Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

XI'AN, April 21 (Xinhua) -- The first flight on a new route from Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, to Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, took off on Friday.

It is the fourth direct passenger route launched between Xi'an and Central Asia this year, following routes to Almaty, Bishkek and Tashkent.

The flight on Friday was made by an Airbus A320 aircraft and was scheduled to depart Xi'an at 19:05 Beijing time, arriving in Astana at 22:55 local time.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s defense chief on Saturday ordered troops to activate missile interceptors and get ready to shoot down fragments from a North Korean satellite that may fall on the Japanese territory.

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un said earlier this week that its first military spy satellite that will be launched at an unspecified date.

BEIJING, Apr 21 (APP): Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Qin Gang said on Friday that Chinese modernization will not only provide more opportunities to the world but also inject new momentum into the recovery of the global economy and give other developing countries the confidence to pursue their own modernization.

“While Chinese modernization is conceived in China, the opportunities it brings belong to the world,” he said in the opening ceremony of the Lanting Forum on Chinese Modernization and the World held in Shanghai.

BEIJING, April 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday held talks with President of the Gabonese Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba, who is on a state visit to China. 

Both leaders have decided to elevate the comprehensive cooperative partnership between the two countries to a “comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.”

Calling President Bongo “an old friend” of the Chinese people, Xi said President Bongo’s visit fully demonstrates the importance and high level of China-Gabon relations.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s foreign minister stepped up threats Friday against the self-governing island of Taiwan, saying any who go against Beijing’s demand to exert control over the island are “playing with fire.”

Qin Gang’s remarks Friday came at the end of a speech espousing China’s contribution to the global economy and the interests of developing nations, in which he repeatedly praised Communist Party Secretary General Xi Jinping’s Global Security Initiative.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea’s foreign minister on Friday called the Group of Seven wealthy democracies a “tool for ensuring the U.S. hegemony” as she lambasted the group’s recent call for the North’s denuclearization.

ASHGABAT, April 20 (Reuters) - Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen inaugurated a permanent embassy in the Central Asian nation of Turkmenistan on Thursday, establishing his country's closest diplomatic presence to Iran, as Israel seeks to strengthen ties to its arch-foe's neighbours.

Although the countries established diplomatic relations 30 years ago, there had only been a temporary Israeli mission in Ashgabat and predominantly Muslim Turkmenistan still has no embassy in Israel.

SEOUL, April 20 (Reuters) - South Korea said on Thursday it summoned China's ambassador to protest at Beijing's criticism of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's remarks on Taiwan.

The move came after China and South Korea exchanged harsh words over Yoon's comments in a recent interview with Reuters.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Yoon said increased tensions around Taiwan were due to attempts to change the status quo by force, and he opposed such a change.

20 Apr 2023; MEMO: Israeli Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, has arrived in Azerbaijan where he has met with President Ilham Aliyev in Baku as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and to confront mutual perceived threats from Iran.

20 Apr 2023; MEMO: Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen yesterday arrived in Turkmenistan to inaugurate a new Israeli embassy in the country's capital city of Ashgabat, located only 13 kilometers away from the Iranian border.

This is the first time in 30 years that an Israeli foreign minister has visited the country, which is known to be one of the most closed countries in the world.