Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to meet this week with Chinese leaders in Beijing on a visit that underscores China’s support for Moscow during its war in Ukraine.

The two countries have forged an informal alliance against the United States and other democratic nations that is now complicated by the Israel-Hamas war. China has sought to balance its ties with Israel with its economic relations with Iran and Syria, which are strongly backed by Russia.

16 October 2023; AA: Chinese and Russian foreign ministers met in Beijing and discussed relations between their countries and the ongoing armed conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Wang Yi hosted his counterpart Sergey Lavrov ahead of the third Belt and Road Forum for International (BRI) Cooperation.

Ahead of their meeting, Lavrov said: "We consider this project as an important part of promoting cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit throughout the Eurasian continent."

15 October 2023; MEMO: Israel’s action sin Gaza are “beyond the scope of self-defence”, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday.

He added that the Israeli government must “cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza.”

In a call to his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal Bin Farhan, Wang said: “All parties should not take any action to escalate the situation and should return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.”

BISHKEK, Oct 15 (NNN-KNA) – Members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), signed 16 cooperation agreements, to increase interaction within the organisation, after a summit was convened here under the chairmanship of Kyrgyz President, Sadyr Japarov.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has raised his nation’s flag over the capital city of a former breakaway region in a ceremony reaffirming Baku’s control over it.

The Azerbaijani leader delivered a speech and raised the flag over the city, which is known as Khankendi by Azerbaijan and Stepanakert by Armenians, the presidential office said Sunday.

YEREVAN, October 14. /TASS/: Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan signed the law adopted by the parliament on ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to the relevant information published on the leader’s website.

"On October 13, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan signed the law on ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court," the statement said.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (NNN-Bernama) — The Malaysian ringgit is expected to remain easier next week, trading in the RM4.72-RM4.74 range against the US dollar.

SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes said the market stance is that the Federal Reserve is expected to continue its “higher for longer” policy, with interest rates to remain elevated for an extended period.

“I believe the dollar will continue to be in demand due to its distinctive safe-haven qualities and its yield advantage over the ringgit.

BEIJING, Oct 14 (Reuters) - The European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell said on Saturday his message to Chinese officials on a Beijing visit had been that Brussels takes China seriously and expects the same in return on geopolitical issues and trade.

"Cooperation is very much important," Borrell told a press conference ending a three-day visit that had twice been postponed.

"Europe takes China very, very seriously," he said. "We also expect to be considered not through the lens of our relationship with others, but in ourselves."

BEIJING, Oct 14 (Reuters) - China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken by phone on Saturday on the crisis in Israel and Gaza, a statement from his ministry said.

"China calls for the convening of an international peace conference as soon as possible," the statement read, while warning that "the Palestinian-Israel conflict is escalating and risks getting out of control".

Wang told Blinken that "China opposes all acts that harm civilians and condemns practices that violate international law".

Sihanoukville, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) --The BRI is not only an international cooperative platform promoting global governance and win-win cooperation with mutual benefits, but also an international public good contributing to Cambodia's economic and social development, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian said.

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been ushering in a new chapter for the China-Cambodia ironclad friendship, providing tremendous benefits to both sides, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian said on Friday.