Tag: ties

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-Top News China USA

China-US cooperation vital: Guterres

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

The statement was issued after talks between Xie Zhenhua, China’s special envoy for climate change affairs and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry…reports Asian Lite News

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday said that the cooperation between China and the US is important and expressed the hope that big countries will commit to net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by the middle of this century.

“The China-US cooperation is vital. It was vital for the Paris Agreement. It remains vital today, together with other important partners,” the secretary-general said at a press conference to launch the State of the Global Climate in 2020 Report when responding to a question regarding the joint statement issued Sunday by China and the US on coping with climate change after talks in Shanghai, Xinhua reported.

The statement was issued after talks between Xie Zhenhua, China’s special envoy for climate change affairs and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry from Thursday to Friday in Chinese city of Shanghai.

Also read:India needs to re-bond with Russia and Iran

Replying to a question about his expectations for this week’s virtual climate summit, the top UN official said, “My hope is that, in this week’s summit, a number of countries, the most important countries in relation to climate change, will be able to commit to net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by the middle of the century and to commit to a drastic reduction of emissions for the next decade in the context of the review of their Nationally Determined Contributions. And this is very important in this summit.”

US President Joe Biden on March 26 invited 40 world leaders to attend a virtual summit on climate change on April 22 and 23.

Chinese and Russian leaders are invited to the summit, according to a White House statement.

Also read:The new US strategy to edge out China

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Asia News Bangladesh India News

Indian Army chief in B’desh to boost ties

General Naravane’s visit comes in the midst of Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations which mark 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh…reports Asian Lite News

Continuing with the excellent tradition of strong bilateral and defence ties between India and Bangladesh, Indian Army Chief General M.M. Naravane is on a five-day visit to Bangladesh. He left for Bangladesh on Thursday morning.

General Naravane’s visit comes in the midst of Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations which mark 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh, made possible by the historic leadership of the Bongobondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and heroics of the Mukti Bahini who fought shoulder to shoulder with the Indian Armed Forces.

The Army Chief will pay tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by laying a wreath at the Shikha Anirban on Thursday.

This will be followed by one to one meetings with the three Service Chiefs of the Bangladesh’s Armed Forces. General Naravane will also visit the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi, where he will pay tributes to Bangladesh’s founding father.

Also read:Central library set ablaze in Bangladesh

He will interact with Bangladesh’s Minister of Foreign Affairs on April 11 at Bangladesh Army’s Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka where he will attend a seminar on UN Peace Support Operations and deliver a keynote address on ‘Changing Nature of Global Conflicts: Role of UN Peacekeepers’.

General M.M. Naravane is also scheduled to interact with the Force Commanders of the United Nations Missions in Mali, South Sudan and Central African Republic and the Deputy Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutanese Army on April 12.

He will also attend the closing ceremony of Exercise Shantir Ogrosena, a multilateral UN-mandated counter terrorism exercise comprising the Armed Forces of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka along with observers from the US, the UK, Turkey and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia among others.

He will also witness the innovations of the Bangladeshi Armed Forces personnel during the Hardware Display.

The Chief of the Army Staff will interact with the members of Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support and Training Operations (BIPSOT) during the last leg of his visit.

This visit will further deepen the bilateral relationships between the two Armies and act as a catalyst for closer coordination and cooperation between the two countries on a host of strategic issues.

Also read:SPECIAL: The World Ignores Bangladesh Genocide

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-Top News Asia News

Pakistan, Russia to step up ties

Russian foreign minister and Pak counterpart(Twitter)

Lavrov landed in Pakistan on Tuesday for a two-day visit to discuss bilateral and regional matters…reports Asian Lite News

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi and agreed to strengthen bilateral ties and deepen cooperation.

Lavrov arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for a two-day visit to discuss bilateral and regional matters, reports Xinhua news agency.

A statement from the Prime Minister Office said that during the meeting on Wednesday, Khan reiterated that “the importance Pakistan attaches to its relations with Russia as a key foreign policy priority” and expressed satisfaction at the steady growth in bilateral ties.

Enhanced bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, industrial modernization, railways and aviation was discussed, the statement said.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed Islamabad’s resolve to expeditiously conclude the requisite legal process for the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline project and commence the work as early as possible.

Views were also exchanged on the health and economic challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, while Khan also congratulated Russia on its development of Sputnik-V vaccine and underscored Pakistan’s procurement plans in this regard, according to the statement.

Also read:Biden backs talks between India and Pakistan

In the regional context, Khan stressed the importance of a negotiated political settlement of the conflict in Afghanistan and appreciated Russia’s efforts in promoting the Afghan peace process.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov(Twitter)

Earlier in the day speaking at a joint press conference with Qureshi, Lavrov said that his country is ready to further build counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan through supply of military equipment.

“This serves in the interest of all states of the region,” Lavrov said, adding that both countries have agreed on conducting more joint military exercises.

The visiting Foreign Minister said the increase in bilateral trade is satisfactory and expressed readiness to “further strengthen economic relations”.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov(Twitter)

He showed concern over the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.

“Russia and Pakistan have agreed to further facilitate the agreement among Afghan parties through inclusive political dialogue,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to build a strong multifaceted relationship with Russia.

“There is a new approach and mindset in Pakistan for a relationship with Russia. We feel that not just we have geographic proximity but Russia is a factor of stability in the region and the world at large,” he added.

Also read:TRADE: Afghanistan Puts Pakistan On Back Burner

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-Top News Asia News EU News

EU leaders visit Turkey to restore ties

In addition to meeting the Turkish President, the EU officials also have discussions scheduled with representatives of the International Organization for Migration and other UN bodies…reports Asian Lite News

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel are heading to Turkey on Tuesday for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an effort to reset strained relations.

In addition to meeting the Turkish President, the EU officials also have discussions scheduled with representatives of the International Organization for Migration and other UN bodies, reports dpa news agency.

These meetings are likely to cover EU financial support for Syrian refugees in Turkey, as well as Ankara’s recent withdrawal from the Istanbul convention on tackling violence against women.

Last month, EU leaders offered to discuss updating Turkey’s 25-year-old customs union with the bloc and extend their migration pact with Ankara, as long as their neighbour continues to engage “constructively”.

Also read:EU backs Libya’s unity govt

But the 27 member states warned they were still prepared to apply sanctions, if Turkey resumed its “illegal” energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.

In the most recent flare-up of a long-standing dispute last year, Turkey clashed with EU member states Greece and Cyprus over maritime boundaries and natural gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean.

Tensions calmed towards the end of 2020.

Despite concerns about the deterioration of the rule of law and a crackdown on political opponents in Turkey following a 2016 failed coup, the European Union and Ankara remain major trading partners with shared security interests.

The bloc also cooperates with Turkey to curb immigration.

In 2016 Ankara promised to seal off its borders and take back irregular migrants from the Greek islands in exchange for some 6 billion euros.

Also read:Modi to visit France after India-EU summit

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-Top News USA

‘Moscow-Washington ties getting worse’

In the US’ policy towards Russia, there is increased pressure in all fields and tougher rhetoric is nothing new,said Lavrov…reports Asian Lite News

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow-Washington ties were at their lowest point due to increased confrontation, and he hopes that “common sense and prudence” will eventually prevail.

In the US’ policy towards Russia, there is increased pressure in all fields and tougher rhetoric is nothing new, Xinhua news agency quoted Lavrov as saying in an interview with a local TV program on Thursday.

He stressed that there is few chance for serious dialogue between Russia and the US, if Washington continues to blame Moscow for the consequences of its own reckless policy.

According to the Ministert, Western countries feel “a threat to their dominance” and are therefore inventing new rules on which they think the world order should be based, ones that contradict those outlined in the UN charter.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Lavrov’s remarks came a day after Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov told a joint meeting of the Federation Council, upper house of Parliament, that bilateral ties were in the midst of a deep crisis, which has grown partly due to the reluctance of the American President Joe Biden’s administration to solve problems with Moscow.

Also read:Bill allowing Putin to seek 2 more terms gets nod

Antonov returned to Moscow on March 22 after he was recalled following Biden’s comments that Russia will “pay a price” for its alleged interference in the 2020 American election.

Washington is destroying the foundations of Russia-US interactions as the incumbent administration has continued to “unwind the sanctions spiral under false pretexts”, he told lawmakers.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

The diplomat believes that Washington will not change its stance substantially and the “systemic containment” of Russia will remain a priority.

A US intelligence report released on March 21 day directly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering a wide-ranging influence operation to interfere in the election, intending to hurt Biden’s campaign.

In the ABC News interview, Biden also agreed with the interviewer’s claim that Putin was “a killer”.

Also read:US to encounter 2mn migrants at southern border

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-Top News China UAE News

China, UAE deepen ties

Chinese FM pointed out that the cooperation between China and the UAE are based on mutual trust and deep-rooted traditional friendship…reports Asian Lite News

Visiting Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held a meeting with his counterpart of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, during which the two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in varied fields.

Noting that the two peoples are “good friends, good partners and good brothers,” Wang stressed that the relations between China and the UAE are based on high level of mutual trust and deep-rooted traditional friendship.

China supports the UAE in safeguarding its national security and stability, independently exploring a development path in line with its own national conditions, combating religious extremism, and playing a positive role in international and regional affairs, Wang said on Sunday.

He said that China appreciates the UAE’s strong support on the issues concerning China’s core interests.

The phase-3 trial of the Covid-19 vaccine, jointly carried out by China and the UAE, has set a record for multi-nationality and large-scale clinical trials, and made important contribution to promoting international anti-coronavirus cooperation, the Chinese diplomat said, adding that China is willing to continuously innovate the models and expand the scope of cooperation with the UAE.

Wang said that China is willing to work with the UAE to enhance connectivity of the Belt and Road Initiative and the UAE’s 50-year national development plan, expand mutually beneficial cooperation in such fields as energy, high and new technologies, finance and investment, and jointly promote international mutual recognition of health code.

The two sides also need to strengthen cooperation in anti-terrorism and de-radicalization, Wang said, adding that China will offer full support for the UAE to host the World Expo in Dubai and will work with all parties to ensure the success of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.

Also read:Iran, China step up trade ties

Wang said China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with the UAE in multilateral institutions such as the United Nations, jointly safeguard true multilateralism, promote democratization of international relations, support diversity of civilizations, give play to the central role of the United Nations, and defend the authority of international law and international treaties.

China and Arab states have reached an agreement on jointly proposing a data security cooperation initiative, indicating that both sides are willing to actively participate in formulating the rules of the global digital economy, the Chinese diplomat said.

China has put forward a five-point initiative for achieving security and stability in the Middle East, and hopes that regional countries will uphold the spirit of independence, explore a security framework that meets regional needs, and find a development path that suits their national conditions, Wang added.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, UAE

For his part, Sheikh Abdullah said the Chinese people should be proud of China’s remarkable development achievements and its success in containing the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that the UAE is also proud of having such a strategic partner as China.

He expressed the UAE’s support to the one-China policy, China’s endeavors to safeguard the diversity of world civilizations, and China’s leading role in promoting global common development.

The UAE hopes to deepen its cooperation with China in the fields such as health, agriculture, science and technology, tackling climate change, and preventing desertification to achieve mutually beneficial results, the UAE diplomat said.

He said the UAE is willing to work together with China to combat terrorism, and in particular, to make more efforts in the field of de-radicalization, so as to safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East.

Also read:US, Canada condemn China’s retaliatory sanctions

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-Top News Asia News EU News

EU to reset ties with Turkey

European Nations leader have reached a decision to resume diplomatic talks with Turkey in various fields…reports Asian Lite News

European Union (EU) leaders have agreed to relaunch cooperation with Turkey in a “phased, proportionate and reversible” manner in the fields of trade and migration.

They decided to launch high-level dialogues with Turkey on issues of mutual concern such as public health, climate, counter-terrorism, as well as regional issues, Xinhua news agency quoted an official statement as saying on Thursday.

“The EU is ready to engage with Turkey in a phased, proportionate, and reversible manner to enhance cooperation in a number of areas of common interest and take further decisions at the European Council meeting in June,” the statement, issued following discussions at a virtual EU summit, further said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.


According to the statement, the engagement was only “provided that the current de-escalation is sustained and that Turkey engages constructively”.

European Council President Charles Michel told a press conference following the meeting that the decision on Turkey was “a step in the right direction”.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc will “suspend” the cooperation if matters persist.

Since last year, Turkey had been at odds with EU member states Greece and Cyprus over maritime boundaries and natural gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean.

Also read:EU revises vaccine export system