Chinese prosecutors accused a former deputy environment minister today of taking 2.4 million yuan ($361,500) in bribes as he stood trial for corruption in Beijing, state media reported. 
 
The investigation of Zhang Lijun, who served in his position between 2008-2013, began in July last year. 
 
Prosecutors said Zhang provided help for project approvals and appointments and took bribes worth around 2.4 million yuan, state news agency Xinhua said in a brief report. 
 
Zhang was allowed to speak to the court and his defence team allowed to participate in cross-examination, it said. 
 
It was not possible to contact Zhang&#39;s defence team. 
 
Chinese courts answer to the ruling Communist Party and generally do not challenge its accusations. 
 
The party&#39;s graft watchdog said last year Zhang had abused his power and taken bribes. 
 
Xinhua said a verdict would be announced at a later date. 
 
Environmental degradation is a sensitive subject in China, with thousands of protests sparked every year by concerns about pollution, particularly from factories. 
 
The environment ministry was reprimanded by the graft watchdog last year for problems including interference by ministry officials and their relatives in environmental impact assessments. 
 
President Xi Jinping has launched a war against deep-seated corruption since assuming office more than three years ago, waging a campaign that has brought down numerous senior officials, including former security tsar Zhou Yongkang. 
 
(Reuters)

Prosecutors claimed Zhang Lijun provided help for project approvals and appointments

Chinese prosecutors accused a former deputy environment minister today of taking 2.4 million yuan ($361,500) in bribes as he stood trial for corruption in Beijing, state media reported. The investigation of Zhang Lijun, who served in his position between 2008-2013, began in July last year. Prosecutors said Zhang provided help for project approvals and appointments and took bribes worth around 2.4 million yuan, state news agency Xinhua said in a brief report. Zhang was allowed to speak to the court and his defence team allowed to participate in cross-examination, it said. It was not possible to contact Zhang's defence team. Chinese courts answer to the ruling Communist Party and generally do not challenge its accusations. The party's graft watchdog said last year Zhang had abused his power and taken bribes. Xinhua said a verdict would be announced at a later date. Environmental degradation is a sensitive subject in China, with thousands of protests sparked every year by concerns about pollution, particularly from factories. The environment ministry was reprimanded by the graft watchdog last year for problems including interference by ministry officials and their relatives in environmental impact assessments. President Xi Jinping has launched a war against deep-seated corruption since assuming office more than three years ago, waging a campaign that has brought down numerous senior officials, including former security tsar Zhou Yongkang. (Reuters)

China accuses former deputy environment minister of having taken $361,500 in bribes

Russia and China signed over 30 cooperation deals on June 25 as Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met in Beijing. 
 
The deals covered areas such as economy and trade, foreign affairs, infrastructure, technology and innovation, agriculture, finance, energy, media, Internet, and sports, China&#39;s semi-official Xinhua news agency reported. 
 
After bilateral talks, Putin said both sides were moving towards working on 58 joint initiatives worth 50 billion dollars. 
 
Putin&#39;s aide told journalists earlier this week that energy, aerospace, North Korea, and Syria were some of the issues due to be discussed between the two leaders during the visit. 
 
Putin arrived in Beijing after a visit to Tashkent, where he attended the 16th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

After bilateral talks, Putin said both sides were moving towards working on 58 joint initiatives worth 50 billion dollars

Russia and China signed over 30 cooperation deals on June 25 as Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met in Beijing. The deals covered areas such as economy and trade, foreign affairs, infrastructure, technology and innovation, agriculture, finance, energy, media, Internet, and sports, China's semi-official Xinhua news agency reported. After bilateral talks, Putin said both sides were moving towards working on 58 joint initiatives worth 50 billion dollars. Putin's aide told journalists earlier this week that energy, aerospace, North Korea, and Syria were some of the issues due to be discussed between the two leaders during the visit. Putin arrived in Beijing after a visit to Tashkent, where he attended the 16th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. (Reuters)

Russia, China eye closer friendship sign strategic agreements

The China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will be different from institutions like the World Bank because it has a greater understanding of the developing world&#39;s needs, officials said on Sunday at its first annual meeting. 
 
Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the bank two years ago and it began operations in January, with 57 founding member countries and $100 billion in committed capital, which it plans to invest in projects across the region. 
 
The AIIB, which intends to invest $1.2 billion this year, has said it is aiming to meet international standards of governance, though some members say there is still work to be done. 
 
Speaking on the final day of the bank&#39;s inaugural annual meeting, Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said the AIIB needed to establish its niche. 
 
&quot;The AIIB needs to establish its comparative advantage relative to existing multilateral development banks like the World Bank,&quot; Lou said. 
 
&quot;Compared with the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and other multilateral development banks, the AIIB&#39;s advantage lies in its keener understanding of the successful experience and lessons of developing countries&#39; years of development.&quot; 
 
The AIIB&#39;s board approved its first four deals worth $509 million on Friday, with three projects co-financed with the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the United Kingdom Department for International Development and the European Bank for reconstruction and development. 
 
The co-financed projects are a slum renovation in Indonesia and highway construction in Pakistan and Tajikistan. A power grid upgrade project in Bangladesh will be solely AIIB financed. 
 
AIIB President Jin Liqun said it was the focus on infrastructure that specifically marked out the bank as different and that they were committed to the concept of international best practice. 
 
&quot;The question is, how do you define international best practice? I will not agree to anything which could be considered international best practice unless this kind best practice incorporates the development experience of China and many countries in Asia and elsewhere over the last three or four decades,&quot; Jin said. 
 
&quot;So our bank would like to have the development experience, the so-called international best practice, reflecting the experience of China, India (and) so many countries in Asia. So we should have a different model of development.&quot; 
 
The AIIB is also looking to expand its numbers this year and will take applications for new members through the end of September. 
 
(Reuters)

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's board approved its first four deals worth $509 million for reconstruction and development

The China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will be different from institutions like the World Bank because it has a greater understanding of the developing world's needs, officials said on Sunday at its first annual meeting. Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the bank two years ago and it began operations in January, with 57 founding member countries and $100 billion in committed capital, which it plans to invest in projects across the region. The AIIB, which intends to invest $1.2 billion this year, has said it is aiming to meet international standards of governance, though some members say there is still work to be done. Speaking on the final day of the bank's inaugural annual meeting, Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said the AIIB needed to establish its niche. "The AIIB needs to establish its comparative advantage relative to existing multilateral development banks like the World Bank," Lou said. "Compared with the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and other multilateral development banks, the AIIB's advantage lies in its keener understanding of the successful experience and lessons of developing countries' years of development." The AIIB's board approved its first four deals worth $509 million on Friday, with three projects co-financed with the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the United Kingdom Department for International Development and the European Bank for reconstruction and development. The co-financed projects are a slum renovation in Indonesia and highway construction in Pakistan and Tajikistan. A power grid upgrade project in Bangladesh will be solely AIIB financed. AIIB President Jin Liqun said it was the focus on infrastructure that specifically marked out the bank as different and that they were committed to the concept of international best practice. "The question is, how do you define international best practice? I will not agree to anything which could be considered international best practice unless this kind best practice incorporates the development experience of China and many countries in Asia and elsewhere over the last three or four decades," Jin said. "So our bank would like to have the development experience, the so-called international best practice, reflecting the experience of China, India (and) so many countries in Asia. So we should have a different model of development." The AIIB is also looking to expand its numbers this year and will take applications for new members through the end of September. (Reuters)

China praises AIIB's greater understanding of developing world

The plenary session of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) began in Seoul On Thursday as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held parleys with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tashkent to make a last minute push for New Delhi&#39;s entry into the 48-member elite group. 
 
The Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar is presently in Seoul to lobby for India&#39;s entry into the elite group. Sources said that India&#39;s membership bid is likely to come up for discussion. Sources also said that the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President is crucial in Tashkent because the decision taken there will be informed to the Indian team in Seoul. 
 
China, till now, has been playing the role of a dampener on the issue of clearing the way for India&#39;s admission to the NSG by repeatedly stating that it is not on the agenda of the grouping. 
 
China has maintained that more talks were needed to build a consensus on which countries can join the 48-nation NSG following the United States&#39; push to include India in the elite group.The countries, who oppose India&#39;s membership, argue that its inclusion in the group would further undermine efforts to prevent proliferation and also infuriate New Delhi&#39;s rival Pakistan. 
 
Islamabad, which enjoys the backing of its close ally China, has also responded to India&#39;s membership bid and asked for its admission as well. 
 
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif&#39;s adviser on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, had said that the government&#39;s &quot;active and successful foreign policy&quot; has blocked India&#39;s entry into the NSG, adding that New Delhi would not be able to join the group alone. 
 
He also said that he had recently approached many countries, including Russia, Mexico, South Korea and New Zealand, to gain their support on Islamabad`s viewpoint that there should be a criteria-based approach while deciding about inclusion of any country into the NSG. 
 
(ANI)

Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar will lobby for India's entry into the 48-member elite group

The plenary session of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) began in Seoul On Thursday as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held parleys with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tashkent to make a last minute push for New Delhi's entry into the 48-member elite group. The Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar is presently in Seoul to lobby for India's entry into the elite group. Sources said that India's membership bid is likely to come up for discussion. Sources also said that the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President is crucial in Tashkent because the decision taken there will be informed to the Indian team in Seoul. China, till now, has been playing the role of a dampener on the issue of clearing the way for India's admission to the NSG by repeatedly stating that it is not on the agenda of the grouping. China has maintained that more talks were needed to build a consensus on which countries can join the 48-nation NSG following the United States' push to include India in the elite group.The countries, who oppose India's membership, argue that its inclusion in the group would further undermine efforts to prevent proliferation and also infuriate New Delhi's rival Pakistan. Islamabad, which enjoys the backing of its close ally China, has also responded to India's membership bid and asked for its admission as well. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's adviser on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, had said that the government's "active and successful foreign policy" has blocked India's entry into the NSG, adding that New Delhi would not be able to join the group alone. He also said that he had recently approached many countries, including Russia, Mexico, South Korea and New Zealand, to gain their support on Islamabad`s viewpoint that there should be a criteria-based approach while deciding about inclusion of any country into the NSG. (ANI)

India eyes NSG membership as plenary session begins in Seoul

China and Poland have agreed on Monday to upgrade their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Chinese President Xi Jinping&#39;s&nbsp;visit to the country.

The move was made as Xi met with Polish President Andrzej Duda, in a bid to further promote cooperation across the board and benefit the two peoples.

Xi said at the meeting that the two peoples have enjoyed lasting friendship since the two countries established diplomatic relations 67 years ago.

The two countries have borne fruitful results in high-level and people-to-people exchanges, and economic and trade cooperation, especially since they established a strategic partnership in 2011, said Xi.

He added that China has cherished the traditional friendship with Poland and stands ready to work with Poland to push forward the bilateral relations in a sound and steady way.

Xi also called for efforts to enhance mutual trust, align development strategies of the two countries and boost interconnectivity and production cooperation under the Belt and Road initiative.

Bilateral cooperation in economy and trade, finance, agriculture, science and technology should be promoted, according to Xi.

Hailing the bilateral ties, Duda said that Poland is willing to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Sino-Polish comprehensive strategic partnership in various areas including the Belt and Road initiative, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and people-to-people exchanges.

A joint statement on the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership was inked after the meeting, as well as a memorandum of understanding on a bilateral cooperation blueprint.

Poland is the second leg of Xi&#39;s Eurasia tour. Before visiting Poland, Xi visited Serbia from June 17 to June 19.

After visiting Poland, Xi will travel to Uzbekistan for a state visit and attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. 
 
(Reuters)

A bunch of cooperation agreements signed covering various aspects, including infrastructure construction, education, culture and aerospace

China and Poland have agreed on Monday to upgrade their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the country. The move was made as Xi met with Polish President Andrzej Duda, in a bid to further promote cooperation across the board and benefit the two peoples. Xi said at the meeting that the two peoples have enjoyed lasting friendship since the two countries established diplomatic relations 67 years ago. The two countries have borne fruitful results in high-level and people-to-people exchanges, and economic and trade cooperation, especially since they established a strategic partnership in 2011, said Xi. He added that China has cherished the traditional friendship with Poland and stands ready to work with Poland to push forward the bilateral relations in a sound and steady way. Xi also called for efforts to enhance mutual trust, align development strategies of the two countries and boost interconnectivity and production cooperation under the Belt and Road initiative. Bilateral cooperation in economy and trade, finance, agriculture, science and technology should be promoted, according to Xi. Hailing the bilateral ties, Duda said that Poland is willing to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Sino-Polish comprehensive strategic partnership in various areas including the Belt and Road initiative, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and people-to-people exchanges. A joint statement on the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership was inked after the meeting, as well as a memorandum of understanding on a bilateral cooperation blueprint. Poland is the second leg of Xi's Eurasia tour. Before visiting Poland, Xi visited Serbia from June 17 to June 19. After visiting Poland, Xi will travel to Uzbekistan for a state visit and attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. (Reuters)

China, Poland to lift ties to comprehensive strategic partnership

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China accuses former deputy environment minister of having taken $361,500 in bribes

Russia, China eye closer friendship sign strategic agreements

China praises AIIB's greater understanding of developing world

India eyes NSG membership as plenary session begins in Seoul

China, Poland to lift ties to comprehensive strategic partnership