Pak china defence cooperation

China’s vice-president has told South Korea ’s new leader that Beijing hopes for more strategic communication and high-level exchanges, a message delivered after he attended Yoon Suk-yeol’s inauguration in Seoul on Tuesday. Wang Qishan said South Korea and China “are important cooperation partners as well as close neighbours” with common interests, and should strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional affairs, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. “The two sides should ... work together to safeguard multilateralism and the free-trade system, and promote regional and global development and prosperity,” Wang told Yoon after delivering a congratulatory message as special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge , our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our … [Read more...] about China urges cooperation as South Korea’s new president takes office

NICOSIA, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in higher education and scientific research, Cyprus' education ministry and the Chinese Embassy said in separate statements on Friday. The MoU, which will run from 2022 until 2026, was signed on Friday during a ceremony here between Cyprus' Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou and the Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus Liu Yantao on behalf of China's Ministry of Education. The MoU covers several areas of cooperation, which include government scholarships, exchanges among higher education institutions, language teaching and research, mutual recognition of academic degrees and online education. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Liu said that since the first signing of the two countries' cooperation agreement on higher education and scientific research in 2012, such cooperation has grown rapidly and yielded fruitful results, with many colleges and universities in the two countries … [Read more...] about Cyprus, China sign MoU on higher education

Yomiuri Shimbun file photo TOKYO — When U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel met with Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki at the Okinawa prefectural government office on April 27, he told Tamaki that what Japan and the United States do together will shape the next 30 years in the region surrounding Okinawa Prefecture. Emanuel stressed the significance of deepening the Japan-U.S. alliance with a view to deterring China, saying the two countries have a responsibility to cooperate. It was the first time in about four years and five months that a U.S. ambassador to Japan had met with the Okinawa governor in the prefecture. Emanuel’s visit to Okinawa Prefecture three months after arriving to take up his new post is perceived as showing that the United States is aware of the significance of its military bases in the prefecture and the importance of understanding the local community. The importance of the U.S. military presence in Okinawa is growing. A contingency in the Taiwan Strait has begun … [Read more...] about Eyeing China, US stresses bridge-building in Okinawa

Malaysia: * Durian prices expected to increase by 100% this year * Goldman Sachs agrees to settle US$79.5mil 1MDB suit with shareholders * Covid-19 Watch: 3,029 new cases brings total to 4,473,500 * Covid-19: More than 28% of five to 11-year-olds fully vaccinated as at May 13 * PM: Asean stands firm on international issues in meeting with US President Biden * Bullying: Health Ministry looks at enhancing whistleblowing system * Successful four-day working visit to US, says PM * Philippines raises minimum daily wage in Manila capital region * Malaysia touts trade access as US Indo-Pacific plan only a 'good beginning' - trade chief * Kuantan furniture shop also a victim as scammers use similar name to cheat buyers * GE15: More public debates between candidates should be organised, says Bersih * Country's financial performance must be looked into before any plan to take over Sapura, says Tok Pa Singapore's Veronica Shanti Pereira in action before winning the … [Read more...] about Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Saturday (May 14, 2022)

US President Joe Biden meeting with Asean leaders at the US-Asean special summit in Washington DC on May 13, 2022. PHOTO: AFP WASHINGTON – The United States and Asean ended their summit in Washington on Friday (May 13) with an agreement to work on upgrading their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in November, following similar agreements Asean made with Australia and China late last year. The elevated partnership will be “meaningful, substantive and mutually beneficial”, they said in a joint statement at the end of two days of meetings in Washington to mark 45 years of ties. “We are not only celebrating 45 years of partnership and friendship between Asean and the United States; we are launching a new era of US and Asean relations,” US President Joe Biden said at the summit’s afternoon session on Friday. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the summit and the upgrading of ties are a signal that the US values its partnership with Asean and would like to … [Read more...] about US, Asean to upgrade ties; Singapore PM says this shows US values its partnership with Asean

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, May 15 (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): Brunei will continue to foster a calm and peaceful environment, and encourage all countries to prioritise dialogue and cooperation. This was said by His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei at the Plenary Session Two of the ASEAN-United States (US) Special Summit at the Department of State, Washington DC, US on Friday. His Majesty was pleased for the celebration of 45 years of Asean-US dialogue relations as the US has always been an important strategic partner of Asean through upholding peace, investing in its economies and supporting development. Looking towards the 50th anniversary of Asean-US relations, His Majesty hoped for continued peace, stability and sustainable development for all the peoples in the Indo-Pacific. To realise this, it must be ensured that cooperation will bring greater benefit to as many people as possible, through strategic and comprehensive approach. This would … [Read more...] about Brunei king promises that his country will continue to uphold peace in the region

JOHANNESBURG, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of job seekers on Thursday swarmed into the Gallagher Convention Center in Johannesburg, where Chinese-invested enterprises in South Africa threw a job fair in hopes of hiring local talent for localized development. Long queues of people waited to submit their CVs in front of the stands of their preferred companies. To prevent chaos, organizers had to limit admissions due to the sheer number of participants. Chinese Ambassador Chen Xiaodong said the job Fair is a concrete initiative and effort to implement agreements between the leaders of the two countries. It not only creates jobs for South Africans but also provides an opportunity for Chinese enterprises to hire local talent and pursue localized development. "Today, over 100 Chinese-invested enterprises pledge to provide 20,000 jobs directly for South Africans in the next three years. Their businesses cover infrastructure, communications, mining, automobile, agriculture and many … [Read more...] about Roundup: Chinese-invested enterprises in South Africa hold job fair to pursue localized development

This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on May 9, 2022 - May 15, 2022. - A + A Sri Lanka’s economic crisis had been brewing for some time before the recent social unrest erupted. The writing was on the wall, but it was either misunderstood or underrated. Either way, the impact has been devastating and may take years to undo. Moreover, the situation has worsened from being an economic crisis to a humanitarian one. The anatomy of an economic meltdown and social disaster consists of these: food, fuel and medicine shortages, currency collapse and long power cuts, while poverty ramps up and inflation spirals at a record rate. The price of rice has increased by 93%, chicken and lentils by 55% and gas by 50%. This tragedy is a good lesson for Malaysia. Some of the structural symptoms experienced by Sri Lanka are uncannily like those in this country. So, unless they are addressed, Malaysia may take a similar path. These are the major … [Read more...] about My Say: Lessons from Sri Lanka on managing food security

The European Union (EU) and India agreed on Monday to set up a trade and technology council to step up cooperation between them, the two sides said in a joint statement as the EU chief met government officials in New Delhi. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is on a two-day visit to India's capital, part of Western efforts to encourage New Delhi to reduce ties to Russia, its main weapons supplier, following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. India has refrained from explicitly condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while calling for an immediate end to violence. Moscow calls its actions in Ukraine a "special military operation". The United States is the only other country that has a technical agreement with the EU similar to the one signed Monday with India. "Both sides agreed that rapid changes in the geopolitical environment highlight the need for joint in-depth strategic engagement," the EU-India statement said. Close "The Trade and Technology … [Read more...] about EU, India to set up council to broaden ties amid Ukraine war

VELIKO TURNOVO, Bulgaria, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian national qualifications of the 15th "Chinese Bridge" -- Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, were held here on Saturday. A total of 12 students demonstrated Chinese language and cultural skills at the first "Chinese Bridge" event held in person since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. It was jointly organized by the Chinese embassy in Sofia and the Confucius Institute at "St. Cyril and St. Methodius" University of Veliko Turnovo (UVT). Kristina Ivanova from Sofia's 138 High School for Western and Eastern Languages won the competition, and will represent the Balkan country at the finals in China. While addressing the event, China's Ambassador to Bulgaria Dong Xiaojun said the Chinese Language Bridge has become an Olympics and a kind of cultural carnival for the Chinese language and people learning Chinese. This was a useful experience for all participants, Dong said. He also said that … [Read more...] about 15th “Chinese Bridge” language competition held in Bulgaria