China

BEIJING, March 15./TASS/: China has urged Ukraine not to politicize cooperation between Chinese companies and Crimea, sustained according to market rules, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Monday.

"Chinese companies maintain contacts with Crimea and cooperate with it based on market principles. This commercial interaction should not be politicized," the spokesperson told a briefing commenting on Ukraine’s frustration over a recent visit by a Chinese delegation to Crimea.

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong’s High Court granted bail on Monday to three more activists in a case against 47 people accused of conspiracy to subvert the government after holding an informal 2020 poll to select candidates for legislative elections.

The case is being closely watched by foreign diplomats and rights groups concerned with the shrinking space for dissent in Hong Kong, which took an authoritarian turn with Beijing’s imposition of a sweeping national security law in June 2020.

BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) and China joint team has suggested continuing to look for possible early cases in a wider range around the globe.

Liang Wannian, a member of the WHO-China joint team, made the remarks at a briefing to European diplomats on the origin of the novel coronavirus on Friday.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s capital and a wide swath of the country’s north were enveloped Monday in the worst sandstorm in a decade, leading to the cancelation of hundreds of flights.

Skyscrapers in the center of Beijing appeared to drop from sight amid the dust and sand. Traffic was snarled and more than 400 flights out of the capital’s two main airports were canceled before noon.

Such storms used to occur regularly in the springtime as sand from western deserts blew eastwards, affecting areas as far as northern Japan.

BEIJING, March 14 (APP): A puppet show will be arranged to celebrate 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan here at China Puppet Art Theatre on March 21.

The show, being arranged by embassy of Pakistan, Beijing in collaboration with China Puppet Art Theatre and Rafi Peer Art Theatre, would be held in connection of celebration of Pakistan-China civilizational and cultural heritage through puppets and related art on World Puppetry Day.

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China has completed feasibility studies of the fourth phase of its lunar exploration program and is expected to build an international lunar research station on the moon's south pole in the future, said Wu Weiren, the chief designer of China's lunar exploration program.

BEIJING, March 13 (APP): Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin Ul Haque chaired a virtual meeting with the newly elected leadership of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), as well as the Pakistan-China Business Council (PCBC).

Congratulating the FPCCI’s new leadership team, the Ambassador highlighted the FPCCI’s important role as a platform for Pakistan’s vibrant private sector to contribute to policy making and strengthen overseas economic cooperation.

BEIJING, March 13 (APP): The 21st meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs was held via video link.

Hong Liang, director-general of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs, Chinese Foreign Ministry, and Naveen Srivastava, joint secretary of the East Asia Division, Indian Ministry of External Affairs, co-chaired the meeting.

Representatives from both countries’ departments related to diplomacy, national defense, and migration also attended the online meeting.

BEIJING, March 12 (APP): China and Pakistan welcome any initiative that supports the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) launched by President Xi Jinping and its flagship projects – the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Zhao Lijian said on Friday.

“China and Pakistan welcome any initiative that supports the BRI and CPEC,” he said in his regular briefing in response a question about recent meeting in which Pakistan urged ASEAN members’ countries to promote CPEC.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China again warned the United States to stop interfering in its affairs, including Hong Kong, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Friday, ahead of talks between diplomats of both countries which Washington has said would be “difficult”.

China hopes the meeting can focus on cooperation, the spokesman, Zhao Lijian, said.

The two countries diplomats are set to meet in Alaska on Thursday.