China concerns drive historic upgrade in US-Vietnam relations

Over the weekend, US President Joe Biden arrived in Hanoi and finalised a diplomatic agreement with former foe Vietnam that was, until recently, almost unthinkable. Shortly after touching down in the country, Biden met Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist party of Vietnam, to upgrade their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP), […]

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Inside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s armoured train

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un used a dark green train to travel to Russia, state media showed on Tuesday, relying on a slow but specialised form of transportation that the reclusive country’s leaders have used for decades. Compared to the country’s ageing fleet of planes, bulletproof trains offer a safer and more comfortable space […]

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Strong partnership with China more important than BRI : Italian PM

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Sunday there was more to Italy’s relationship with China than the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), adding that a final decision on whether to leave the BRI was still to be taken. Italian media reported earlier in the day that Italy would quit the BRI and instead seek to […]

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US and Vietnam ink historic partnership in Biden visit, with eyes on China

Hanoi: US President Joe Biden on Sunday secured deals with Vietnam on semiconductors and minerals as the strategic Southeast Asian nation lifted Washington to Hanoi’s highest diplomatic status alongside China and Russia. The US has been pushing for the upgrade for months as it sees the manufacturing dynamo as a key country in its strategy to […]

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Main Afghan-Pakistan border crossing closed as forces exchange fire

Islamabad: The main border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan was closed on Wednesday as security forces from both countries exchanged fire, Pakistani security sources said. Local residents reported the sound of gunfire by the Torkham crossing and said people around the busy border area near the Khyber Pass had fled once the firing sarted. Security officials […]

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G20 Summit: Hasina-Modi meet on Sept 8

Dhaka: The much-anticipated bilateral meeting between Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi will take place in New Delhi on September 8, on the eve of the two-day G20 Summit. The meeting will take place at the official residence of the Indian PM, hours after Hasina’s arrival in New Delhi to […]

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Asean summit kicks off in Jakarta with focus on regional economic growth

Jakarta: The 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and related summits kicked off in Indonesia’s Jakarta on Tuesday (5 September) with a focus on establishing the region as an epicentre of economic growth. Addressing the opening ceremony, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, whose country is holding the rotating Asean chair this year, urged Asean […]

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Despite Xi’s decision not to attend G20 in India, China says bilateral ties are ‘generally stable’

New Delhi: Despite Chinese President Xi Jinping’s decision not to attend this week’s Group of 20 summit in India, Beijing says that relations between the two nuclear-armed Asian giants remain “generally stable.” China announced on Monday that Premier Li Qiang, who took office just this spring, would represent China at the Sept. 9-10 meeting in New […]

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Chinese President Xi Jinping to skip G20 summit

New Delhi: It is almost certain that Chinese President Xi Jinping is going to skip the G20 summit in India next week and Premier Li Qiang is set to represent China at the conclave, people familiar with the development said on September 2. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi […]

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Indian PM rejects Pakistan, China’s objections on G20 meets

New Delhi:  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday rejected Pakistan and China’s objections on holding G20 meetings in Jammu and Kashmir. In an interview to PTI, the prime minister said it is natural to hold meets in every part of the country. “Such a question would be valid if we had refrained from conducting […]

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