China, Russia reaffirm efforts to advance bilateral, world ties

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have discussed the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue(01:06). Donald Trump has become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime after the guilty verdict from his hush money trial(11:09). And Hamas says it is ready to reach an agreement if Israel stops its attacks on Gaza(21:00).

Chinese President Xi Jinping has addressed a meeting on China-Arab states cooperation pledging to advance ties and offer additional aid for Gaza(01:05). Electoral officials in South Africa are pleased with a higher-than-expected voter turnout(11:17). And a new pair of giant pandas will arrive in Washington this year under a new conservation program(19:47).

A new assessment from the International Monetary Fund predicts that China’s economy will grow five percent this year, up from its previous projection of 4.5 percent(01:04). A report shows that human rights in the U.S. continued to deteriorate last year with problems such as gun violence, discrimination, and violations of the rights for women and children(09:30). South Africans head to the polls in a general election where the ruling ANC is projected to lose its parliamentary majority(18:05).

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is in China for a state visit and to attend the opening ceremony of a ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum along with several other heads of state(01:06). Israel says it is investigating a strike in Rafah that went wrong as it claims to have killed Hamas officials but also civilians(13:56). And Papua New Guinea is relocating residents from a landslide that officials say could have buried 2,000 people(23:28).

China, Japan and South Korea have agreed to step up cooperation and maintain close communication following a summit among the Chinese premier, Japanese prime minister and South Korean president(01:02). Authorities in Papua New Guinea say at least 2,000 people were buried in Friday’s landslide(15:22). And Israel has bombed Rafah after Hamas launched rockets at Tel Aviv(23:48).

Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed deepening reform with a focus on advancing Chinese modernization, and learned about efforts at opening up and ecological restoration during an inspection tour in the eastern province of Shandong(01:11). The People’s Liberation Army continues its drills around Taiwan and warns against separatist attempts(13:32). And a report on a helicopter crash in Iran that killed the president and foreign minister shows the helicopter remained on course before crashing(18:35).

Chinese military services including the army, navy, air force and rocket force are taking part in joint drills surrounding the island of Taiwan(01:02). Xizang is marking 73 years since the region’s peaceful liberation(09:18). And Colombia’s president has ordered the opening of an embassy in Ramallah, following announcements from three European countries of their plans to recognize Palestine as a state(22:45).

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has reiterated that the Taiwan question is at the center of China's core interests(01:06). Several European nations including Ireland and Spain have announced plans to formally recognize the Palestinian state(06:21). And China is marking the International Day for Biodiversity(14:53).

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has proposed efforts to deepen cooperation and pledged to work with SCO members for multipolarity and globalization(01:05). Officials on the Chinese mainland and scholars in Taiwan say the recent speech by the new Taiwan leader sends a dangerous signal(08:24). And both Israeli and Hamas leaders have denounced a request by the International Criminal Court to seek arrest warrants over alleged war crimes(18:46).

China has offered condolences over the deaths of Iran’s president, foreign minister, and other officials in a helicopter crash(01:01). Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in Kazakhstan to attend an SCO meeting after visiting Tajikistan(08:17). And the Chinese mainland says the new Taiwan leader’s speech sends a wrong signal regarding independence(19:23).