Putin and Xi sign statement to deepen strategic partnership between Russia and China
MOSCOW, May 8 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a statement on Thursday to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between their two countries.
Speaking in the Kremlin after talks with Xi, Putin said Russia-China relations were self-sustaining and that the two countries would continue to increase the share of their national currencies used in mutual settlements.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Toyota chairman to face scrutiny over $33 billion deal at shareholder meeting
TOYOTA CITY, Japan, June 12 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor (7203.T), opens new tab Chairman Akio Toyoda is likely to face scrutiny over a $33 billion take-private deal of a key supplier when shareholders assemble for the Japanese automaker's annual general meeting on Thursday. This year's gathering, set to kick off at 10:00 a.m. (0100 GMT), marks the first time in three years that Toyoda isn't being opposed by a shareholder proxy adviser. Nevertheless, the grandson of the automaker's founder is likely to face some tough questions about governance - if this week's meeting of supplier Toyota Industries (6201.T), opens new tab is anything to go by. Shareholders of forklift maker Toyota Industries on Tuesday voiced disapproval of the 4.7 trillion yen ($33 billion) take-private bid from its parent that they said was unfair to minority shareholders. The world's top-selling automaker plans to take its supplier private in a complex, multi-part transaction that includes an offer price of 16,300 yen a share. While the price might be a good deal for Toyota Motor shareholders, critics of the bid, including London-based Zennor Asset Management, have raised concern about the transaction, particularly around the treatment of minority shareholders. "This was not a decision that neglected minority shareholders, but rather one that was taken with all the factors in mind," Toyota Industries' President Koichi Ito told shareholders on Tuesday. Under the deal, a new holding company will be set up. Unlisted real estate company Toyota Fudosan will invest 180 billion yen while Toyoda will invest 1 billion yen. Toyota Motor will invest 700 billion yen for non-voting preferred shares. Tuesday's meeting ran for almost two hours, Toyota Industries' longest ever, the company said. Executives also took some two dozen questions from shareholders, the most ever. Hong Kong-based Oasis Management, which has shares in both Toyota Motor and Toyota Industries, has said it would push for a higher price. Toyota has said the acquisition would allow Toyota Industries to deepen collaboration with group companies, without concerns of short-term profit targets, as Toyota itself becomes a broader "mobility company". This year, prominent proxy advisory firms Glass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services have both recommended that shareholders re-elect Toyoda. Glass Lewis had recommended voting against him the previous two years and ISS had last year. Toyoda's position at the automaker had come under scrutiny over broader governance concerns. Neither proxy adviser gave specific reasons for the change in their recommendations this year. Toyoda has seen shareholder support slip in recent years. He was re-elected to the board with 72% backing in 2024, in what he later said marked the lowest support rating ever for a Toyota director. That was down from 85% and 96%, respectively, in the prior two years. In a July 2024 interview by Toyota's own news outlet, Toyoda said his seat on the board could be at risk if shareholder support continued to fall. Toyota Industries, formerly Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, was founded in 1926 to make automatic looms. An automotive division within the company was set up and later spun off as Toyota Motor.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Six members of Russian spy ring to have ‘too lenient' jail sentences reviewed
SIX members of a Russian spy ring are to have their jail sentences reviewed for being too lenient, we can reveal. The Bulgarians — who lived and worked in the UK — plotted sex stings, and targeted Russian dissidents and journalists critical of President Vladimir Putin 's war effort against Ukraine. 7 7 The ring included lab worker Katrin Ivanova, 33, and beauty shop owner Vanya Gaberova, 30 — dubbed 'killer sexy brunettes' by cell leaders. Ivanova got nine years and eight months and Gaberova eight years. They were both found guilty in March of breaching the Official Secrets Act by conspiring to provide information useful to an enemy between August 2020 and February 2023. Ivanova also got a concurrent sentence of 15 months for forged ID documents. All six got a total of more than 50 years last month. The Attorney General's Office has been asked to consider the sentences under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The ULS scheme allows anyone to ask for a Crown Court sentence to be assessed by the Attorney General's office if they think it is too lenient. Law officers have 28 days from sentencing to make a decision. 7 7 7 7 7
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Zelenskiy says Russia seeks to disrupt Ukraine, Moldova, southeastern Europe
ODESA, Ukraine, June 11 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday Russia was determined to sow chaos in and destroy the south of his country as well as nearby Moldova and Romania, and called for increased pressure on Moscow to prevent further military threats. Zelenskiy, addressing a conference of southeast European leaders in the Black Sea port of Odesa, said collective efforts were needed to keep Moscow from causing further disruption. "The security of Southeastern Europe and the Black Sea is indivisible ... Today, we are forced to fight not only for our country, but also for this reality to become the cornerstone of a new regional policy," Zelenskiy said on Telegram. "We are here in Odesa, a city that Russia wants to destroy, as it has destroyed countless other cities. Russian military plans are aimed at this region, and then at the borders with Moldova and Romania. We need protection now. But even more, we need long-term guarantees that this will never happen again." Odesa, site of three ports, has been a frequent target of Russian air strikes in three years of war. The city came under a massive drone attack on Monday that targeted an emergency medical building, a maternity ward and residential buildings. Much attention has focused on a possible Russian threat to Moldova, where pro-European President Maia Sandu has accused Moscow of trying to destabilise her country and unseat her. Her Party of Action and Solidarity, which holds a majority in parliament, faces a general election in September, the outcome of which could affect the president's ability to press on with a campaign to join the European Union in 2030. Ukraine has also started talks on EU membership. "For three decades, Russia has tried to keep Moldova poor and unstable in order to take full control of it," Zelenskiy said. "If Europe loses in Moldova this year, it will embolden Russia to meddle even more in your countries' affairs, taking away your resources, your sovereignty, even your history." Sandu told the conference that Moldova "knows just what hybrid war is and is prepared to share its experience". "Moldova is facing one of its most important elections. Russia wants to see Moldova turn away from Ukraine. More to the point, it wants to use Moldova against Ukraine and the EU."
