Category: Week in Review
WEEK IN REVIEW: China’s Special Envoy to UN Expressed Support for Argentina’s Claim on Falklands Islands
China’s special envoy to the UN, Geng Shuang, expressed support for Argentina’s claim on the Falklands Islands (known as the Malvinas in Argentina) and for a UN resolution calling on the UK and Argentina to resume negotiations about the island group’s future. Geng also called on countries to ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Chinese President Xi Jinping Expressed Support for South Africa to Remain Host for BRICS Summit in August
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed support for South Africa to remain host for the upcoming BRICS summit in August. Xi's comments during a call with his SA counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday indicate he may not support a change in venue that would reduce pressure on Pretoria to ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Xiomara Castro, President of Honduras, to Travel to China for First Visit Since Switch of Diplomatic Relations From Taiwan
Xiomara Castro, the president of Honduras, will travel to Beijing this week for her first visit to China since her government switched diplomatic relations from Taiwan to the People’s Republic. Coffee trade is expected to be on the agenda and she will reportedly sign several (as-yet undefined) cooperation ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: India Announces That Next Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit Will Take Place Virtually
India, the current president of the Eurasia-focused Shanghai Cooperation Organization announced the China-centered bloc’s next summit will take place virtually. According to the Indian press, the decision was aimed at avoiding awkward face-to-face meetings between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping (and Pakistan’s PM ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Official Navigation Beacons Placed Close to Contested Spratly Islands in South China Sea
China’s Transport Ministry confirmed that three official navigation beacons have been placed close to the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. This follows a similar positioning by the Philippines as the countries pursue competing claims to the island group. Meanwhile, a Chinese naval vessel is on ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang to Visit Australia in July
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang will visit Australia in July in the latest indication that tensions between the two countries are easing. In another sign of détente, Beijing is lifting many of the economic sanctions that it imposed on Australian agricultural and mining products for the past 2-3 ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Chinese Imports Fell for Second Consecutive Month in April
Chinese imports fell for a second consecutive month in April, dipping 8% compared to the same time last year in what is potentially a worrisome trend for Global South commodity producers. Chinese exports, however, increased last month by almost 9%, according to new customs data. (REUTERS)
WEEK IN REVIEW: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Embarks on Three-Day, Two-Nation African Tour
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will embark on a three-day, two-nation African tour, marking the second G7 leader this week to visit the continent. Scholz will arrive in Ethiopia on Thursday and then go to Kenya on Friday. The Chancellor's visit is widely seen as part a broader EU ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: United Nations Confirms India’s Population Will Surpass China’s This Week
The United Nations confirmed that India’s population will surpass that of China by the end of this week, hitting 1,425,775,850 people. This follows an earlier report from a different UN agency that predicted that India will become the world’s most populous country by the middle of this year. (BBC) ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Chinese and Indian Oil Buyers Ignoring West’s Price Cap on Russian Crude
Chinese and Indian oil buyers are ignoring the West's price cap on Russian crude, snapping up a majority of Moscow's output at prices well above the $60 per barrel limit. The cap was imposed by G7 countries in a bid to curb revenue used by the Russian military ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Chinese President Xi Jinping Invites Russian President Vladimir Putin to Third Belt and Forum
Chinese President Xi Jinping invited Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to attend the third Belt and Forum that will take place later this year. Xi's invitation followed a pledge to “significantly increase” trade between the two countries by 2030. Russia is now China's largest oil supplier. (SOUTH CHINA ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Fresh off Sealing Iran-Saudi Deal, Chinese President Xi Jinping Next Heads to Russia
Fresh off his success in brokering a restoration of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Chinese President Xi Jinping will next head to Russia. Xi reportedly plans to visit Moscow next week where he is widely expected to discuss Beijing's Ukraine peace proposal with his counterpart Vladimir ...