China

23 October 2019; AFP: Beijing is drawing up a plan to remove Hong Kong's beleaguered Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the Financial Times reported Wednesday, after nearly five months of pro-democracy unrest.

The pro-Beijing leader has faced sustained criticism from protesters in the semi-autonomous city.

So far, the Chinese central government has given its support to her and the Hong Kong police, calling the demonstrators "rioters" and condemning the violence.

Beijing, Oct 23 (AFP) Beijing is drawing up a plan to remove Hong Kong's beleaguered chief executive Carrie Lam, the Financial Times reported Wednesday, after nearly five months of pro-democracy unrest.

The pro-Beijing leader has faced sustained criticism from protesters in the semi-autonomous city.

So far the central government in Beijing has given its support to her and the Hong Kong police, calling the demonstrators "rioters" and condemning the violence.

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Huawei Technologies Co Ltd launched its foldable 5G Mate X smartphone on Wednesday, starting pre-sales for the device in China on the same day.

Huawei announced the smartphone’s launch on its official Weibo account.

The much-touted foldable 5G Mate X was originally set for a June launch but Huawei later delayed the launch, saying that it was running certification tests with various carriers.

Huawei has sold more than 200 million phones in 2019, 64 days earlier than in 2018, it said, citing He Gang, head of Huawei’s mobile phone division.

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong authorities are set to formally withdraw an unpopular extradition bill that sparked months of chaotic protests in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

The security chief is due on Wednesday to announce the bill’s withdrawal in the city’s legislature.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam had proposed the amendments to resolve a case involving a man wanted for murder in Taiwan who could not be sent to the self-ruled island because there was no extradition agreement in place.

HONG KONG (AP) — A murder suspect whose case indirectly led to Hong Kong’s ongoing protests was freed from prison on Wednesday and told reporters he was willing to surrender to authorities in Taiwan, where he is wanted for killing his girlfriend.

Chan Tong-kai was released after serving a separate sentence for money laundering offenses. He could not be sent to Taiwan because the semi-autonomous Chinese city of Hong Kong has no extradition agreement with self-ruled Taiwan.

BEIJING, Oct 22 (APP): Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has announced to establish a High Powered Commission in Pakistan with support of China.

The minister along with the representatives of several Chinese companies met with his Chinese counterpart today.

The federal minister is on a six-day visit to China.

The minister said that high powered technology industry would be set up in Pakistan under this commission.

22 October 2019; AFP: China's foreign minister on Monday denounced months of pro-democracy unrest in Hong Kong as "violence pure and simple", accusing foreign forces and the international media of fuelling the political crisis.

The comments, in an exclusive interview with AFP, were the most direct condemnation from a top Chinese official of the protests that erupted five months ago and have seen millions of people take to the streets calling for greater democracy.

BEIJING, Oct 21 (APP): A seven-member Pakistan’s military delegation headed by a senior military commander of GHQ attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Beijing International Xiangshan Forum officially began at Beijing International Convention Centre here on Monday.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Chin’s Defence Minister Wei Fenghe briefed the participants about defensive military strategy of China.

BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States is not seeking to “decouple” from China and not asking any country to choose sides, a senior U.S. defense official said on Monday, offering a softer outlook on relations bruised by a bitter trade war.

China has been nervous that the United States is seeking to sever, or at least severely curb, economic ties in what has been called a “decoupling”. Beijing fears that the Trump administration wants a complete separation with China.

SHENZHEN, China, October 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The 27th China (Shenzhen) International Gift and Home Products Fair opened on October 20 at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center ("Shenzhen Gifts & Home Fair" for short).

Organized by Reed Huabo Exhibition Co., Ltd, this four-day fair brings together over 2,500 reliable suppliers from China and beyond presenting their most competitive and creative products at 5,300 booths across 9 halls.