China

BEIJING, June 7 (Reuters) - China's exports shrank much faster than expected in May while imports extended declines with a grim outlook for global demand, especially from developed markets, raising doubts about the fragile economic recovery.

The world's second-largest economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter thanks to robust services consumption and a backlog of orders following years of COVID disruptions, but factory output has slowed as rising interest rates and inflation squeeze demand in the United States and Europe.

06 June 2023; MEMO: In an apparent approval of reports that Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman were forming a joint naval group with China, Beijing has said peace and stability of the Gulf region was of "vital importance to safeguarding world peace", Anadolu Agency reports.

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police detained eight people, including activists and artists, on the eve of the 34th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, a move that signals the city’s shrinking freedom of expression.

Police said in a statement late Saturday that four people have been arrested for allegedly disrupting order in public spaces or carrying out acts with seditious intent. Four others were taken away for investigation on suspicion of breaching public peace.

HONG KONG (AP) — As the 34th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown approaches Sunday, many in Hong Kong are trying to mark the day in private ways in the shadow of a law that prosecuted leading activists in the city’s pro-democracy movement.

For decades, Hong Kong was the only place in China where people held large-scale commemorations about the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in which tanks rolled into the heart of Beijing and hundreds, and possibly thousands, of people were killed.

BEIJING, June 2. /TASS/: China believes a prompt settlement of the Ukrainian crisis will benefit all interested sides and that’s the starting point in China’s position on the issues, China’s Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui said on Friday.

"A prompt resolution of the crisis would benefit all sides. It would also be the starting point for helping with the peaceful settlement" of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, he said at a news conference at the China Public Diplomacy Association after he wrapped up his international tour.

BEIJING, Jun 2 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, took effect today for the Philippines, confirming that the RCEP agreement is now in effect for all 15 members.

The full RCEP implementation reflects the determination and actions of its 15 members – 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand – in supporting an open, free, fair, inclusive and rules-based multilateral trading system, China’s commerce ministry commented.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s Ukraine envoy appealed Friday to other governments to “stop sending weapons to the battlefield” and hold peace talks but gave no indication that his trip to the region made any progress toward a settlement.

Li Hui’s appeal came as Washington and its European allies are ramping up supplies of missiles, tanks and other weapons to Ukrainian forces that are trying to take back Russian-occupied territory.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s government says it is neutral and wants to serve as a mediator but has supported Moscow politically.

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets followed Wall Street higher Friday ahead of an update on the U.S. jobs market after Federal Reserve officials reignited hopes another interest rate hike might be postponed and lawmakers gave final approval to a deal to avert a government debt default.

Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul advanced. Oil prices strengthened.

BEIJING, June 1 (APP): India is using visa restrictions as a tool to prevent media contacts between China and India, which is exacerbating bilateral tensions.

According to the Wall Street Journal, China and India have effectively kicked out a large number of each other’s journalists recently by denying visa renewals.

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said that Chinese journalists had suffered unfair and discriminatory treatment in India for a long time.

SHANGHAI (China), June 1 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentina’s Minister of Economy, Sergio Massa, announced from Shanghai that he has obtained financing for approximately US$ 1 billion for investments and disbursements that will strengthen the Central Bank’s reserves.

Massa said on Twitter that the agreement was closed with the Chinese group Gezhouba for the development of dams in the province of Santa Cruz. “It is important to agree on issues that serve us for the present, but above all to agree on investments that serve for development,” he wrote.