FULL SUPPORT TO RESTART PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI TALK
China welcomes and supports all efforts that would break the current deadlock of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiation and relaunch their dialogues.China has always supported the Palestinian people in their just cause to restore the lawful rights of the nation, and maintained that establishment of an independent state is the lawful right of the Palestinian people.
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EUROPEAN UNION PASSES OIL BUCK TO CHINA
By agreeing to close off Iran's second-biggest market, European foreign ministers have dramatically escalated the pressure on Iran to negotiate on its nuclear program. However, the immediate effect will be to pass the diplomatic initiative to Iran's largest trading partner, China, which will reluctantly become a powerful arbiter of the oil market and Iran's fate.
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INDIAN CENTRAL BANK MOVES TO BOOST ECONOMY
India's central bank has cut the cash reserve ratio [CRR] for commercial banks by 50 basis points, reducing the percentage of cash they need to hold in reserve, in a move likely to inject billions of dollars into the banking system. The CRR,last reduced more than three years ago, now stands at 5.5% and is expected to pump 320 billion rupees ($6.27bn) into the banking system amid concerns about slowing growth in Asia's third-biggest economy due to a liquidity crunch.
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IRANIAN ENERGY POSES ASIAN DILEMMA
It makes tactical sense for countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, India and Turkey to slowly retrench from Iranian oil, but it would be a strategic disaster for them to become reliant on Western approval to access Middle Eastern energy, which will remain important in Asia's energy mix for at least some more years.
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BEIJING, TOKYO TO COMMEMORATE TIES
Beijing and Tokyo are planning to launch a grand opening ceremony in mid-February to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations. Japan plans to proactively make "concrete efforts" to strengthen its ties withChina and establish more "open and multilayered networks" in the best interests of both countries.
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BACK AT LAST TO MANDALAY
Myanmar has fast become the world's must-visit country, and not just by politicians negotiating an end to sanctions. A surge in visitors, keen to take in majestic Himalayan mountains, glittering pagodas and pristine tropical seas - and secure business deals - is leaving visitors struggling to find hotel accommodation, seats on domestic flights - and even travel guides.
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FINLAND HIGHLIGHTS RENEWABLE ENERGY PARTNERSHIP IN TIES
Finnish European Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Alexander Stubbis visiting Jakarta as Finland seeks to strengthen its economic partnership with Indonesia, with a focus onrenewable energy cooperation.Indonesia and Finland have agreed in the meeting to encourage efforts to enhance our trade and investment ties, as well as energy partnership.
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CHINA, INDIA ENTER HEATING-UP ARCTIC RACE
India, China and Japan have sought permanent observer status in the Arctic Council as competition heats up for the ecologically sensitive region's vast mineral and energy resources. While Delhi's expeditions are studying the potentially disastrous effects of climate change, Beijing is anticipating how global warming could dramatically shorten its trade routes.
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