Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the two-day G20 Summit in Hangzhou city of China.&nbsp; 
 
During the meeting, Modi condemned the recent militant attack on Chinese embassy in Bishek, Kyrgyzstan. He highlighted the menace of terrorism, saying the recent attacks show how it is spreading across the world and is, therefore, a matter of grave concern.&nbsp; 
 
Clearing bilateral differences&nbsp; 
 
This is the first meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Jinping after they met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit held in Uzbekistan capital Tashkent in June 23. 
 
&quot;First engagement in Hangzhou is a meeting with the host. PM @narendramodi meets President Xi Jinping,&quot; tweeted spokesperson of Indian foreign ministry, Vikas Swarup. 
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First engagement in Hangzhou is a meeting with the host. PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> meets President Xi Jinping <a href="https://t.co/Bkj4CGywz6">pic.twitter.com/Bkj4CGywz6</a>
&mdash; Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/772251806177067009">September 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The meeting is a significant one, reported ANI news agency, as it follows after China stalled India&#39;s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and bilateral differences over the proposed USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through Pakistan-cantrolled Kashmir, Beijing blocking the UN move to ban Masood Azhar, chief of the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). 
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<h5>Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi&#39;s visit to India last month indicated that it would be ready to revisit the question of India&#39;s membership to the NSG.&nbsp;</h5>
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Beijing has raised concerns over the close ties of India with the US and the recently signed Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), which will enable the militaries of both the democracies access to each other&#39;s facilities for supplies and repairs. 
 
However, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi&#39;s visit to India last month indicated that it would be ready to revisit the question of India&#39;s membership to the NSG.&nbsp; 
 
The two nuclear-armed neighbours have been seemingly moving to gradually ease long-existing tensions between them. 
 
Leaders of Asia&#39;s two giants pledged last year to cool a festering border dispute, which dates back to a brief border war in 1962, though the disagreement remains unresolved. 
 
China lays claim to more than 90,000 sq km (35,000 sq miles) ruled by New Delhi in the eastern sector of the Himalayas. India says China occupies 38,000 sq km (14,600 sq miles) of its territory on the Aksai Chin plateau in the west. 
 
Meanwhile, Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi Arabia&#39;s deputy crown prince Mohammad bin Salman on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. 
 
He will attend the two-day G20 summit that begins today where leaders of the world&#39;s 20 biggest economies will be seeking to jolt global economy out of sluggish growth and avert trade protectionism. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Condemning the recent militant attack on Chinese embassy in Bishek, Kyrgyzstan, Modi said spread of terror is a matter of grave concern

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the two-day G20 Summit in Hangzhou city of China. During the meeting, Modi condemned the recent militant attack on Chinese embassy in Bishek, Kyrgyzstan. He highlighted the menace of terrorism, saying the recent attacks show how it is spreading across the world and is, therefore, a matter of grave concern. Clearing bilateral differences This is the first meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Jinping after they met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit held in Uzbekistan capital Tashkent in June 23. "First engagement in Hangzhou is a meeting with the host. PM @narendramodi meets President Xi Jinping," tweeted spokesperson of Indian foreign ministry, Vikas Swarup. First engagement in Hangzhou is a meeting with the host. PM @narendramodi meets President Xi Jinping pic.twitter.com/Bkj4CGywz6 — Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 4, 2016 The meeting is a significant one, reported ANI news agency, as it follows after China stalled India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and bilateral differences over the proposed USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through Pakistan-cantrolled Kashmir, Beijing blocking the UN move to ban Masood Azhar, chief of the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's visit to India last month indicated that it would be ready to revisit the question of India's membership to the NSG. Beijing has raised concerns over the close ties of India with the US and the recently signed Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), which will enable the militaries of both the democracies access to each other's facilities for supplies and repairs. However, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's visit to India last month indicated that it would be ready to revisit the question of India's membership to the NSG. The two nuclear-armed neighbours have been seemingly moving to gradually ease long-existing tensions between them. Leaders of Asia's two giants pledged last year to cool a festering border dispute, which dates back to a brief border war in 1962, though the disagreement remains unresolved. China lays claim to more than 90,000 sq km (35,000 sq miles) ruled by New Delhi in the eastern sector of the Himalayas. India says China occupies 38,000 sq km (14,600 sq miles) of its territory on the Aksai Chin plateau in the west. Meanwhile, Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince Mohammad bin Salman on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. He will attend the two-day G20 summit that begins today where leaders of the world's 20 biggest economies will be seeking to jolt global economy out of sluggish growth and avert trade protectionism. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Modi meets Jinping ahead of G20 summit, highlights menace of terror

The former head of China&#39;s statistics bureau, responsible for calculating the country&#39;s economic figures, was&nbsp;expelled from the Communist party for his &quot;superstitious activities&quot; and for &quot;insatiably&quot; trading power for sex,&nbsp;the country&#39;s anti-corruption watchdog reported on Friday. 
 
Wang Baoan, 52, headed the National Bureau of Statistics until January, when an inquiry began against him. 
 
The ruling party&#39;s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), its internal anti-corruption&nbsp;watchdog, said that Wang &quot;completely lacks political beliefs&quot;. 
 
He had &quot;chronically engaged in superstitious activities, seriously violated political discipline and political&nbsp;rules, and in major issues has expressed views contrary to the CPC Central Committee&quot;, it said. 
 
Another such case was that of security chief Zhou Yongkang, who was earlier sentenced to life in prison under&nbsp;General Secretary Xi Jinping as part of the anti-graft campaign. 
 
The CCDI statement said that Wang was &quot;morally bankrupt&quot; and his offences included frequenting luxury&nbsp;hotels, indulging in expensive entertainment, and exploiting his position for sexual favours. 
 
Wang was deputy finance minister from 2012 to April 2015, when he took up the post of statistics bureau&nbsp;chief. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Wang Baoan's offences included 'superstitious activities' and 'insatiably' trading power for sex

The former head of China's statistics bureau, responsible for calculating the country's economic figures, was expelled from the Communist party for his "superstitious activities" and for "insatiably" trading power for sex, the country's anti-corruption watchdog reported on Friday. Wang Baoan, 52, headed the National Bureau of Statistics until January, when an inquiry began against him. The ruling party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), its internal anti-corruption watchdog, said that Wang "completely lacks political beliefs". He had "chronically engaged in superstitious activities, seriously violated political discipline and political rules, and in major issues has expressed views contrary to the CPC Central Committee", it said. Another such case was that of security chief Zhou Yongkang, who was earlier sentenced to life in prison under General Secretary Xi Jinping as part of the anti-graft campaign. The CCDI statement said that Wang was "morally bankrupt" and his offences included frequenting luxury hotels, indulging in expensive entertainment, and exploiting his position for sexual favours. Wang was deputy finance minister from 2012 to April 2015, when he took up the post of statistics bureau chief. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Chinese Communist party expels 'insatiable' statistics chief

A UN expert accused China on Monday of staging a &quot;pincer movement&quot; to curb the influence of lawyers, activists, and non-governmental organisations and limit their ability to protest against abuses. 
 
While China has made significant progress towards its ambitious goal of eliminating poverty by 2020, it has often ignored the harm done to individuals as it pursues greater economic development, said Philip Alston, the United Nations special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. 
 
At the same time, he said, Beijing has cracked down on civil society, limiting the space for individuals and groups to influence public policy and air grievances. 
 
Since President Xi Jinping took power in 2012, the ruling Communist Party has arrested hundreds of activists and lawyers in a sweeping campaign that has closed avenues for the legal activism which emerged in recent years. 
 
Recently introduced laws have combined with police action against protesters and lawyers in &quot;a pincer movement designed to systematically narrow and control the space for citizens to express discontent over matters such as land rights, workers&#39; rights, and environmental threats&quot;, Alston wrote in a statement. 
 
In later remarks to reporters, he chided Beijing for asserting that governments should be able to choose which human rights to respect and which to ignore, depending on cultural practices. 
 
&quot;That approach is simply incompatible with the international human rights system,&quot; Alston said. 
 
&quot;Given that China insists that it is part of the system... it would be very dangerous if we were to understand human rights with Chinese characteristics as authorising a fundamental departure from the full range of internationally agreed rights and standards.&quot; 
 
Alston&#39;s comments came at the end of a nine-day tour of China, where he was invited to study the government&#39;s poverty alleviation efforts. 
 
He praised China&#39;s commitment to reducing extreme poverty -- defined as an income of less than $2.30 per day -- but said it faces serious challenges, including inequality levels that are &quot;deeply problematic&quot;. 
 
Questions about the quality of Chinese data, however, made it difficult to assess the true nature of the challenges the country faces, Alston said. 
 
&quot;There is a need to focus more on the importance of getting accurate data and on greater transparency,&quot; he said. 
 
Chinese authorities also did not respond to his requests to meet academics and other private citizens, he said, instead advising them that they &quot;should be on vacation&quot; during his trip. 
 
&quot;We did not reach a common understanding of the role of a UN Special Rapporteur,&quot; he said, adding that he was followed by a security detail during the visit. 
 
(AFP)

He accused the country of staging a 'pincer movement' to curb the influence of lawyers, activists, and NGOs

A UN expert accused China on Monday of staging a "pincer movement" to curb the influence of lawyers, activists, and non-governmental organisations and limit their ability to protest against abuses. While China has made significant progress towards its ambitious goal of eliminating poverty by 2020, it has often ignored the harm done to individuals as it pursues greater economic development, said Philip Alston, the United Nations special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. At the same time, he said, Beijing has cracked down on civil society, limiting the space for individuals and groups to influence public policy and air grievances. Since President Xi Jinping took power in 2012, the ruling Communist Party has arrested hundreds of activists and lawyers in a sweeping campaign that has closed avenues for the legal activism which emerged in recent years. Recently introduced laws have combined with police action against protesters and lawyers in "a pincer movement designed to systematically narrow and control the space for citizens to express discontent over matters such as land rights, workers' rights, and environmental threats", Alston wrote in a statement. In later remarks to reporters, he chided Beijing for asserting that governments should be able to choose which human rights to respect and which to ignore, depending on cultural practices. "That approach is simply incompatible with the international human rights system," Alston said. "Given that China insists that it is part of the system... it would be very dangerous if we were to understand human rights with Chinese characteristics as authorising a fundamental departure from the full range of internationally agreed rights and standards." Alston's comments came at the end of a nine-day tour of China, where he was invited to study the government's poverty alleviation efforts. He praised China's commitment to reducing extreme poverty -- defined as an income of less than $2.30 per day -- but said it faces serious challenges, including inequality levels that are "deeply problematic". Questions about the quality of Chinese data, however, made it difficult to assess the true nature of the challenges the country faces, Alston said. "There is a need to focus more on the importance of getting accurate data and on greater transparency," he said. Chinese authorities also did not respond to his requests to meet academics and other private citizens, he said, instead advising them that they "should be on vacation" during his trip. "We did not reach a common understanding of the role of a UN Special Rapporteur," he said, adding that he was followed by a security detail during the visit. (AFP)

UN expert chides China for limiting people's ability to protest

China&#39;s communist authorities have moved supervision of Tencent Web, one of the country`s biggest online media portals, to the capital after it published a one-character typo related to President Xi Jinping, Hong Kong media reports said. 
 
In an article about a keynote speech given by Xi during the 95th anniversary celebration of the ruling Communist Party, which took place on July 1, someone at Tencent mistyped a character in the phrase &quot;Xi Jinping delivered an important speech&quot;, Hong Kong`s Ming Pao newspaper said.&nbsp; 
 
A character in the word &quot;deliver&quot; was swapped for a similar-sounding one that changed the meaning to &quot;violently flip out&quot;, it claimed, citing a screenshot of the report.&nbsp; 
 
The slip-up prompted China`s Central Publicity Department to launch an investigation into Tencent Web over what it deemed a &quot;significantly negative incident&quot;, the paper said.&nbsp; 
 
The probe concluded that the online portal must now be overseen by the stricter Beijing Cyberspace Administration Office, rather than the equivalent body in the southern city of Shenzhen, where Tencent is headquartered, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) newspaper said.&nbsp; 
 
The portal&#39;s editor-in-chief, Wang Yongzhi, did not confirm reports of his dismissal to the SCMP.&nbsp; 
 
The Communist Party tolerates no opposition to its rule and newspapers, websites, and broadcast media are strictly controlled. An army of censors patrols social media and many Western news websites are blocked. 
 
The country has imposed ever-tightest restrictions on freedom of speech since Xi became President in 2013.&nbsp; 
 
Reports about the Tencent typo were censored on the mainland internet. 
 
This was not the first media gaffe linked to Xi.&nbsp; 
 
In March, the official Xinhua news agency also made a one-character typo about the President, referring to him as China`s &quot;last leader&quot; instead of &quot;top leader&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Last year, four journalists at China News Service were suspended from their jobs over an article that, due to two mistaken characters, referred to Xi Jinping`s &quot;resignation&quot;, rather than a speech he`d given.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

The country has imposed ever-tightest restrictions on freedom of speech since Jinping became President in 2013

China's communist authorities have moved supervision of Tencent Web, one of the country`s biggest online media portals, to the capital after it published a one-character typo related to President Xi Jinping, Hong Kong media reports said. In an article about a keynote speech given by Xi during the 95th anniversary celebration of the ruling Communist Party, which took place on July 1, someone at Tencent mistyped a character in the phrase "Xi Jinping delivered an important speech", Hong Kong`s Ming Pao newspaper said. A character in the word "deliver" was swapped for a similar-sounding one that changed the meaning to "violently flip out", it claimed, citing a screenshot of the report. The slip-up prompted China`s Central Publicity Department to launch an investigation into Tencent Web over what it deemed a "significantly negative incident", the paper said. The probe concluded that the online portal must now be overseen by the stricter Beijing Cyberspace Administration Office, rather than the equivalent body in the southern city of Shenzhen, where Tencent is headquartered, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) newspaper said. The portal's editor-in-chief, Wang Yongzhi, did not confirm reports of his dismissal to the SCMP. The Communist Party tolerates no opposition to its rule and newspapers, websites, and broadcast media are strictly controlled. An army of censors patrols social media and many Western news websites are blocked. The country has imposed ever-tightest restrictions on freedom of speech since Xi became President in 2013. Reports about the Tencent typo were censored on the mainland internet. This was not the first media gaffe linked to Xi. In March, the official Xinhua news agency also made a one-character typo about the President, referring to him as China`s "last leader" instead of "top leader". Last year, four journalists at China News Service were suspended from their jobs over an article that, due to two mistaken characters, referred to Xi Jinping`s "resignation", rather than a speech he`d given. (AFP)

Typo in Jinping's address prompts China to 'tighten' media  portal's supervision

China will prosecute a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer, Zhou Shifeng,&nbsp;on charges of subverting state power after months of secret detention, prosecutors said on Friday, the latest move by authorities to crack down on dissent. 
 
China consistently rejects any criticism of its human rights record, saying it adheres to the rule of law, that all are equal under the law and that those who break the law can expect to be punished.&nbsp;President Xi Jinping&#39;s administration has tightened control over almost every aspect of civil society since 2012, citing the need to buttress national security and stability. 
 
 
Three other activists to be prosecuted on similar charges&nbsp; 
 
Shifeng, the director of Beijing Fengrui law firm, will be prosecuted on charges of subverting state power, the prosecutor in the northern city of Tianjin said in a brief statement on its official microblog, without giving details. 
 
Pertinently, state media has accused the firm&nbsp;and its associates of orchestrating protests outside courts and politicising ordinary legal cases in order to attract international attention.&nbsp;Dozens of lawyers and activists associated with the firm have been swept up in the crackdown and held since last July, triggering concern in Western capitals. 
 
The firm has represented several high-profile clients, including the ethnic Uighur dissident, Ilham Tohti. 
 
An official reached by telephone at the prosecutors&#39; office declined further comment. It was not clear who Zhous own lawyer currently is.&nbsp; 
 
Shang Baojun, another well-known rights lawyer, told Reuters that Zhous previous legal team had all been replaced by government-appointed lawyers. &quot;To be honest, we don&#39;t know anything more about his case than you do,&quot; Shang said, adding that a court date could still be two months off, according to Chinese law. 
 
The prosecutor said in the same statement that three other rights activists - Hu Shigen, Zhai Yanmin and Gou Hongguo - would also be prosecuted on the same charges. 
 
It was also not possible to immediately locate lawyers for them for comment. 
 
In severe cases, the charges can result in life sentences. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

State media has accused lawyer's firm, its associates of orchestrating protests outside courts and politicising ordinary legal cases

China will prosecute a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer, Zhou Shifeng, on charges of subverting state power after months of secret detention, prosecutors said on Friday, the latest move by authorities to crack down on dissent. China consistently rejects any criticism of its human rights record, saying it adheres to the rule of law, that all are equal under the law and that those who break the law can expect to be punished. President Xi Jinping's administration has tightened control over almost every aspect of civil society since 2012, citing the need to buttress national security and stability. Three other activists to be prosecuted on similar charges Shifeng, the director of Beijing Fengrui law firm, will be prosecuted on charges of subverting state power, the prosecutor in the northern city of Tianjin said in a brief statement on its official microblog, without giving details. Pertinently, state media has accused the firm and its associates of orchestrating protests outside courts and politicising ordinary legal cases in order to attract international attention. Dozens of lawyers and activists associated with the firm have been swept up in the crackdown and held since last July, triggering concern in Western capitals. The firm has represented several high-profile clients, including the ethnic Uighur dissident, Ilham Tohti. An official reached by telephone at the prosecutors' office declined further comment. It was not clear who Zhous own lawyer currently is. Shang Baojun, another well-known rights lawyer, told Reuters that Zhous previous legal team had all been replaced by government-appointed lawyers. "To be honest, we don't know anything more about his case than you do," Shang said, adding that a court date could still be two months off, according to Chinese law. The prosecutor said in the same statement that three other rights activists - Hu Shigen, Zhai Yanmin and Gou Hongguo - would also be prosecuted on the same charges. It was also not possible to immediately locate lawyers for them for comment. In severe cases, the charges can result in life sentences. (Reuters)

After months of secret detention, China to prosecute prominent rights lawyer for subversion

Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Wednesday, urged South Korea to pay attention to China&#39;s concerns about the deployment of the US THAAD missile defence system to the country and &quot;cautiously&quot; address the plan. 
 
The United States and South Korea have begun talks on possible deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system after North Korea tested its fourth nuclear bomb on January 6 and conducted missile tests. 
 
China and Russia have urged the United States to back off, saying THAAD&#39;s deployment could also affect their security. 
 
South Korea should &quot;attach importance to China&#39;s legitimate concern on security and cautiously and appropriately address the United States&#39; plan&quot; to deploy THAAD in South Korea, Xi told visiting South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, the official Xinhua news agency reported. 
 
North Korea&#39;s drive to develop a nuclear weapons capability, has angered China, Pyongyang&#39;s sole major diplomatic and economic supporter. But Beijing fears THAAD and its radar have a range that would extend into China. 
 
Xi added that China and South Korea should continue to work for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, work together to maintain peace and stability, and solve problems through dialogue and consultation. 
 
(Reuters)

Beijing has urged the United States to back off, saying THAAD's deployment could affect their security

Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Wednesday, urged South Korea to pay attention to China's concerns about the deployment of the US THAAD missile defence system to the country and "cautiously" address the plan. The United States and South Korea have begun talks on possible deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system after North Korea tested its fourth nuclear bomb on January 6 and conducted missile tests. China and Russia have urged the United States to back off, saying THAAD's deployment could also affect their security. South Korea should "attach importance to China's legitimate concern on security and cautiously and appropriately address the United States' plan" to deploy THAAD in South Korea, Xi told visiting South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, the official Xinhua news agency reported. North Korea's drive to develop a nuclear weapons capability, has angered China, Pyongyang's sole major diplomatic and economic supporter. But Beijing fears THAAD and its radar have a range that would extend into China. Xi added that China and South Korea should continue to work for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, work together to maintain peace and stability, and solve problems through dialogue and consultation. (Reuters)

China's Xi urges caution over US anti-missile system deployment in South Korea

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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