China

BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The global COVID-19 caseload surpassed the milestone of 40 million on Monday, reaching 40,040,902, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

The number of victims who have succumbed to the disease worldwide totaled 1,113,750, the data showed.

The United States has suffered the most from the pandemic, with 8,154,936 cases and 219,674 fatalities, the tally showed.

Countries with more than 1,000,000 cases also include India, Brazil and Russia, according to the center's website.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s shaky economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic is gaining strength as consumers return to shopping malls and auto dealerships while the United States and Europe endure painful contractions.

The world’s second-largest economy expanded by 4.9% over a year ago in the three months ending in September, official data showed Monday. Retail spending rebounded to above pre-virus levels for the first time and factory output rose, boosted by demand for exports of masks and other medical supplies.

BEIJING, Oct 18 (APP): Pakistani students showcased their talent and won prizes in the speech, photography, music, singing and sand painting competitions during the annual 3rd Silk Road and Young Dreams Award Ceremony held here.

The ceremony hosted by Silk Road Cities Alliance, China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development, Beijing Belt and Road Cooperative Community and Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University was attended by participants from more than 30 countries.

BEIJING (AP) — China has passed a new law restricting sensitive exports to protect national security, allowing Beijing to reciprocate against the U.S. as tensions mount between the sides over trade and technology.

The law, which will apply to all companies in China, was passed Saturday by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee and will take effect on Dec. 1.

Under the law, China can take “reciprocal measures” toward countries or regions that abuse export controls and threaten its national security and interests.

HONG KONG (AP) — Nearly 15 years ago, Grace Ma decided to name her bar Club 71, in commemoration of a July 1, 2003 rally where hundreds of thousands of Hong Kongers protested a proposed national security law for the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

“I took the name Club 71, because somehow it is more hopeful, with half a million Hong Kong people having a demonstration, a rally, to stand for themselves, not to ignore what’s going on in Hong Kong,” said Ma.

BEIJING, Oct 17 (APP): Pakistan and China are all-weather friends, who have stood by one another in times of hardship, and their partnership during the COVID-19 period has been exemplary, Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin ul Haque said on Saturday.

According to the ambassador, when the coronavirus first hit China, Pakistan stood by China, sending a plane loaded with much-needed supplies, and the Pakistani president undertook a solidarity visit to China in March.

BEIJING, Oct 16 (APP): China’s experience in building and developing ports and basic infrastructure is certainly benefiting Pakistan and it is expected that soon Gwadar will become the ‘silicon valley’ of Pakistan and could emerge as center for promotion of economic activities at regional and global level.

If we talk about Gwadar, this city is also called city of fishermen like Shenzhen, China’s first special economic zone.

BEIJING, Oct 16 (APP): The Uyghur population has grown from 5.55 million to more than 13 million over the past 40 years in Xinjiang Autonomous Region, a Chinese foreign affairs ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Friday said.

“Since you asked about the situation in Xinjiang, I have more data at hand to share with you. Over the past 40 years, the Uyghur population in Xinjiang has been more than double from 5.55 million to more than 13 million,” he said while responding to a question during his regular briefing held here.

BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday expressed firm opposition to and denunciation of the U.S. side creating the so-called "Hong Kong Autonomy Act," and sanctioning Chinese personnel based on it, vowing countermeasures "if the U.S. is bent on going this way."

That came after the U.S. State Department's recent warning about tough sanctions soon to be put on international financial institutions doing business with Chinese individuals deemed responsible for undermining Hong Kong's autonomy.

BEIJING, Oct 15 (APP): China firmly opposes any foreign country using Tibet to interfere in its internal affairs,
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Thursday.

Setting up of the so-called special coordinator for Tibetan issues was entirely out of political manipulation to interfere in China internal affairs and destabilize Xijang (Tibet), he said during his regular briefing while responding to a question regarding appointment of a U.S. special coordinator for Tibet.