwTBKE-4nlPyjuz">China</a>`s ambitious <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/belt-and-road-forum-to-enable-china-to-establish-its-direction-policy-framework-imf-chief-210055&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiCu-DAqs_hAhUOaI8KHf7PDj8QFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2EC-hlTxNSKCzzjxES6_P0">Belt and Road initiative </a>(BRI) is not likely to work with Nepal due to a number of economic, infrastructural and environmental concerns, according to Amsterdam-based European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), which has closely studied the ground situation.

In May 2017, Beijing signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Belt and Road Initiative with Kathmandu for the purposes of opening new connectivity routes through building roads, railways, ports and aviation, alongside further investments in communication technologies, hydropower and energy projects, finance and tourism.

At the heart of the deal lies the infrastructural endeavour of building a railway line through the rugged Himalayan Mountains, which will eventually link the Chinese-controlled region of Tibet with Kathmandu.

"On one side, the question arises whether the envisioned transit project is technically feasible considering the complex geological terrain and arduous engineering work " said a statement by the Nepalese Department of Railways, according to which around 98.5% of the railway line will be bridges and tunnels, and on the other - whether the project, which could cost up to $7-8 billion, is financially attainable in light of Beijing`s legacy of building up debt in countries which go for the BRI ", said a research by the Amsterdam-based European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS).&nbsp;

EFSAS research analyst, Yoana Barakova said: "Since financial arrangements have not been yet officially made it still remains to be seen whether Nepal will contemplate on the faith of its South Asian neighbours like Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which have fallen prey to Chinese irredeemable debts, or will it decide to follow the same doomed path".

Options available on the Shigatse-Kathmandu railway are only through the ecologically fragile terrain. Given the distances and terrain involved, substantial funding running into billions of dollars would be required for BRI connectivity plans.

Nepal`s government has acknowledged that huge resources would be needed for construction of railways and highways to establish Nepal-India-China trade connectivity.

Billions of dollars would be required for China-Nepal connectivity plans specifically for the Shigatse-Kathmandu Rail Link and Nepal Government does not have these funds.

The senior European expert added: "China does not give financial grants for the BRI venture but loans at high-interest rates which Nepal cannot afford. So, in that sense, the plan is a non-starter".

Even assuming that there is a connectivity corridor in place, there is no guarantee of access to the Indian market for Chinese products through Nepal.

A contrast between free border movement between India and Nepal with the restricted movement between Nepal and Tibet shows that Nepal can never hope for the same degree of openness that it enjoys with India and that in sense the BRI remains non-viable for Kathmandu, said the European think tank.

Furthermore, China committed several development projects in Nepal including upgradation of Gautam Buddha Airport Project at Bahiragawa; Tribhuvan International Airport; Construction of Dhalkebar Substation and Chameliya Hydropower Project in Darchula, but due to delay in implementation, there are concerns that China is not living up to its commitments.

China`s ambitious Belt and Road initiative (BRI) is not likely to work with Nepal due to a number of economic, infrastructural and environmental concerns, according to Amsterdam-based European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), which has closely studied the ground situation.

China`s ambitious Belt and Road initiative (BRI) is not likely to work with Nepal due to a number of economic, infrastructural and environmental concerns, according to Amsterdam-based European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), which has closely studied the ground situation. In May 2017, Beijing signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Belt and Road Initiative with Kathmandu for the purposes of opening new connectivity routes through building roads, railways, ports and aviation, alongside further investments in communication technologies, hydropower and energy projects, finance and tourism. At the heart of the deal lies the infrastructural endeavour of building a railway line through the rugged Himalayan Mountains, which will eventually link the Chinese-controlled region of Tibet with Kathmandu. "On one side, the question arises whether the envisioned transit project is technically feasible considering the complex geological terrain and arduous engineering work " said a statement by the Nepalese Department of Railways, according to which around 98.5% of the railway line will be bridges and tunnels, and on the other - whether the project, which could cost up to $7-8 billion, is financially attainable in light of Beijing`s legacy of building up debt in countries which go for the BRI ", said a research by the Amsterdam-based European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS). EFSAS research analyst, Yoana Barakova said: "Since financial arrangements have not been yet officially made it still remains to be seen whether Nepal will contemplate on the faith of its South Asian neighbours like Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which have fallen prey to Chinese irredeemable debts, or will it decide to follow the same doomed path". Options available on the Shigatse-Kathmandu railway are only through the ecologically fragile terrain. Given the distances and terrain involved, substantial funding running into billions of dollars would be required for BRI connectivity plans. Nepal`s government has acknowledged that huge resources would be needed for construction of railways and highways to establish Nepal-India-China trade connectivity. Billions of dollars would be required for China-Nepal connectivity plans specifically for the Shigatse-Kathmandu Rail Link and Nepal Government does not have these funds. The senior European expert added: "China does not give financial grants for the BRI venture but loans at high-interest rates which Nepal cannot afford. So, in that sense, the plan is a non-starter". Even assuming that there is a connectivity corridor in place, there is no guarantee of access to the Indian market for Chinese products through Nepal. A contrast between free border movement between India and Nepal with the restricted movement between Nepal and Tibet shows that Nepal can never hope for the same degree of openness that it enjoys with India and that in sense the BRI remains non-viable for Kathmandu, said the European think tank. Furthermore, China committed several development projects in Nepal including upgradation of Gautam Buddha Airport Project at Bahiragawa; Tribhuvan International Airport; Construction of Dhalkebar Substation and Chameliya Hydropower Project in Darchula, but due to delay in implementation, there are concerns that China is not living up to its commitments.

China's Belt and Road outreach to Nepal won't work, says leading European think tank

The 2019 Beijing International Film Festival will be held in Huairou District in Beijing on Saturday night and will hold abundant activities including opening ceremony, assessing films for Tiantan Award, film panorama, film carnival and so forth.

Beijing int’l film festival to open tonight

Chinese Premier<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/with-economy-slowing-china-premier-li-keqiang-says-tough-struggle-ahead-201278&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiDsvKu2cnhAhUz6nMBHQwUBbkQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw16rBTqWK9IsoII5icEuMEr"> Li Keqiang</a> will meet leaders from eastern and central Europe in Croatia on Friday to talk business, fresh from a key summit with EU where he pledged opening up his country's economy.

The coastal city of Dubrovnik is hosting the eighth annual "16+1 cooperation" -- an economic platform for Beijing's investments in 11 eastern European Union states and five Western Balkan countries.

The grouping has been eyed cautiously in western European capitals as an attempt to "divide and rule" the bloc, a goal Li has denied.&nbsp;

In an article published in Croatian dailies ahead of the gathering, the Chinese premier tried to paint the summit in a cheery light:

"When we put 17 multicolour countries together we get a colour richer than a rainbow," he wrote in the article titled "Multicolour countries, spacious future".

"If we build a rainbow bridge through Asia and Europe, we will achieve nice future cooperation."

Eastern Europe is a core component of Beijing's vast "Belt and Road" project, valued at up to $1 trillion and aimed at constructing land and sea links to allow Chinese exports to flow westward.&nbsp;

China has previously announced a $10 billion credit line and $3 billion investment fund for the 16-country region.

So far its record on follow-through is mixed, with some major construction projects underway while other promised investments have been delayed or scrapped.

For instance, building on one of 16+1's flag-ship projects -- a railway from Belgrade to Budapest -- has just started in Serbia but is held up by snags in Hungary, ultimately making scant progress five years after it was announced.

'Pilot project'

This year's summit comes just three days after a top EU-China meeting, attended by Li, held as Brussels demands more balanced economic ties with a country it recently labelled as a "systemic rival".

In Brussels, on Tuesday the Asian giant pledged to push further to open its economy and deepen ties with the bloc.

EU Council president Donald Tusk hailed Beijing's new commitments as a "breakthrough" with both sides committed to globalisation and pursuing international rules.

Brussels and Beijing in a document called for "broader and more facilitated, non-discriminatory market access," in wording the Europeans saw as a Chinese concession.

The EU is increasingly unhappy that markets in Europe are wide open to Chinese companies, while the equivalent is not the case in China.

While the EU's 15-trillion-euro ($16.9 trillion) market gives it significant economic clout, the bloc struggles to maintain unity among its 28 members on issues of foreign policy, allowing China to pursue one-on-one deals with individual countries.

Some EU powers, such as France and Germany, are growing increasingly concerned with China's Belt and Road ambitions, especially after populist-led Italy recently became the first G7 member to join the scheme.&nbsp;

In 2018, China was the second largest destination for European exports.

The Chinese trade balance is largely in surplus with the bloc at 184 billion euros, according to Brussels figures.

During the first visit of a Chinese premier to Croatia, Li on Thursday visited the site where a Chinese firm started construction on a 280-million-euro bridge on the Adriatic coast.

It is the first significant Chinese project in Croatia and funded by the EU.

"This bridge is a pilot project for both '16+1 cooperation' and cooperation between China and EU," Li said while visiting the bridge's site on Thursday.

About 1,000 businessmen including some 400 Chinese will participate at a business forum held alongside the summit in Dubrovnik.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will meet leaders from eastern and central Europe in Croatia on Friday to talk business, fresh from a key summit with EU where he pledged opening up his country's economy.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will meet leaders from eastern and central Europe in Croatia on Friday to talk business, fresh from a key summit with EU where he pledged opening up his country's economy. The coastal city of Dubrovnik is hosting the eighth annual "16+1 cooperation" -- an economic platform for Beijing's investments in 11 eastern European Union states and five Western Balkan countries. The grouping has been eyed cautiously in western European capitals as an attempt to "divide and rule" the bloc, a goal Li has denied. In an article published in Croatian dailies ahead of the gathering, the Chinese premier tried to paint the summit in a cheery light: "When we put 17 multicolour countries together we get a colour richer than a rainbow," he wrote in the article titled "Multicolour countries, spacious future". "If we build a rainbow bridge through Asia and Europe, we will achieve nice future cooperation." Eastern Europe is a core component of Beijing's vast "Belt and Road" project, valued at up to $1 trillion and aimed at constructing land and sea links to allow Chinese exports to flow westward. China has previously announced a $10 billion credit line and $3 billion investment fund for the 16-country region. So far its record on follow-through is mixed, with some major construction projects underway while other promised investments have been delayed or scrapped. For instance, building on one of 16+1's flag-ship projects -- a railway from Belgrade to Budapest -- has just started in Serbia but is held up by snags in Hungary, ultimately making scant progress five years after it was announced. 'Pilot project' This year's summit comes just three days after a top EU-China meeting, attended by Li, held as Brussels demands more balanced economic ties with a country it recently labelled as a "systemic rival". In Brussels, on Tuesday the Asian giant pledged to push further to open its economy and deepen ties with the bloc. EU Council president Donald Tusk hailed Beijing's new commitments as a "breakthrough" with both sides committed to globalisation and pursuing international rules. Brussels and Beijing in a document called for "broader and more facilitated, non-discriminatory market access," in wording the Europeans saw as a Chinese concession. The EU is increasingly unhappy that markets in Europe are wide open to Chinese companies, while the equivalent is not the case in China. While the EU's 15-trillion-euro ($16.9 trillion) market gives it significant economic clout, the bloc struggles to maintain unity among its 28 members on issues of foreign policy, allowing China to pursue one-on-one deals with individual countries. Some EU powers, such as France and Germany, are growing increasingly concerned with China's Belt and Road ambitions, especially after populist-led Italy recently became the first G7 member to join the scheme. In 2018, China was the second largest destination for European exports. The Chinese trade balance is largely in surplus with the bloc at 184 billion euros, according to Brussels figures. During the first visit of a Chinese premier to Croatia, Li on Thursday visited the site where a Chinese firm started construction on a 280-million-euro bridge on the Adriatic coast. It is the first significant Chinese project in Croatia and funded by the EU. "This bridge is a pilot project for both '16+1 cooperation' and cooperation between China and EU," Li said while visiting the bridge's site on Thursday. About 1,000 businessmen including some 400 Chinese will participate at a business forum held alongside the summit in Dubrovnik.

China courts eastern Europe after key European Union summit

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/us-china-trade-talks-free-trade-must-not-be-derailed-198923">Trade talks</a> between the United States and China made "good headway" last week in Beijing and the two sides aim to bridge differences during talks that could extend beyond three days this week, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said.

Kudlow, speaking to reporters on Wednesday at an event organized by the Christian Science Monitor, said China had recognised problems for the first time during the talks that the United States has raised for years.

Negotiations continued in Washington on Wednesday after meetings last week in Beijing, spearheaded by US&nbsp;Trade Representative <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-and-china-open-trade-talks-in-beijing-197284&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiS9J-OxbXhAhXRjOYKHcjCB2IQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0hILGxRoNQmZwUAh7dAjpk">Robert Lighthizer</a> and Treasury Secretary <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/so-far-so-good-steven-mnuchin-says-of-trade-talks-in-china-197240&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjk9cybxbXhAhXg73MBHc3VAEoQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw166SGi2CpUGSdzjm1490zV">Steven Mnuchin</a>.

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-china-report-progress-in-beijing-trade-talks-206635&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjwgcGvxbXhAhXh73MBHZozBKwQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ZlL_MbQGBucQYU-1ZqQyc">President Donald Trump</a> will meet with Vice Premier Liu He, who is leading the Chinese side in the talks, in the Oval Office at 4:30 p.m. (2030 GMT) on Thursday, the White House said.

The United States and China have levied tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of two-way trade since July 2018. Trump has said he wants a "great deal" with China and has hinted that tariffs could remain in place for some time.

Chinese commitments to increase purchases of American agricultural, energy and manufactured products are expected to be part of a final deal, and a person familiar with the talks said China would get about six years to meet those commitments, or until 2025.

The deadline was reported earlier by Bloomberg, but Trump administration officials previously said that a six-year timeline for purchases exceeding $1 trillion had been under discussion.

A final number for the number of purchases has not been settled, the person said.

Kudlow said Liu and his team would remain in Washington for three days and possibly longer.

"We're covering issues that have never really been covered before, including enforcement," Kudlow said, listing U.S. accusations that Beijing engages in intellectual property theft, forced transfer of technology from US&nbsp;companies doing business in China, cyber hacking, tariffs and non-tariff barriers for commodity trading.

"All making good progress, all making good headway, but we're not there yet," he said about those areas. "We hope this week to get closer."

Kudlow said it was significant that China had "acknowledged these problems for the first time. They were in denial."

Those structural issues along with the way a potential deal would be enforced have been sticking points during months of talks between the world's two largest economies.

Kudlow said on Wednesday that US&nbsp;charges against Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd had generally not come up during trade talks.

Kudlow also said no decisions had been made on tariffs on auto imports coming from top US&nbsp;allies.

Trade talks between the United States and China made "good headway" last week in Beijing and the two sides aim to bridge differences during talks that could extend beyond three days this week, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said.

Trade talks between the United States and China made "good headway" last week in Beijing and the two sides aim to bridge differences during talks that could extend beyond three days this week, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said. Kudlow, speaking to reporters on Wednesday at an event organized by the Christian Science Monitor, said China had recognised problems for the first time during the talks that the United States has raised for years. Negotiations continued in Washington on Wednesday after meetings last week in Beijing, spearheaded by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. President Donald Trump will meet with Vice Premier Liu He, who is leading the Chinese side in the talks, in the Oval Office at 4:30 p.m. (2030 GMT) on Thursday, the White House said. The United States and China have levied tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of two-way trade since July 2018. Trump has said he wants a "great deal" with China and has hinted that tariffs could remain in place for some time. Chinese commitments to increase purchases of American agricultural, energy and manufactured products are expected to be part of a final deal, and a person familiar with the talks said China would get about six years to meet those commitments, or until 2025. The deadline was reported earlier by Bloomberg, but Trump administration officials previously said that a six-year timeline for purchases exceeding $1 trillion had been under discussion. A final number for the number of purchases has not been settled, the person said. Kudlow said Liu and his team would remain in Washington for three days and possibly longer. "We're covering issues that have never really been covered before, including enforcement," Kudlow said, listing U.S. accusations that Beijing engages in intellectual property theft, forced transfer of technology from US companies doing business in China, cyber hacking, tariffs and non-tariff barriers for commodity trading. "All making good progress, all making good headway, but we're not there yet," he said about those areas. "We hope this week to get closer." Kudlow said it was significant that China had "acknowledged these problems for the first time. They were in denial." Those structural issues along with the way a potential deal would be enforced have been sticking points during months of talks between the world's two largest economies. Kudlow said on Wednesday that US charges against Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd had generally not come up during trade talks. Kudlow also said no decisions had been made on tariffs on auto imports coming from top US allies.

US-China talks making progress, could be extended: White House

Gravitas: Chinese engineers attacked in Pakistan

The United States and China said they made progress in trade talks that concluded on Friday in Beijing that Washington called "candid and constructive" as the world`s two largest economies try to resolve a bitter, nearly nine-month trade war.

"The two parties continued to make progress during candid and constructive discussions on the negotiations and important next steps," the White House said in a statement, adding that it looked forward to the visit to Washington next week by a Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Liu He.

The statement gave no other details on the nature of the progress.&nbsp;

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer were in the Chinese capital for the first face-to-face meetings between the two sides since President Donald Trump delayed a scheduled March 2 hike in tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, citing progress in negotiations.&nbsp;

China`s state news agency Xinhua said the two sides discussed "relevant agreement documents" and made new progress in their talks, but did not elaborate in a brief report.

"@USTradeRep and I concluded constructive trade talks in Beijing," Mnuchin said on social media network Twitter.

Earlier, Mnuchin told reporters that US officials had a "very productive working dinner" on Thursday. He did not elaborate and it was not immediately clear with whom he had dined.

Trump imposed tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese imports beginning last July in a move to force China to change the way it does business with the rest of the world and to pry open more of its economy to US companies.

Though his blunt-force use of tariffs has angered many, his push to change what are widely viewed as China`s market-distorting trade and subsidy practices has drawn broad support.&nbsp;

Lobbyists, company executives and US lawmakers from both parties have urged Trump not to settle simply for Beijing`s offers to make big-ticket purchases from the United States to help reduce a record trade gap.

LOST IN TRANSLATION?&nbsp;

Details of where the two sides made progress were not immediately clear. Going into the talks, people familiar with the negotiations had said there were still significant differences on an enforcement mechanism and the sequence of when and how US tariffs on Chinese products would be lifted.

Mnuchin and Lighthizer greeted a waiting Liu at the Diaoyutai State Guest House just before 9 a.m. (0100 GMT), and in two brief appearances before journalists, the three mingled and joked with members of the opposite teams.&nbsp;

Observers had anticipated the scope of this round of talks, which wrapped up about 24 hours after the US delegation arrived, to be quite narrow, but that both countries hoped to signal they were working hard toward a resolution.&nbsp;

Reuters reported previously that the two sides were negotiating written pacts in six areas: forced technology transfer and cyber theft, intellectual property rights, services, currency, agriculture and non-tariff barriers to trade.&nbsp;

A US administration official told Reuters earlier this week that Lighthizer and Mnuchin were "literally sitting there going through the texts", a task typically delegated to lower-level deputies.

One person with knowledge of the talks said "translation is definitely an issue", referring to discrepancies between the Chinese and English-language versions.

On Thursday, Premier Li Keqiang said Beijing would sharply expand market access for foreign banks and securities and insurance companies, fuelling speculation that China may soon announce new rules allowing foreign financial firms to increase their presence.&nbsp;

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the United States may drop some tariffs if a trade deal is reached, while keeping others in place to ensure Beijing`s compliance.

"We`re not going to give up our leverage," he told reporters in Washington on Thursday.

`THERE ARE GOING TO BE PROBLEMS`

Many have expressed scepticism that any deal can permanently resolve US-China trade tensions.

"Whatever implementation mechanism China agrees to, whether it is monthly or quarterly meetings or other check-ins, there are going to be problems," James Green, a senior advisor at McLarty Associates who until August was the top USTR official at the embassy in Beijing, told Reuters.

"Either the purchases are going to be off, or the market access is not going to be there. And then the question is, `When do you consider putting tariffs back on?`" he added. "The trade issue is not going to be put to bed."

Trump`s demands include an end to Beijing`s practices that Washington says result in the systematic theft of US intellectual property and the forced transfer of American technology to Chinese companies.

US companies say they are often pressured into handing over technological know-how to Chinese joint venture partners, local officials or regulators as a condition for doing business in China.&nbsp;

The US government says technology is often subsequently transferred to, and used by, Chinese competitors.

The issue has proved tough for negotiators as US officials say China has previously refused to acknowledge the problem exists to the extent alleged by the United States, making it hard to discuss resolution.

China says its laws enshrine no requirements on technology transfers that are a result of legitimate transactions.

The United States and China said they made progress in trade talks that concluded on Friday in Beijing that Washington called "candid and constructive" as the world`s two largest economies try to resolve a bitter, nearly nine-month trade war.

The United States and China said they made progress in trade talks that concluded on Friday in Beijing that Washington called "candid and constructive" as the world`s two largest economies try to resolve a bitter, nearly nine-month trade war. "The two parties continued to make progress during candid and constructive discussions on the negotiations and important next steps," the White House said in a statement, adding that it looked forward to the visit to Washington next week by a Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Liu He. The statement gave no other details on the nature of the progress. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer were in the Chinese capital for the first face-to-face meetings between the two sides since President Donald Trump delayed a scheduled March 2 hike in tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, citing progress in negotiations. China`s state news agency Xinhua said the two sides discussed "relevant agreement documents" and made new progress in their talks, but did not elaborate in a brief report. "@USTradeRep and I concluded constructive trade talks in Beijing," Mnuchin said on social media network Twitter. Earlier, Mnuchin told reporters that US officials had a "very productive working dinner" on Thursday. He did not elaborate and it was not immediately clear with whom he had dined. Trump imposed tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese imports beginning last July in a move to force China to change the way it does business with the rest of the world and to pry open more of its economy to US companies. Though his blunt-force use of tariffs has angered many, his push to change what are widely viewed as China`s market-distorting trade and subsidy practices has drawn broad support. Lobbyists, company executives and US lawmakers from both parties have urged Trump not to settle simply for Beijing`s offers to make big-ticket purchases from the United States to help reduce a record trade gap. LOST IN TRANSLATION? Details of where the two sides made progress were not immediately clear. Going into the talks, people familiar with the negotiations had said there were still significant differences on an enforcement mechanism and the sequence of when and how US tariffs on Chinese products would be lifted. Mnuchin and Lighthizer greeted a waiting Liu at the Diaoyutai State Guest House just before 9 a.m. (0100 GMT), and in two brief appearances before journalists, the three mingled and joked with members of the opposite teams. Observers had anticipated the scope of this round of talks, which wrapped up about 24 hours after the US delegation arrived, to be quite narrow, but that both countries hoped to signal they were working hard toward a resolution. Reuters reported previously that the two sides were negotiating written pacts in six areas: forced technology transfer and cyber theft, intellectual property rights, services, currency, agriculture and non-tariff barriers to trade. A US administration official told Reuters earlier this week that Lighthizer and Mnuchin were "literally sitting there going through the texts", a task typically delegated to lower-level deputies. One person with knowledge of the talks said "translation is definitely an issue", referring to discrepancies between the Chinese and English-language versions. On Thursday, Premier Li Keqiang said Beijing would sharply expand market access for foreign banks and securities and insurance companies, fuelling speculation that China may soon announce new rules allowing foreign financial firms to increase their presence. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the United States may drop some tariffs if a trade deal is reached, while keeping others in place to ensure Beijing`s compliance. "We`re not going to give up our leverage," he told reporters in Washington on Thursday. `THERE ARE GOING TO BE PROBLEMS` Many have expressed scepticism that any deal can permanently resolve US-China trade tensions. "Whatever implementation mechanism China agrees to, whether it is monthly or quarterly meetings or other check-ins, there are going to be problems," James Green, a senior advisor at McLarty Associates who until August was the top USTR official at the embassy in Beijing, told Reuters. "Either the purchases are going to be off, or the market access is not going to be there. And then the question is, `When do you consider putting tariffs back on?`" he added. "The trade issue is not going to be put to bed." Trump`s demands include an end to Beijing`s practices that Washington says result in the systematic theft of US intellectual property and the forced transfer of American technology to Chinese companies. US companies say they are often pressured into handing over technological know-how to Chinese joint venture partners, local officials or regulators as a condition for doing business in China. The US government says technology is often subsequently transferred to, and used by, Chinese competitors. The issue has proved tough for negotiators as US officials say China has previously refused to acknowledge the problem exists to the extent alleged by the United States, making it hard to discuss resolution. China says its laws enshrine no requirements on technology transfers that are a result of legitimate transactions.

US, China hold 'candid and constructive' trade talks in Beijing

Sony to close smartphone plant in Beijing

China's President Xi Jinping & France's President Emmanuel Macron meets for official talks

China is under EU scanner on Uighur Muslims

Taiwan has made a formal request to the United States for new fighter jets to defend itself against increasing Chinese threats, Deputy Defence Minister Shen Yi-ming told reporters Thursday.

"We made the request to purchase (fighter jets) because China has been increasing its military strength and we are starting to have an imbalance of power in our air defence capabilities," Shen added.

The request, if granted, could ramp up tensions between China and the United States.&nbsp;

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting unification, even though the two sides have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949.

China has significantly stepped up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan since the Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, including staging a series of military exercises near the island.

Chinese bombers and surveillance aircraft have also begun flying much more regular sorties around the island.

Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but has remained Taiwan's most powerful unofficial ally and biggest arms supplier.

Last year, the US irked China over its plans to sell a batch of military parts to Taiwan in a $330 million contract including standard spare parts for aircraft.

Beijing has been incensed by warming ties between Washington and Taipei, including the approval by the US State Department of a preliminary licence to sell submarine technology to the island.

But fearing a possible backlash from Beijing, the US has repeatedly denied Taiwan's requests since 2002 for new fighter jets including newer F-16s and F-35s.

In that time China has massively ramped up spending on its armed forces, including highly advanced fifth-generation jet fighters.

That has left Taiwan with an ageing airforce that analysts say is in desperate need of an upgrade.&nbsp;

The island currently has 326 fighter jets, all in service since the 1990s, including US-made F-16s, French Mirage 2000s and Taiwan's own indigenous fighters (IDF).

Defence officials would not confirm how many fighter jets they have asked for in the purchase request, or what model.&nbsp;

Local media Apple Daily reported Taiwan was seeking 66 F-16V at a cost of $13 billion including missiles, logistics and training.

"It does not matter if it is F-15, F-18, F-16 or F-35, as long as it fits our combat needs," Tang Hung-an, a major-general with Taiwan's Air Force Command Headquarters said.

Tang added that the letter of request to the US did not specify which type of aircraft Taiwan wants.&nbsp;

Taiwan has made a formal request to the United States for new fighter jets to defend itself against increasing Chinese threats, Deputy Defence Minister Shen Yi-ming told reporters Thursday.

Taiwan has made a formal request to the United States for new fighter jets to defend itself against increasing Chinese threats, Deputy Defence Minister Shen Yi-ming told reporters Thursday. "We made the request to purchase (fighter jets) because China has been increasing its military strength and we are starting to have an imbalance of power in our air defence capabilities," Shen added. The request, if granted, could ramp up tensions between China and the United States. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting unification, even though the two sides have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949. China has significantly stepped up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan since the Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, including staging a series of military exercises near the island. Chinese bombers and surveillance aircraft have also begun flying much more regular sorties around the island. Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but has remained Taiwan's most powerful unofficial ally and biggest arms supplier. Last year, the US irked China over its plans to sell a batch of military parts to Taiwan in a $330 million contract including standard spare parts for aircraft. Beijing has been incensed by warming ties between Washington and Taipei, including the approval by the US State Department of a preliminary licence to sell submarine technology to the island. But fearing a possible backlash from Beijing, the US has repeatedly denied Taiwan's requests since 2002 for new fighter jets including newer F-16s and F-35s. In that time China has massively ramped up spending on its armed forces, including highly advanced fifth-generation jet fighters. That has left Taiwan with an ageing airforce that analysts say is in desperate need of an upgrade. The island currently has 326 fighter jets, all in service since the 1990s, including US-made F-16s, French Mirage 2000s and Taiwan's own indigenous fighters (IDF). Defence officials would not confirm how many fighter jets they have asked for in the purchase request, or what model. Local media Apple Daily reported Taiwan was seeking 66 F-16V at a cost of $13 billion including missiles, logistics and training. "It does not matter if it is F-15, F-18, F-16 or F-35, as long as it fits our combat needs," Tang Hung-an, a major-general with Taiwan's Air Force Command Headquarters said. Tang added that the letter of request to the US did not specify which type of aircraft Taiwan wants.

Taiwan asks US for new fighter jets to defend against China

China’s top steelmaking region of Hebei will cut 14 million tonnes of annual steelmaking capacity in both this year and next year as it strives to improve air quality, the province’s Communist Party head said on Thursday.

Speaking at a meeting of Hebei delegates at the National People’s Congress in Beijing, Wang Dongfeng also said the province would reduce its concentration of PM2.5 - lung-damaging particulate matter of fewer than 2.5 microns in diameter - by at least 5 per cent this year from 2018 levels.

“We would rather sacrifice GDP in order to guard blue sky in Beijing. That’s a political task,” Wang said.

Hebei province, which surrounds the capital of Beijing in northern China, produced around 237 million tonnes of crude steel in 2018, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. That accounts for more than 25 percent of last year’s national total in China, the world’s biggest steelmaker.

Home to major steel hubs such as Tangshan and Handan, Hebei’s average PM2.5 concentration in 2018 was 56 micrograms, according to government air quality data. The annual average was down 13 percent year-on-year but still well above a national reading of 39 micrograms.

At the start of this week’s parliamentary gathering, China set its 2019 GDP growth target at 6.0 to 6.5 percent, versus growth last year at 6.6 percent, the lowest since 1990.

Unlike last year, China did not set a national target for reduction in steel capacity in 2019. A goal to cut 150 million tonnes by 2020 was achieved by the end of 2018.

At the same meeting on Thursday, Hebei governor Xu Qin said the province had eliminated 82.23 million tonnes of annual steel capacity in 2013-18, while the number of steel companies operating in Hebei had halved over that period.

China’s top steelmaking region of Hebei will cut 14 million tonnes of annual steelmaking capacity in both this year and next year as it strives to improve air quality, the province’s Communist Party head said on Thursday.

China’s top steelmaking region of Hebei will cut 14 million tonnes of annual steelmaking capacity in both this year and next year as it strives to improve air quality, the province’s Communist Party head said on Thursday. Speaking at a meeting of Hebei delegates at the National People’s Congress in Beijing, Wang Dongfeng also said the province would reduce its concentration of PM2.5 - lung-damaging particulate matter of fewer than 2.5 microns in diameter - by at least 5 per cent this year from 2018 levels. “We would rather sacrifice GDP in order to guard blue sky in Beijing. That’s a political task,” Wang said. Hebei province, which surrounds the capital of Beijing in northern China, produced around 237 million tonnes of crude steel in 2018, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. That accounts for more than 25 percent of last year’s national total in China, the world’s biggest steelmaker. Home to major steel hubs such as Tangshan and Handan, Hebei’s average PM2.5 concentration in 2018 was 56 micrograms, according to government air quality data. The annual average was down 13 percent year-on-year but still well above a national reading of 39 micrograms. At the start of this week’s parliamentary gathering, China set its 2019 GDP growth target at 6.0 to 6.5 percent, versus growth last year at 6.6 percent, the lowest since 1990. Unlike last year, China did not set a national target for reduction in steel capacity in 2019. A goal to cut 150 million tonnes by 2020 was achieved by the end of 2018. At the same meeting on Thursday, Hebei governor Xu Qin said the province had eliminated 82.23 million tonnes of annual steel capacity in 2013-18, while the number of steel companies operating in Hebei had halved over that period.

China's top steelmaker Hebei to cut production to improve air quality

Beijing's propaganda apparatus is pumping up the volume for its annual parliament meeting, with videos starring a rapper dropping rhymes about his "elation" for the session and an American waxing lyrical about the Chinese "system of democracy".

Chinese state media regularly rolls out clips targeted at foreign audiences during important political events, and this year's production has again raised eyebrows among China watchers.

Xinhua, China's official news agency, co-produced a rap video entitled "'Two Sessions': To the World from China" to celebrate the annual meeting of the rubber-stamp parliament -- the National People's Congress -- and the country's top political advisory body.

Rich in rhymes which often appear incoherent, the song boasts about the country's social and scientific achievements, from anti-pollution measures to poverty alleviation programmes and a historic moon landing.

"I got elation from inspiration writing a compliment song for the nation while I'm talking about 'two sessions'," raps Su Han, the hoodie-clad singer in the music video.

"Monkey King to the West, legendary dragon to the sky, y'all know it's time for Chinese miracle."

It is not the first time that Chinese state media has used rap in an effort to make propaganda more catchy, building up a sizable repertoire of songs on government initiatives and catchphrases, like the "Chinese Dream".

Last year, the Communist Party mouthpiece, the People's Daily, released an animated rap video on "Two Sessions" that included vox pop-style interviews with citizens and even a few foreigners.

The latest video "is part of a trend towards hipper, younger content that has been visible for several years now", said Florian Schneider, senior lecturer at Leiden University, who studies media and political communication in China.&nbsp;

"Since Xi Jinping came to power, the Chinese propaganda system has been working more closely with advertisers and PR experts to create the kind of content that they hope will go viral online," he told AFP.

'Propaganda as nonsense'&nbsp; 
The choice to produce the "Two Sessions" rap video in English this year also indicates that the intended audience is outside of China.&nbsp;

Over the past few years, Chinese state media has pushed similar videos on to social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, which are blocked in China.&nbsp;

In 2017, Xinhua produced a "Belt and Road" rap video with English subtitles on China's $1 trillion infrastructure initiative, later disseminating it on Twitter.

"The Chinese Communist Party has been trying to communicate its values more to the outside world with China feeling more confident now with all those projects, like the Belt and Road project," said Xiaoling Zhang, professor at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, who researches public diplomacy and international communication in China.

But while Xinhua's "Two Sessions" video features a number of creative English rhymes, many of its lyrics are incomprehensible.

"Eject all the rapaciousness like shaking off nephrolithiasis," sings Su, while the video flashes through shots of lakes and sunsets. "Longing the Hanging Gardens so we turn the entire space into oasis."

"We've truly entered a new era of propaganda as nonsense. Form is everything," said David Bandurski, co-director of the China Media Project, which studies Chinese media and communications out of the University of Hong Kong.

Describing the rap video as "naked nationalism married to nonsense", Bandurski told AFP that even if the video is trying to target overseas audiences, it is "China's leadership talking to itself".

Foreigners have also appeared in propaganda videos to praise China's government and its programmes.

For this year's parliament session, which opened Tuesday, Xinhua released another video aimed at foreign audiences -- and shared on Twitter -- entitled "Chinese democracy in the eyes of an American".

"It's widely acknowledged that a key to China's success is its system of democracy which results in political stability and vitality," said Colin Linneweber, a Xinhua editor, in the video.

Linneweber was later ridiculed on Twitter for his role in the video, with some wondering whether he had been paid, while others criticised it as "shameful", as the piece emphasises the democratic nature of the National People's Congress, even though many of the bills it votes on are decided by party leaders prior to the session.

During last year's political gathering, when the Chinese government moved to abolish presidential term limits -- handing Xi a potentially lifelong tenure -- the NPC cleared the constitutional amendment with 2,958 in favour and only two against.

Linneweber declined to comment.

Beijing's propaganda apparatus is pumping up the volume for its annual parliament meeting, with videos starring a rapper dropping rhymes about his "elation" for the session and an American waxing lyrical about the Chinese "system of democracy".

Beijing's propaganda apparatus is pumping up the volume for its annual parliament meeting, with videos starring a rapper dropping rhymes about his "elation" for the session and an American waxing lyrical about the Chinese "system of democracy". Chinese state media regularly rolls out clips targeted at foreign audiences during important political events, and this year's production has again raised eyebrows among China watchers. Xinhua, China's official news agency, co-produced a rap video entitled "'Two Sessions': To the World from China" to celebrate the annual meeting of the rubber-stamp parliament -- the National People's Congress -- and the country's top political advisory body. Rich in rhymes which often appear incoherent, the song boasts about the country's social and scientific achievements, from anti-pollution measures to poverty alleviation programmes and a historic moon landing. "I got elation from inspiration writing a compliment song for the nation while I'm talking about 'two sessions'," raps Su Han, the hoodie-clad singer in the music video. "Monkey King to the West, legendary dragon to the sky, y'all know it's time for Chinese miracle." It is not the first time that Chinese state media has used rap in an effort to make propaganda more catchy, building up a sizable repertoire of songs on government initiatives and catchphrases, like the "Chinese Dream". Last year, the Communist Party mouthpiece, the People's Daily, released an animated rap video on "Two Sessions" that included vox pop-style interviews with citizens and even a few foreigners. The latest video "is part of a trend towards hipper, younger content that has been visible for several years now", said Florian Schneider, senior lecturer at Leiden University, who studies media and political communication in China. "Since Xi Jinping came to power, the Chinese propaganda system has been working more closely with advertisers and PR experts to create the kind of content that they hope will go viral online," he told AFP. 'Propaganda as nonsense' The choice to produce the "Two Sessions" rap video in English this year also indicates that the intended audience is outside of China. Over the past few years, Chinese state media has pushed similar videos on to social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, which are blocked in China. In 2017, Xinhua produced a "Belt and Road" rap video with English subtitles on China's $1 trillion infrastructure initiative, later disseminating it on Twitter. "The Chinese Communist Party has been trying to communicate its values more to the outside world with China feeling more confident now with all those projects, like the Belt and Road project," said Xiaoling Zhang, professor at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, who researches public diplomacy and international communication in China. But while Xinhua's "Two Sessions" video features a number of creative English rhymes, many of its lyrics are incomprehensible. "Eject all the rapaciousness like shaking off nephrolithiasis," sings Su, while the video flashes through shots of lakes and sunsets. "Longing the Hanging Gardens so we turn the entire space into oasis." "We've truly entered a new era of propaganda as nonsense. Form is everything," said David Bandurski, co-director of the China Media Project, which studies Chinese media and communications out of the University of Hong Kong. Describing the rap video as "naked nationalism married to nonsense", Bandurski told AFP that even if the video is trying to target overseas audiences, it is "China's leadership talking to itself". Foreigners have also appeared in propaganda videos to praise China's government and its programmes. For this year's parliament session, which opened Tuesday, Xinhua released another video aimed at foreign audiences -- and shared on Twitter -- entitled "Chinese democracy in the eyes of an American". "It's widely acknowledged that a key to China's success is its system of democracy which results in political stability and vitality," said Colin Linneweber, a Xinhua editor, in the video. Linneweber was later ridiculed on Twitter for his role in the video, with some wondering whether he had been paid, while others criticised it as "shameful", as the piece emphasises the democratic nature of the National People's Congress, even though many of the bills it votes on are decided by party leaders prior to the session. During last year's political gathering, when the Chinese government moved to abolish presidential term limits -- handing Xi a potentially lifelong tenure -- the NPC cleared the constitutional amendment with 2,958 in favour and only two against. Linneweber declined to comment.

China rolls out rap songs to pump up parliament

Of world's 25 most polluted cities, 20 are Indian

The armoured train carrying North Korea's&nbsp;leader <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-leader-kim-jong-un-leaves-for-pyongyang-after-vietnamese-state-visit-200721">Kim Jong Un</a> on his way back from the Hanoi summit on Monday travelled past the Chinese capital on its journey back to Pyongyang, ending speculation about a possible meeting with the Chinese president.

The train went through the port city of Tianjin (southeast of Beijing) at 7 am and continued north towards Liaoning province, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

Kim's train departed from the Vietnamese village of Dong Dang on Saturday, two days after the abrupt ending of his summit with the United States President, Donald Trump, which closed without any agreements signed on North Korean denuclearization or the lifting of sanctions on Pyongyang.

The fact that the presidential train did not stop in Beijing excluded the possibility of a meeting between Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

There had been speculation about a possible meeting because Kim has always met with the leadership in Beijing - the main ally of Pyongyang - before or after summits with Trump in 2018 or South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

It was initially thought that the train would stop in Guangzhou either before or after the Hanoi summit in Vietnam.

Kim travelled 60 hours by train on the 4,500-kilometer journey from Pyongyang to Vietnam to attend the summit.&nbsp;

The train was expected to reach Dandong in the Chinese province of Liaoning bordering North Korea before crossing over the border to continue towards Pyongyang.

The US president returned home after the US delegation left Hanoi on Thursday hours ahead of schedule and without declaration being signed on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

Before his departure, Trump attributed the lack of an agreement to North Korea's insistence that the US lift all sanctions on the isolated North-East Asian nation, although he said that he and Kim had said goodbye on good terms.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho contradicted Trump's remarks shortly afterwards, saying that Pyongyang had only sought partial sanctions relief.

Following the summit with Trump, Kim held meetings with the Vietnamese leadership.

The armoured train carrying North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un on his way back from the Hanoi summit on Monday travelled past the Chinese capital on its journey back to Pyongyang, ending speculation about a possible meeting with the Chinese president.

The armoured train carrying North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un on his way back from the Hanoi summit on Monday travelled past the Chinese capital on its journey back to Pyongyang, ending speculation about a possible meeting with the Chinese president. The train went through the port city of Tianjin (southeast of Beijing) at 7 am and continued north towards Liaoning province, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported. Kim's train departed from the Vietnamese village of Dong Dang on Saturday, two days after the abrupt ending of his summit with the United States President, Donald Trump, which closed without any agreements signed on North Korean denuclearization or the lifting of sanctions on Pyongyang. The fact that the presidential train did not stop in Beijing excluded the possibility of a meeting between Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping. There had been speculation about a possible meeting because Kim has always met with the leadership in Beijing - the main ally of Pyongyang - before or after summits with Trump in 2018 or South Korean President Moon Jae-in. It was initially thought that the train would stop in Guangzhou either before or after the Hanoi summit in Vietnam. Kim travelled 60 hours by train on the 4,500-kilometer journey from Pyongyang to Vietnam to attend the summit. The train was expected to reach Dandong in the Chinese province of Liaoning bordering North Korea before crossing over the border to continue towards Pyongyang. The US president returned home after the US delegation left Hanoi on Thursday hours ahead of schedule and without declaration being signed on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Before his departure, Trump attributed the lack of an agreement to North Korea's insistence that the US lift all sanctions on the isolated North-East Asian nation, although he said that he and Kim had said goodbye on good terms. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho contradicted Trump's remarks shortly afterwards, saying that Pyongyang had only sought partial sanctions relief. Following the summit with Trump, Kim held meetings with the Vietnamese leadership.

No meeting with China as North Korea leader Kim Jong Un's train makes no stop in Beijing

Malaysia is open to restarting the hunt for Flight MH370 if firms come forward with credible leads and concrete proposals, the transport minister said Sunday, five years on from the plane's disappearance.&nbsp;

The Malaysia Airlines jet vanished in March 2014 with 239 people -- mostly from China -- on board, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

No sign of it was found in a 120,000-square kilometre (46,000-square mile) Indian Ocean search zone and the Australian-led hunt, the largest in aviation history, was suspended in January 2017.

US exploration firm Ocean Infinity mounted a fresh hunt on a "no find, no fee basis" last year for several months, using hi-tech drones to scour the seabed, but did not locate the plane.&nbsp;

Hundreds of people, including some of the relatives of those onboard, gathered at a Kuala Lumpur shopping mall Sunday to mark the anniversary of the jet's disappearance.&nbsp;

Only a few fragments of MH370 have been found, all of them on western Indian Ocean shores. Two of those pieces were put on display Sunday for the first time at the memorial.&nbsp;

There is no new search planned, but Transport Minister Anthony Loke said at the event that the government was open to hearing proposals to resume the hunt.

"If there are any credible leads and any specific proposals, especially from Ocean Infinity, we are more than willing to look at it," he said.

Jacquita Gonzales, whose husband Patrick Gomes was a crew member on the flight, said there was "no closure until the plane is found, until we exactly know what happened to the aircraft and our loved ones on board.

"It gets tougher every year, because we are all expecting some answers."

In a long-awaited final report into the tragedy released in July last year, the official investigation team pointed to failings by air traffic control and said the course of the plane was changed manually. &nbsp;

But they failed to come up with any firm conclusions, leaving families of those onboard angry and disappointed.

Malaysia is open to restarting the hunt for Flight MH370 if firms come forward with credible leads and concrete proposals, the transport minister said Sunday, five years on from the plane's disappearance.

Malaysia is open to restarting the hunt for Flight MH370 if firms come forward with credible leads and concrete proposals, the transport minister said Sunday, five years on from the plane's disappearance. The Malaysia Airlines jet vanished in March 2014 with 239 people -- mostly from China -- on board, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. No sign of it was found in a 120,000-square kilometre (46,000-square mile) Indian Ocean search zone and the Australian-led hunt, the largest in aviation history, was suspended in January 2017. US exploration firm Ocean Infinity mounted a fresh hunt on a "no find, no fee basis" last year for several months, using hi-tech drones to scour the seabed, but did not locate the plane. Hundreds of people, including some of the relatives of those onboard, gathered at a Kuala Lumpur shopping mall Sunday to mark the anniversary of the jet's disappearance. Only a few fragments of MH370 have been found, all of them on western Indian Ocean shores. Two of those pieces were put on display Sunday for the first time at the memorial. There is no new search planned, but Transport Minister Anthony Loke said at the event that the government was open to hearing proposals to resume the hunt. "If there are any credible leads and any specific proposals, especially from Ocean Infinity, we are more than willing to look at it," he said. Jacquita Gonzales, whose husband Patrick Gomes was a crew member on the flight, said there was "no closure until the plane is found, until we exactly know what happened to the aircraft and our loved ones on board. "It gets tougher every year, because we are all expecting some answers." In a long-awaited final report into the tragedy released in July last year, the official investigation team pointed to failings by air traffic control and said the course of the plane was changed manually. But they failed to come up with any firm conclusions, leaving families of those onboard angry and disappointed.

Malaysia open to proposals to revive MH370 hunt

An association representing the families of the 239 passengers, who disappeared with <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/malaysia-civil-aviation-chief-resigns-over-mh370-lapses-156098">Malaysia Airlines flight MH370</a> in 2014, on Sunday called for a fresh search to find the aircraft.

At a public event held in Kuala Lumpur, a few days before the fifth anniversary of the tragedy, Voice 370 requested Malaysian authorities to start a fresh search, which would be the third since the disappearance of the plane.

"Many amongst us continue to struggle (...) Give us answers to what, why and how, and if it comes to it, who. Give us the truth," said KS Narendran whose wife was onboard MH370 when it mysteriously disappeared.

Grace Nathan, whose mother was also on board, called the tragedy an incurable wound and added that a new search would be an investment into improving global aeronautical security.

The event, which was broadcast live on social media, was also attended by the Malaysian Transport Minister, Anthony Loke.

Loke clarified that efforts to find the plane had not been abandoned and hoped they would find the answers to the mystery one day.

He also added that the Malaysian government welcomes any lead or credible evidence to restart the search.

Two previous searches, spread over one part of the Indian Ocean, had failed to locate the remains of the plane.

In a video recording, Oliver Plunkett, CEO of Ocean Infinity, the company who was in charge of conducting the second search, had offered to launch a new search mission to track the seabed.

He said they will charge a fee for the operation only if the search was successful.

During Sunday's event and for the first time in public, the flaperon, a part of the Boeing 777, was displayed to the public.

However, the whereabouts of the main part of the fuselage remains unknown.

The Beijing-bound MH370 had disappeared from the radar on March 8, 2014 about 40 minutes after taking off from Kuala Lumpur, when someone had turned off the communication systems and changed the aircraft's route, according to an official investigation.

Several pieces of debris had been recovered in the last five years on the east coast of Africa, that analysts confirmed to be part of the missing aircraft, a Boeing 777.

So far, 27 pieces have been recovered from the beaches of Reunion, Mozambique, Mauritius, South Africa and Pemba Island (Zanzibar), fragments that were swept away by the Indian Ocean currents, coinciding with the official hypothesis that the plane might have crashed into the Indian Ocean after running out of fuel.

Experts had confirmed that three fragments found in Reunion, Mauritius and Pemba belong to the MH370, while seven other pieces - including parts of the cabin interior - almost certainly belong to the same aircraft, and eight more pieces have a high probability of belonging to the same plane.

An association representing the families of the 239 passengers, who disappeared with Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in 2014, on Sunday called for a fresh search to find the aircraft.

An association representing the families of the 239 passengers, who disappeared with Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in 2014, on Sunday called for a fresh search to find the aircraft. At a public event held in Kuala Lumpur, a few days before the fifth anniversary of the tragedy, Voice 370 requested Malaysian authorities to start a fresh search, which would be the third since the disappearance of the plane. "Many amongst us continue to struggle (...) Give us answers to what, why and how, and if it comes to it, who. Give us the truth," said KS Narendran whose wife was onboard MH370 when it mysteriously disappeared. Grace Nathan, whose mother was also on board, called the tragedy an incurable wound and added that a new search would be an investment into improving global aeronautical security. The event, which was broadcast live on social media, was also attended by the Malaysian Transport Minister, Anthony Loke. Loke clarified that efforts to find the plane had not been abandoned and hoped they would find the answers to the mystery one day. He also added that the Malaysian government welcomes any lead or credible evidence to restart the search. Two previous searches, spread over one part of the Indian Ocean, had failed to locate the remains of the plane. In a video recording, Oliver Plunkett, CEO of Ocean Infinity, the company who was in charge of conducting the second search, had offered to launch a new search mission to track the seabed. He said they will charge a fee for the operation only if the search was successful. During Sunday's event and for the first time in public, the flaperon, a part of the Boeing 777, was displayed to the public. However, the whereabouts of the main part of the fuselage remains unknown. The Beijing-bound MH370 had disappeared from the radar on March 8, 2014 about 40 minutes after taking off from Kuala Lumpur, when someone had turned off the communication systems and changed the aircraft's route, according to an official investigation. Several pieces of debris had been recovered in the last five years on the east coast of Africa, that analysts confirmed to be part of the missing aircraft, a Boeing 777. So far, 27 pieces have been recovered from the beaches of Reunion, Mozambique, Mauritius, South Africa and Pemba Island (Zanzibar), fragments that were swept away by the Indian Ocean currents, coinciding with the official hypothesis that the plane might have crashed into the Indian Ocean after running out of fuel. Experts had confirmed that three fragments found in Reunion, Mauritius and Pemba belong to the MH370, while seven other pieces - including parts of the cabin interior - almost certainly belong to the same aircraft, and eight more pieces have a high probability of belonging to the same plane.

Families of MH370 passengers urge Malaysia for a fresh search

Beijing's new international airport makes air-rail transfers easier

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