Xi vows to strengthen ties with S. Korea after Lee's election: CCTV
BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping (pic) told newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday (June 4) that Beijing attaches "great importance" to strengthening ties, according to state media.
"Uncertainties are increasing in the international and regional situation," state broadcaster CCTV reported Xi as telling Lee in a congratulatory message.
"I attach great importance to the development of China-South Korea relations," he said.
Lee won a snap election triggered by his predecessor's disastrous martial law declaration in December.
Lee scored a thumping victory over conservative Kim Moon-soo of disgraced ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol's former party in the snap poll, with Lee's term beginning immediately after the vote tally was certified early Wednesday.
CCTV said Xi told Lee that China "is willing to work with the South Korean side to uphold the original intention of establishing diplomatic relations" and "good-neighbourly friendship". - AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
17 minutes ago
- The Star
China and Myanmar commemorate 75 years of ties with emphasis on bilateral cooperation, support
Dancers perform during a celebration for the Spring Festival. The event aimed to boost China-Myanmar cultural exchange at the China Cultural Centre in Yangon, Myanmar, Jan 24, 2025. - Xinhua YANGON: The 75th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic ties was marked with events in Yangon and Mandalay on Thursday (June 5), with a focus on bilateral cooperation and China's ongoing support for Myanmar. In Yangon, a commemorative event was organised to mark the anniversary alongside the International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations. Meanwhile, a forum welcoming the diplomatic milestone took place in Mandalay. Hundreds of representatives from government agencies, non-governmental organisations, businesses, think tanks and academic institutions from both China and Myanmar attended the Yangon event, highlighting the longstanding "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship between the two countries. Myo Aung, chief minister of Mandalay region, said in his speech at the event in Mandalay that over the past 75 years, Myanmar and China have continuously deepened cooperation in various fields such as science and technology, culture, education, sports and health. He added that Myanmar actively supports the joint implementation of major projects, including the Belt and Road Initiative, the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor and the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline. U Tin Oo, chairman of the Myanmar-China Friendship Association, said at the event in Yangon that China's Belt and Road Initiative has strengthened global cooperation and promoted common development. He noted that the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism has played a vital role in fostering peace, stability and development in the region. Ma Jia, Chinese ambassador to Myanmar, also addressed the event in Yangon. She said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Myanmar in 1950, bilateral relations have withstood the test of international changes and have always developed steadily. The two sides have worked hand in hand, and the people are close to each other and have helped each other, said the ambassador, adding that she hoped non-governmental organisations of both countries will continue to promote the construction of a China-Myanmar community with a shared future. Gao Ping, Chinese consul general in Mandalay, delivered a speech at the event in Mandalay, saying that no matter how the international situation changes, China has always adhered to the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness. She added that China considers Myanmar as a good neighbour with blood ties, as a relative, and as a friend, and has always taken the well-being of the two peoples as the starting point and foothold for formulating policies toward Myanmar. - Xinhua
The Star
17 minutes ago
- The Star
'One hell after another': US travel ban deepens despair for Afghans awaiting visas
KABUL: Mehria had been losing hope of getting a visa to emigrate to the United States but her spirits were crushed when President Donald Trump raised yet another hurdle by banning travel for Afghans. Trump had already disrupted refugee pathways after he returned to power in January but a sweeping new travel ban on 12 countries, including Afghanistan, will go into effect on Monday (June 9). The ban changes little for most Afghans who already faced steep barriers to travel abroad, but many who had hung their hopes on a new life in the United States felt it was yet another betrayal. "Trump's recent decisions have trapped not only me but thousands of families in uncertainty, hopelessness and thousands of other disasters," Mehria, a 23-year-old woman who gave only one name, said from Pakistan, where she has been waiting since applying for a US refugee visa in 2022. "We gave up thousands of hopes and our entire lives and came here on a promise from America, but today we are suffering one hell after another," she told AFP. The United States has not had a working embassy in Afghanistan since the Taliban ousted the foreign-backed government in 2021, forcing Afghans to apply for visas in third countries. The Taliban's return followed the drawdown of US and NATO troops who had ousted them two decades earlier in response to the September 11, 2001, attacks. The Taliban government has since imposed a strict view of Islamic law and severe restrictions on women, including bans on some education and work. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have applied for visas to settle in the United States, either as refugees or under the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) programme reserved for those who aided the US government during its war against the Taliban. Afghans with SIV visas and asylum cases will not be affected by Trump's new order but family reunification pathways are threatened, the Afghan-American Foundation said in a statement condemning the ban. Some 12,000 people are awaiting reunification with family members already living in the United States, according to Shawn VanDiver, the president of the AfghanEvac non-profit group. "These are not 'border issues'. These are legal, vetted, documented reunifications," he wrote on social media platform X. "Without exemptions, families are stranded." Refugee pathways and relocation processes for resettling Afghans had already been upset by previous Trump orders, suddenly leaving many Afghans primed to travel to the United States in limbo. The Trump administration revoked legal protections temporarily shielding Afghans from deportation in May, citing an improved security situation in Afghanistan. "We feel abandoned by the United States, with whom we once worked and cooperated," said Zainab Haidari, another Afghan woman who has been waiting in Pakistan for a refugee visa. "Despite promises of protection and refuge we are now caught in a hopeless situation, between the risk of death from the Taliban and the pressure and threat of deportation in Pakistan," said Haidari, 27, who worked with the United States in Kabul during the war but applied for a refugee visa. Afghans fled in droves during decades of conflict, but the chaotic withdrawal of US-led troops from Kabul saw a new wave clamouring to escape Taliban government curbs and fears of reprisal for working with Washington. Pakistan and Iran have meanwhile ramped up deportation campaigns to expel Afghans who have crossed their borders. The Taliban authorities have not responded to multiple requests for comment on the new travel ban but have said they are keen to have good relations with every country now that they are in power -- including the United States. Visa options for Afghans are already severely limited by carrying the weakest passport globally, according to the Henley Passport Index. However, travel to the United States is far from the minds of many Afghans who struggle to make ends meet in one of the world's poorest countries, where food insecurity is rife. "We don't even have bread, why are you asking me about travelling to America?" said one Afghan man in Kabul. Sahar, a 29-year-old economics graduate who has struggled to find work amid sky-high unemployment, said the new rules will not have any impact on most Afghans. "When there are thousands of serious issues in Afghanistan, this won't change anything," she told AFP. "Those who could afford to travel and apply for the visa will find another way or to go somewhere else instead of the US." - AFP
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
US-China renewed dialogue seen lifting Malaysia's trade outlook
KUALA LUMPUR: Renewed trade talks between the United States and China are expected to boost investor confidence and strengthen Malaysia's trade momentum, an economist said. Putra Business School economist Professor Dr Ahmed Razman Abdul Latiff said any move to reduce tariffs between the two economic giants could steady the sails for Malaysia by boosting confidence and trade visibility. "If the US and China agree to resume talks and reach a deal to reduce tariffs on each other, Malaysia's trade environment and investor sentiment will become less volatile and uncertain," he told Business Times. "This would boost investor confidence and encourage continued investment in Malaysia," Razman added, noting that while tensions persist, Malaysia is taking steps to shield its economy. Razman also expects Malaysia's export markets and supply chains to remain competitive, although growth may moderate slightly. This, he said, is supported by ongoing efforts to diversify export destinations, grow the country's trading partnerships and enhance intra-Asean trade. Should US-China negotiations break down again, he said the impact on Malaysia would likely remain limited. "There will be some negative impact but it will be minimum as majority of Malaysia's products such as semiconductor will not be subjected to higher tariffs by the US," he said. Trump and Xi held a 90-minute phone conversation on Thursday, marking their first direct dialogue since Trump resumed office. The call, widely viewed as a positive step towards easing the prolonged trade tensions between the world's two largest economies, laid the groundwork for renewed bilateral cooperation and the resumption of high-level trade negotiations. Both leaders agreed to restart trade talks, with senior US officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, expected to meet their Chinese counterparts. The timing and venue for these negotiations have yet to be finalised but are anticipated to be announced in the coming weeks. Although the call sparked market optimism, US stocks closed lower as a sharp decline in Tesla shares outweighed the positive momentum from progress in US-China tariff negotiations. Tesla shares plunged over 14 per cent in heavy trading as the escalating public feud between Trump and businessman Elon Musk rattled investors, wiping out about US$150 billion in market value. Razman downplayed concerns over the spat saying, "The impact on Malaysia will be minimal, as the fallout primarily affects the SpaceX program and Tesla production."
