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Category: China

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Indian Home Minister Confirms Plane Crash Survivor

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    NEW DELHI, June 13 (Xinhua) — Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said he has met the sole survivor of a plane crash that occurred in the western state of Gujarat on Thursday.

    “Air India flight AI-171 crashed this afternoon and it is feared that many passengers have lost their lives. The entire country mourns and supports the families of the victims,” he told reporters. “There were 230 passengers and 12 crew members on board. The good news is that one passenger survived the crash and I met him. The death toll will be announced after proper DNA testing,” the home minister added.

    A. Shah noted that attempts to save people failed because 125,000 liters of fuel caught fire when the plane crashed and the temperature rose to extreme levels. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Black box of crashed Air India plane found – local media

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    NEW DELHI, June 13 (Xinhua) — Aviation authorities have recovered one of the two black boxes from the Air India plane that crashed in the western Indian state of Gujarat, local newspaper Hindustan Times reported.

    The plane, bound for London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad International Airport on Thursday afternoon.

    “One of the two black boxes, located in the tail section of the plane, was found and placed under secure guard. The Main Directorate of Civil Aviation will take away equipment to analyze the recordings. The second black box, located in the front section of the plane, has yet to be found,” the newspaper writes, citing a source.

    There were 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian on board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed on the grounds of a medical college, as well as two pilots and 10 flight attendants.

    Air India confirmed on Friday that all 241 people on board were killed in the crash. The sole survivor is being treated in hospital.

    The Air Accident Investigation Bureau of the Indian government is investigating the cause of the incident.

    Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said he spoke with Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran after the crash and expressed his willingness to support the Indian government’s investigation.

    The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft with tail number AI171 fell from a height of about 250 meters after takeoff and crashed on the territory of the medical college, causing serious damage to buildings.

    One person was killed at the college, at least nine were missing and 50 were injured, according to a local medical organization. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    UNITED NATIONS, June 13 (Xinhua) — The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution at an emergency special session on Thursday calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and large-scale humanitarian access.

    The document calls for “an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire that must be respected by all parties.”

    It strongly condemns the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and the unlawful denial of humanitarian access. The resolution stresses that the parties should not deprive civilians in the Gaza Strip of the items necessary for survival, including by deliberately obstructing the delivery of and access to humanitarian assistance.

    It is noted that, in accordance with international law, the occupying power is obliged to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches all people in need. The resolution calls for immediate and continued facilitation of the full, rapid, safe and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip and its delivery to all Palestinian civilians.

    The document demands that Israel, as the occupying power, immediately end the blockade, open all border crossings and ensure the immediate and massive flow of aid to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip.

    The need for accountability to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under international law is emphasized and in this regard, all UN Member States, individually and collectively, are called upon to take all necessary measures to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations.

    The resolution was adopted by 149 votes in favor, 12 against and 19 abstentions. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Special Report: Continuation of a thousand-year friendship and a new chapter in the history of the era – on Xi Jinping’s trip to Kazakhstan to participate in the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Beijing, June 13 /Xinhua/ — At the invitation of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Chinese President Xi Jinping will be in Astana from June 16 to 18 to attend the 2nd China-Central Asia (CA) Summit.

    Over a thousand years, the people of China and Central Asia have created the glory of the ancient Silk Road and written a magnificent chapter in the history of exchanges between civilizations. With deep historical roots, a solid foundation of public support and a wide range of practical needs, China’s relations with Central Asian countries have gained vitality and vigor in the new era.

    Two years ago, the 1st China-Central Asia Summit was successfully held in Xi’an, ushering in a new era of China-Central Asia relations. Over the past two years, cooperation between China and the region has achieved tangible results. Now, as promised, the 2nd summit will be held in Astana, pushing the six countries to move forward on a new path of building a China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

    In the time between the Xi’an and Astana summits, the roadmap for action has become clearer and the steps forward more powerful. Xi Jinping and the heads of the five Central Asian states must develop a new plan for cooperation that opens up new opportunities for peace and development in the region, brings valuable confidence to a changing world, and charts a brighter future for the progress of human civilization.

    A UNITED DESIRE TO PASS ON MILLENNIAL FRIENDSHIP

    More than 2,100 years ago, the journey of Zhang Qian, an emissary of the Han Dynasty, to the western lands opened the door for friendly exchanges between China and Central Asia.

    In the autumn of 2013, Xi Jinping visited four Central Asian countries and in Kazakhstan for the first time put forward the initiative to build the Silk Road Economic Belt, awakening ancient memories and drawing a blueprint for a dream.

    Over the past 10 years, Xi Jinping has visited Central Asia many times and maintained close ties with the leaders of Central Asian countries. China and the countries of the region have joined forces to comprehensively revive the Silk Road and deepen cooperation, which has ushered in a new era in relations between the two sides.

    Today, China has established a comprehensive strategic partnership, signed cooperation documents for the joint construction of the Belt and Road, and is implementing the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind bilaterally with each of the five Central Asian countries. This signifies the height of political mutual trust, the depth of good-neighborliness, and the breadth of practical cooperation between China and these countries.

    Friendship is the fruit of common views and common aspirations. As Xi Jinping noted, “deepening cooperation between China and Central Asian countries is a strategic choice of our generation of leaders, made with an eye to the future, in line with global trends and in response to the aspirations of the people.”

    In 2020, China put forward an initiative to create a “China-CA” mechanism. In July of the same year, the first meeting of the foreign ministers of China and the Central Asian countries via video link was held, at which the launch of regular meetings in this format was announced.

    In January 2022, Xi Jinping held a video summit with the leaders of five Central Asian countries to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of interstate diplomatic relations. During the talks, proposals were made to raise the status of the mechanism to the level of heads of state. “Always based on mutual respect, good neighborliness and friendship, unity in the face of challenges, mutual benefit and win-win,” this is how the head of China explained the secret to the success of cooperation between China and the Central Asian countries.

    In May 2023, at the 1st China-CA Summit, Xi Jinping detailed China’s foreign policy toward Central Asian countries and agreed with the leaders of the five countries to jointly build a closer community with a shared future for China and Central Asia. The mechanism of meetings at the level of heads of state was formally established. Xi Jinping put forward four proposals for regional development and four principles for building a community with a shared future, which received a warm response from other leaders.

    The Xi’an Declaration, a number of multi- and bilateral documents, key agreements on the most important areas of cooperation… The Xi’an meeting became a bright page in the thousand-year history of friendly contacts between China and the Central Asian states and gave a powerful impetus to peace and stability not only in the region, but also on the entire planet.

    The content of China-Central Asia cooperation is constantly enriched based on the principles of joint consultation, joint construction and joint use, and its structure is constantly improved. At the recent 6th meeting of the foreign ministers of China and Central Asian countries in Almaty, the parties highly appreciated the level of mutual trust and solidarity, as well as the important role of the China-Central Asia mechanism, expressing their readiness to further unleash the potential of partnership and create new milestones in building a community with a shared future.

    The China-CA format demonstrates practical results despite the relative “youth” of the mechanism. The personal participation of the leaders of the countries emphasizes mutual respect and the desire to deepen the partnership. This approach allows coordinating the positions of countries on key issues of our time, strengthening trust between countries and with each other, and forming a unified approach to regional security and development. In addition, the personal participation of the leaders in the formation of the China-CA mechanism emphasizes its strategic importance. This creates a new model of multilateral interaction in Eurasia, contributing to stability and development of the region. “Therefore, confidence is growing that the summit in Astana will expand the horizons of cooperation between our countries and give a new impetus to achieving practical results for the benefit of the population of the region,” said Sheradil Baktygulov, Director of the Kyrgyz Institute of World Politics.

    HAND IN HAND TOWARDS MODERNIZATION

    On April 29 this year, work began in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan’s Jalal-Abad region to lay three tunnels on the Kyrgyz section of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, marking the project’s transition to the construction phase.

    This major infrastructure project within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative, promoted personally by the heads of the three states, has become a symbol of the convergence of interests of the three countries and embodies the desire of their peoples for interconnectedness and common prosperity. According to the Director of the Department of Land and Water Transport under the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Kyrgyzstan Tariel Keldibekov, the railway will rebuild the logistics network in the region. Acting Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Political Council of UzLiDeP Jamoliddin Meliboev emphasized that the project is evidence of deepening mutual trust and practical cooperation between China and the Central Asian countries.

    “The world needs a transport-connected Central Asia,” Xi Jinping said at the 1st China-CA summit. The above-mentioned railway is being built, trains regularly depart from different regions of China to Central Asian countries, the Kazakhstan terminal in Xi’an has been put into operation, and the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is actively advancing… China and the Central Asian countries are consistently deepening their interconnectedness.

    Taking the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road as a new starting point, China and Central Asian countries are intensifying cooperation at an unprecedented speed and intensity. The two sides are jointly building a path to modernization and common development.

    An increasingly dense network of transport routes is becoming a bridge for trade. With the help of uninterrupted rail, road and air transport, Chinese products – from household appliances and everyday goods to electric cars – are constantly flowing into Central Asia, and high-quality Central Asian goods such as fertilizers, cotton, beef and lamb are increasingly finding their way to the Chinese market… According to the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, in 2024, trade turnover between China and the Central Asian countries reached $94.8 billion, an increase of $5.4 billion compared to the previous year and a new historical maximum.

    38-year-old Kazakh farmer Sergey told reporters that in recent years he began cooperating with Chinese companies, introducing a “contract farming” model: he grows grain crops according to the demands of the Chinese market and receives agricultural support from Chinese specialists. This helped solve problems with growing grain and selling it.

    According to Abdugani Mamadazimov, Chairman of the National Foundation “Silk Road – the Road of Consolidation”, the “China-CA” mechanism has made a significant contribution to the stability and development of the region. “We hope that the 2nd “China-CA” summit will deepen cooperation between the parties, help continue the development of infrastructure and logistics, and also unite efforts for the sake of joint development and common prosperity,” he said.

    DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURAL EXCHANGES AND MUTUAL LEARNING BETWEEN CIVILIZATIONS

    On May 31, 2025, the first international tourist train China-Central Asia arrived from Xi’an to Almaty railway station. This event opened a series of cultural exchanges between China and Kazakhstan.

    At the 1st China-CA Summit, Xi Jinping put forward a number of initiatives, including a proposal to launch a tourist train. Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Anuar Akhmetzhanov expressed hope that the train will help strengthen ties between the peoples of China and the Central Asian countries and deepen their mutual understanding.

    Today, China has a visa-free regime with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. 2025 has been declared the Year of Chinese Tourism in Kazakhstan, and the Year of Uzbek Tourism in China. More and more Chinese tourists are traveling to the ancient cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, and more and more citizens of Central Asian countries are visiting China.

    The thousand-year-old Silk Road allows people to travel freely, promotes mutual understanding and cultural integration. Cooperation in education and poverty reduction, contacts on public administration issues, exchanges at the local level – deep and sustainable civilizational dialogue makes the friendship between the parties ever stronger.

    Partnerships in the field of professional education open the way to the future for Central Asian youth. In Tajikistan, the first in Central Asia “Lu Ban Workshop” has been operating for more than two years, where they teach heat supply technologies and engineering geodesy. “Lu Ban Workshop” in the East Kazakhstan region is aimed at training personnel for the automotive industry. In Astana, the second “Lu Ban Workshop” in Kazakhstan is also actively preparing to open. In Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, such workshops began operating last year, and in Turkmenistan, the project is currently underway.

    Interest in China and the Chinese language in Central Asian countries is steadily growing. China and the countries of the region are rapidly exchanging cultural centers. There are already 13 Confucius Institutes operating in Central Asia. More and more young people are seeking to get an education in China. Today, there are almost one hundred pairs of administrative-territorial units that have established sister-city relations.

    Joint restoration of ancient Khiva in Uzbekistan, joint excavations at the Kazakh archaeological complex of Rakhat, work to preserve and pass on to future generations the Kyrgyz heroic epic “Manas”… Cooperation between China and the Central Asian countries in the field of cultural heritage protection has allowed many pearls of the Silk Road to shine again.

    Uzbek political commentator Sharofiddin Tulaganov noted that the China-CA mechanism has become an important platform for mutual learning between civilizations and the rapprochement of peoples, which contributes to deepening mutual understanding and strengthening trust, and also makes a significant humanitarian contribution to peace and stability in the region.

    According to Aidar Amrebayev, Director of the Center for Political Research at the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies of the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan, the upcoming China-CA summit will give new impetus to cohesion and cooperation between China and the Central Asian countries, advance the construction of a closer community with a common destiny for China and CA, and contribute to the prosperity of the region and the improvement of global governance.

    From Xi’an to Astana, in the flow of high-quality joint construction of the “Belt and Road”, on the new path to modernization and in the dialogue of civilizations, China and the Central Asian countries are passing on the traditions of friendship and mutual support from generation to generation, making a new contribution to ensuring peace and development on the planet and promoting the progress of human civilization. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by CE at Opening Ceremony of Chinese Culture Festival 2025 (with video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Speech by CE at Opening Ceremony of Chinese Culture Festival 2025 (with video) 
    I would now like to turn to our English-speaking friends.
     
    Welcome to the opening reception of the Chinese Culture Festival 2025.
     
    Launched last year by the Government, the Chinese Culture Festival aims to showcase the remarkable virtues of traditional Chinese culture to the world. In 2024, we successfully presented over 250 performances and activities, attracting a substantial attendance of 900 000. 
     
    This year, the second edition of the Chinese Culture Festival will present more than 280 programmes and activities. To kick-start the Festival, this evening we are presenting a contemporary dance drama to you. Titled “Dongpo: Life in Poems”, this performance is brought to you by the China Oriental Performing Arts Group, and uses a variety of innovative means to present Chinese poetry, calligraphy, painting and music.
     
    Other Festival programmes include Chinese operas, local performances as recognised by the China National Arts Fund, as well as specially curated programmes co-organised with the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Hong Kong Member Association and arts and cultural organisations.
     
    Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong is the only world city that enjoys both the China advantage and the global advantage. We will make full use of Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange to promote the beauty of Chinese culture.
     
    An important strategic direction featured in the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development, published by the Government last year, is on the promotion of the profound traditional Chinese culture. I am confident that the Chinese Culture Festival will become a new major annual cultural event in Hong Kong, attracting not only local residents but also Mainland and overseas tourists with its vibrant programme.
     
    I wish the Festival a resounding success, and all of you an enjoyable evening. Thank you.
    Issued at HKT 20:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exclusive: China-Central Asia Mechanism Promotes Sustainable Development of Region – Kazakh Political Scientist

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    ALMATY, June 13 (Xinhua) — Modern geopolitical challenges require enhanced and coordinated interaction between countries seeking stability and development. Central Asia and China have a unique potential to become a fulcrum of stability in the world. This opinion was expressed by Aidar Amrebayev, Director of the Center for Political Research at the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies of the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

    Speaking about the growing importance of cooperation between China and the Central Asian states, the expert noted that digitalization of infrastructure, joint development, and coordination of foreign policy positions are especially important today.

    “I think that it is in the interests of China and Central Asia to have a joint, coordinated positioning in the current geopolitical situation, which today is quite confrontational,” noted A. Amrebaev.

    The political scientist emphasized that the approaches of Kazakhstan and China largely coincide: both countries advocate strict adherence to international law, non-interference in the internal affairs of states, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, especially in times of acute confrontation in the international arena.

    “We are moving in the same direction. And I am convinced that the Central Asian countries are also interested in maintaining such positions. This is a signal to the world community that our region is striving for sustainable development and constructive interaction,” he added.

    In this context, the expert noted the importance of creating the UN Sustainable Development Centre in Almaty, as well as the active role of Kazakhstan and China in promoting multilateralism and strengthening international institutions, primarily the UN.

    Commenting on the 80th anniversary of the Victory in World War II and the establishment of the UN, A. Amrebaev emphasized the importance of historical memory and the role of China and Central Asia in supporting justice and honest dialogue in international relations.

    “Today, there are many inter-civilizational fault lines, economic and political confrontations. The modern world order is changing, and we need support points of stability and sustainability. In my opinion, Central Asia and China have the potential to become such a point of growth and sustainability in international relations,” the expert believes.

    The political scientist noted that despite the statements of some Western analysts about the possibility of the region turning into a “geopolitical chessboard,” the position of the Central Asian countries and China remains balanced, peaceful and pragmatic. He recalled the global initiatives of the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping – in the areas of security, development, and civilizational dialogue, which give the world hope for overcoming conflicts.

    “At the Astana Forum, our president spoke about the need to look for reference points and countries capable of supporting joint and coordinated development. In the Chinese concept, this is a “community with a common destiny for humanity.” This is a wonderful philosophical concept, and Kazakhstan confirms its practical value with its actions,” said A. Amrebayev.

    The political scientist also commented on cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative, in which all five Central Asian countries participate. In his opinion, new formats of interaction between China and the regions provide a sustainable basis for economic and technological growth.

    “Today, the focus has shifted from a bilateral to a multilateral format. Let’s take water or transport issues, for example — they cannot be resolved in isolation. Broad regional coordination is needed. Therefore, participation in integration initiatives is becoming increasingly justified,” the expert noted. He emphasized that the region’s economy cannot be closed: it is necessary to go beyond bilateral corridors, taking into account global markets. In this context, Chinese initiatives create favorable conditions for the inclusion of Central Asia in the global trade and investment architecture.

    “It is important to listen to the interlocutor – this corresponds to both Chinese and Kazakh philosophy. Everyone wants to live peacefully, in harmony, raise children, interact. And it is on these values, and not on force, that the new world order should be built. I think such a philosophy is embedded in China’s initiatives and is shared by reasonable humanity,” A. Amrebaev summed up. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Opera, ice cream, activism – daughter of jailed Uyghur scholar shares Father’s Day memories

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Jewher Ilham will not see her father, the Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti, this Father’s Day. In fact, she has not seen him since 2013, when he was detained by the Chinese authorities and later sentenced to life in prison on baseless charges of “separatism”. Here Jewher, who has campaigned tirelessly for her father’s release and against repression of Uyghurs in their homeland in western China, recalls some of her fondest memories of him.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Scott Perry Introduces “Republic of Somaliland Independence Act”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10) introduced the Republic of Somaliland Independence Act, legislation formally recognizing Somaliland as a separate, independent nation. The bill redirects U.S. foreign policy to align with a new, stable and self-governing partner in a region of increasing strategic importance to the United States.

    “For more than three decades, Somaliland demonstrated the kind of governance, stability, and cooperation that America should support,” said Congressman Perry. “Foreign adversaries are on the march in Africa and around the globe, and it’s in our national interest to strengthen relationships with reliable partners who share our values and contribute to our security – whenever and wherever possible.”

    Somaliland straddles key global shipping routes located along the Gulf of Aden near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Currently, the government and political system of Somaliland already operates independently of Mogadishu, the unstable, conflict-ridden and fractured capitol city of Somalia. Somalia’s meritless claims over Somaliland hinder the United States’ ability to forge deeper diplomatic ties with Somaliland, a responsible partner nation that maintains internal order, conducts democratic elections, and actively counters piracy and extremism.

    “Somaliland has established itself as a stable, democratic, and reliable partner in East Africa. As China expands its influence across the globe, strengthening our alliances with free nations like Somaliland is more important than ever,“ said Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-O5). “I support the people of Somaliland in their pursuit of independence and look forward to building a strong partnership with them as allies.“

    “This is a smart, strategic bill, and I’m proud to be an original cosponsor of Congressman Perry’s effort to recognize Somaliland. They’ve governed themselves peacefully for decades, built strong ties with Taiwan, and refused to bow to the Chinese Communist Party. They’ve even offered the U.S. military access to a key port in the Gulf of Aden. That’s what a real partner looks like, and it’s time we treated them like one,” said Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10). 

    “It is a simple fact that Somaliland is a sovereign and self-governing nation separate from Somalia, and U.S. policy should reflect that,“ said Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07).

    At a time of intensifying competition with China, Iran, and other hostile actors in the region and around the globe, the United States cannot afford to brush off allies. This bill ensures American leadership remains strong in East Africa, and sends a clear signal that the U.S. will stand with responsible partners who uphold stability and sovereignty.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Fact Sheets – Southeast Asia – 12-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    As part of the wider Indo-Pacific, Southeast Asia has vital geostrategic importance for the EU and is currently facing relevant geostrategic challenges. The Indo-Pacific is undergoing rapid change, and as home to more than 50% of the world’s population, it is becoming a key geostrategic region. Two thirds of the world’s container trade passes through the Indo-Pacific and its sea lanes are important routes for trade and energy supplies. The EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific was adopted in September 2021 to increase the EU’s engagement and build partnerships to address global challenges. The EU is adapting its current instruments to achieve strategic autonomy. Its Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, formally approved by the Council in March 2022, promotes an open and rules-based regional security architecture, including secure maritime routes, capacity-building and an enhanced naval presence in the Indo-Pacific.The EU’s strategy priority areas in Southeast Asia are sustainable and inclusive prosperity, the green transition, ocean governance, digital governance, connectivity through the Global Gateway, security, defence and human security. The EU is forging closer ties with Southeast Asian countries and is promoting regional integration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which represents, as a whole, the EU’s third-largest trading partner outside Europe (after China and the US). The region has geostrategic concerns, such as the South China Sea dispute and the Taiwan issue, as well as environmental concerns, especially in the Mekong sub-region. The EU is a strong economic player in Southeast Asia and a major development aid donor, working to foster connectivity, digitalisation, institution-building, democracy, good governance and human rights.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Record of discussion of meeting of Exchange Fund Advisory Committee Currency Board Sub-Committee held on April 30

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Record of discussion of meeting of Exchange Fund Advisory Committee Currency Board Sub-Committee held on April 30 
    Report on Currency Board Operations (25 December, 2024 – 16 April, 2025)
    ————————————————————————————
     
    The Currency Board Sub-Committee (Sub-Committee) noted that the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) traded within a range of 7.7555 – 7.7927 against the US dollar (USD) during the review period. The HKD exchange rate moderated in early January 2025 as liquidity tightness subsided at the end of 2024 and global markets reacted to US tariff announcements, but strengthened in mid-February 2025, supported by strong performance of the local stock market amid Mainland China’s recent advancements in artificial intelligence and net inflows from the Southbound Stock Connect. In early April, in response to further US tariffs, the HKD strengthened further as long USD carry trades unwound amid a risk-off sentiment and southbound inflows continued. HKD interbank rates (HIBORs) continued to track the USD rates while shorter-tenor rates were also being affected by local supply and demand. Short-term HIBORs tightened briefly near the year-end but softened thereafter as funding demand faded. The Convertibility Undertakings were not triggered during the review period and the Aggregate Balance was stable at around HK$45 billion. No abnormality was noted in the usage of the Discount Window. Overall, the HKD exchange and interbank markets continued to trade in a smooth and orderly manner.
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that the Monetary Base increased to HK$1,980.99 billion at the end of the review period. In accordance with the Currency Board principles, all changes in the Monetary Base had been fully matched by changes in foreign reserves.
     
    The Report on Currency Board Operations for the review period is at Annex.
     
    Monitoring of Risks and Vulnerabilities
    ——————————————
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that downside growth risks to the global economy had intensified following the US announcement of imposing reciprocal tariffs that exceeded market expectations. In response, global financial markets had gyrated, although they continued to operate smoothly with no sign of widespread funding stress. While the postponement of reciprocal tariffs had offered some reprieve for export-reliant Asian economies which generally faced higher rates, the prospect of tariffs being implemented further down the road still posed significant growth headwinds.
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that in Mainland China, the economy entered 2025 amid some green shoots and improved equity market sentiment. In particular, at the “two sessions” in March, the authorities sent strong pro-growth signals, including prioritising consumption and strengthening fiscal support. From April onwards, the Mainland economic outlook faced stiffer external headwinds due to the US reciprocal tariffs. It was expected that Mainland China would place increasing emphasis on supporting consumption.
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that in Hong Kong, downside risks to the growth outlook heightened following the imposition of the US reciprocal tariffs. Yet, several factors might help alleviate some of the impact, including the Mainland’s pro-growth policies and its advancement in artificial intelligence, the prospective US rate cuts expected by the markets, and the ongoing recovery of inbound tourism. Meanwhile, housing market transactions gained momentum in March following the Government’s adjustment in stamp duties for lower-value properties, although market sentiment turned conservative in early April amid the global financial market volatility. The commercial real estate markets remained subdued, especially in the office segment.
     
    A Study on “Discount Window Stigma”
    ——————————————-
     
    The Sub-Committee noted a paper that examined the usage of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s (HKMA) Discount Window and the associated “stigma effect” by banks over time. The results showed that the Discount Window was tapped more frequently and the associated stigma diminished in the current period of tight liquidity, compared with the previous period of tight liquidity in 2018 – 2020. This trend coincided with the HKMA’s proactive communication efforts with banks to alleviate concerns about the “stigma effect” during recent periods.
    Issued at HKT 16:36

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong’s international gourmet hub status attracts Mainland coconut chicken hot pot chain to open first restaurant in Hong Kong (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         ​Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (June 13) that Runseason World Trade Catering Co Ltd (Runseason), a Mainland catering brand specialising in coconut chicken hot pot, has officially opened its first restaurant in Hong Kong, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy.

         The new restaurant, located in Causeway Bay, will also serve as a regional office and a strategic launch pad for the company’s ambitions to enter European markets and elevate its brand on the global stage, according to Runseason co-founder Mr Huang Guangchun.

         Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Mr Arnold Lau said, “Runseason’s decision to establish its foothold in Hong Kong underscores the city as the premier choice for Mainland brands to go global. It also highlights Hong Kong’s unique advantages as a launch pad for food and beverage companies aiming to expand internationally. We are delighted to support Runseason in leveraging Hong Kong’s vibrant market and international connectivity to achieve its ambitious expansion goals.”

         Mr Huang said, “Hong Kong’s status as an international culinary hub, with its mature market and diverse consumers, makes it the ideal base for Runseason to refine its product offerings, strengthen its supply chain resilience, and enhance its digital services. Aligning with the company’s ‘family standards and conscientious quality’ philosophy, the Hong Kong restaurant will develop a replicable model for global expansion, showcasing its signature coconut chicken hot pot and innovative dishes to a global audience.”

         He added, “Hong Kong, as an international city where East meets West, provides an unparalleled opportunity for Runseason to introduce our coconut chicken – a delicacy rooted in Eastern dietary wisdom – to international markets. By leveraging Hong Kong’s diverse consumer base and its reputation for culinary excellence, we aim to transform this regional specialty into a global cultural symbol of healthy and sustainable dining.”

         Founded in 2009, Runseason is a subsidiary of Shenzhen Runyuan Four Seasons Catering Co Ltd, offering its signature coconut chicken hot pot, in which the brand sources fresh ingredients directly from its own coconut plantations and Wenchang chicken breeding farm in Hainan, ensuring a premium dining experience. It operates over 20 restaurants across Mainland China, bringing its beloved hot pot to an ever-growing customer base. 

         For more information about Runseason, please visit mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Cn8mevI9TxnrmaIT72fksA.

         For a copy of the photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720326792123.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why anti-trafficking measures alone won’t save Africa’s pangolins

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Charles Emogor, Schmidt Science Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge

    Nigeria accounts for the largest volume of detected pangolin scales illegally traded from Africa. Between 2010 and 2021, 190,000kg of scales – representing nearly 800,000 African pangolins – were seized in shipments linked to Nigeria, despite a ban on international trade.

    Pangolins are scaly mammals found across Asia and Africa. They are considered the world’s most trafficked wild mammals and they are exploited in different ways on different continents.

    In Asia, mainly China, their scales are used in large-scale therapeutic medicines, despite not having known medicinal properties. Their meat is consumed as a delicacy, so it’s expensive and highly sought after.

    In Africa, pangolin scales are mainly used in small quantities to make traditional medicines and, like most other wildlife on the continent, their meat is sold and consumed locally. However, the decline in Asian pangolin populations has prompted the trafficking of African pangolin scales to Asia.

    Due to the relatively recent rise in international demand, the drivers of African pangolin exploitation remain unclear. However, some conservationists and researchers propose that this exploitation is primarily driven by overseas demand for pangolin scales used in traditional medicine.

    My new study challenges this view and suggests that African pangolin exploitation is motivated more by local demand for meat than international demand for scales.

    Having grown up in Nigeria, I developed personal connections with many of the hunters and vendors and have spent the past five years building a trustworthy relationship with them in order to research pangolin trade from within the industry.

    My colleagues and I sent an anonymous questionnaire to 590 hunters and 219 wild meat vendors in 33 locations in southeast Nigeria. We wanted to find out how many pangolins they caught annually and how they were captured. We also asked what their motivations for hunting were, how much they sold pangolin products for and the subsequent uses of meat and scales.

    Given that pangolin meat is eaten as food, we asked another group of 570 hunters, vendors, and other household members to score the palatability (perceived sensory qualities of meat flavour and texture) of 96 meat and fish dishes consumed in Nigerian communities.

    Of the approximately 21,000 white- and black-bellied pangolins, which we estimated were killed annually across the hunters in the landscape between 2020 and 2023, 97% were captured opportunistically (that is, while performing activities other than hunting) or during general hunting. Of those, were picked up by hand – these animals weigh just 2-3kg on average and are relatively slow-moving.

    Surprisingly, 98% of captured pangolins were caught for their meat, with 71% eaten by the hunters and 27% sold locally. This high rate of personal consumption compared to local sales is likely driven by their exceptional taste. In southeast Nigeria, the three pangolin species eaten scored highest in palatability among 96 wild meats assessed, and were comparable only with the African brush-tailed porcupine.

    By comparison, rural southeast Asian communities increasingly forego eating the pangolins themselves and instead sell them to urban centres because they get high prices for meat and scales.

    Most of the pangolin scales (70%) were discarded. Less than 30% were traded illegally. We also found that, on a per-animal basis, pangolin scales have been three to four times lower than meat since 2010, when Nigeria’s first pangolin scale seizure was documented.

    Beyond Nigeria

    While our study focused on pangolin trade in southeast Nigeria, our findings likely apply to other African forest regions where pangolins make up a similar proportion of the hunters’ total catch and where the price of scales is comparable.

    Our analysis only applies to white- and black-bellied pangolins; but this is still substantial as they make up approximately 98% of African pangolins trafficked internationally (based on seizure data) and 96% of pangolins caught by hunters across central and west Africa (based on hunter offtake data from six countries).

    Securing the future of African pangolins demands a bold shift if they are primarily being hunted for meat rather than scales, as appears to be the case in southeast Nigeria. Anti-trafficking measures alone won’t protect pangolins if hunting for local consumption remains unchecked.

    Promoting alternative protein sources or sustainable livelihoods for hunters could help reduce wild meat dependence. As current global trade bans don’t always reflect local hunting motivations, understanding why people hunt protected species and how they get traded both locally and globally will be crucial in developing conservation strategies that will tackle the root of the problem and encourage a transition to more sustainable practices.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Charles Emogor receives funding from the British High Commission in Nigeria, National Geographic Society, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Conservation Network, Rufford Foundation, Conservation Leadership Programme, and Save Pangolins. He is the founder of Pangolin Protection Network (aka Pangolino).

    – ref. Why anti-trafficking measures alone won’t save Africa’s pangolins – https://theconversation.com/why-anti-trafficking-measures-alone-wont-save-africas-pangolins-251744

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tens of thousands of people in Hainan have been evacuated to safe areas due to Typhoon Wutip

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    HAIKOU, June 13 (Xinhua) — More than tens of thousands of residents in south China’s Hainan Province have been evacuated to safe areas as Typhoon Wutip (Butterfly), the first typhoon of the year, approaches.

    As of 8:00 p.m. Thursday, a total of 16,561 people had been evacuated from construction sites, low-lying areas threatened by flooding and areas at risk from mountain torrents in the province.

    All 30,721 fishing vessels in the province have either returned to ports or taken shelter elsewhere, with more than 40,000 people working on them evacuated to shore.

    As Typhoon Wutip continues to intensify, the provincial meteorological office extended the typhoon alert to Level 3 at 11 a.m. Friday.

    Typhoon Wutip strengthened into a severe tropical storm at 8 p.m. Thursday. As of 10 a.m. Friday, its epicenter was located near Ledong Li Autonomous County on Hainan Island, with maximum wind speeds of about 28 meters per second near the epicenter. Heavy rainfall is expected in many parts of the province by 8 p.m.

    According to meteorologists’ forecasts, the typhoon is moving in a northwesterly direction at a speed of 5-10 km/h.

    On Friday, Wutip may make landfall or pass near the coastal area between Ledong County and Dongfang City as a severe tropical storm with wind gusts of 25 to 28 meters per second. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Scientists Discover 100-Million-Year-Old Parasitic Fungi

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    NANJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — An international team of paleontologists led by Chinese scientists has discovered two previously unknown species of parasitic fungi preserved in two pieces of amber from Myanmar’s Kachin region, which are about 100 million years old, according to the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

    The new discovery provides important evidence for the study of fungi and insects’ coevolution. The study also suggests that the parasitic fungi group Ophiocordyceps evolved about 30 million years earlier than previously thought.

    As the head of the research project, senior researcher at the institute Wang Bo, explained, the fungi do not have a solid structure and are easily decomposed. Research into the origin and evolution of Ophiocordyceps is hampered by the extreme limitation of fossil evidence.

    The two pieces of amber have well-preserved mushroom structures, making it possible to compare them with modern analogues. Using computer microtomography, the researchers discovered their insect hosts.

    The scientists also obtained and analyzed genetic data on 120 modern Ophiocordyceps species. Using these fossils as a reference, they reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Ophiocordyceps and revised the data on the origin of this group of fungi.

    “The results suggest that the origin of Ophiocordyceps must have occurred around 130 million years ago, in the Early Cretaceous, which is 30 million years earlier than previously thought,” he said.

    The results of the study were published Wednesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Judge orders Trump to give California back control of its National Guard

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    LOS ANGELES, June 13 (Xinhua) — A federal judge on Thursday issued a temporary order ordering U.S. President Donald Trump to return control of the state’s National Guard to California authorities.

    Trump’s deployment of the California National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles was unlawful because it violated the Tenth Amendment and exceeded the president’s statutory powers, according to the order, which will go into effect Friday at 12 p.m.

    US District Judge Charles Breyer said Trump overstepped his authority when he ordered about 4,000 National Guard troops to be deployed to Los Angeles, where immigration protests have erupted.

    California Governor Gavin Newsom challenged the measure in court. California later filed an emergency motion asking a judge to bar the National Guard from assisting immigration enforcement raids.

    Breyer’s injunction was “a sharp rebuke of President Trump’s efforts to deploy thousands of National Guard troops to the streets of an American city, which has led to nearly a week of political standoffs and protests across the country,” the New York Times writes.

    During an hour-long hearing in San Francisco, a Justice Department official said courts do not have the authority to review the president’s decisions regarding the National Guard and Marines, which Trump sent to Los Angeles despite objections from state and local officials.

    C. Breyer expressed doubt that D. Trump fulfilled the conditions of the law determining when National Guard units, which are usually commanded by the state governor, can be federalized.

    The judge stayed the order until Friday afternoon to allow an appeal, but he set a June 20 hearing on whether to make the restrictions permanent. The Trump administration has appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping offers condolences to Indian leadership over plane crash

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday offered condolences to Indian President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the deaths of many people in the crash of an Air India plane.

    In his message, Xi Jinping said he was shocked to learn of the plane crash that claimed many lives. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, he expressed deep condolences over the loss of life, sympathized with the victims and the families of the deceased, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent a message of condolences to Modi on Friday. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bilibili Inc. Announces Completion of the Repurchase Right of Its 1.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHANGHAI, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bilibili Inc. (“Bilibili” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BILI and HKEX: 9626), an iconic brand and a leading video community for young generations in China, today announced that it has completed its previously announced repurchase right relating to its 1.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (CUSIP No. 090040AD8) (the “Notes”). The repurchase right expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Thursday, June 12, 2025. Based on information from Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as the paying agent for the Notes, US$66,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes were validly surrendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the repurchase right. The aggregate cash purchase price of these Notes is US$66,000. The Company has accepted all of the surrendered Notes for repurchase and has forwarded cash in payment of the same to the paying agent for distribution to the applicable holders.

    About Bilibili Inc.

    Bilibili is an iconic brand and a leading video community with a mission to enrich the everyday lives of young generations in China. Bilibili offers a wide array of video-based content with All the Videos You Like as its value proposition. Bilibili builds its community around aspiring users, high-quality content, talented content creators and the strong emotional bonds among them. Bilibili pioneered the “bullet chatting” feature, a live comment function that has transformed our users’ viewing experience by displaying the thoughts and feelings of audience members viewing the same video. The Company has now become the welcoming home of diverse interests among young generations in China and the frontier for promoting Chinese culture across the world.

    For more information, please visit: http://ir.bilibili.com.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    In China:

    Bilibili Inc.
    Juliet Yang
    Tel: +86-21-2509-9255 Ext. 8523
    E-mail: ir@bilibili.com

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Helen Wu
    Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
    E-mail: bilibili@tpg-ir.com

    In the United States:

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Brandi Piacente
    Tel: +1-212-481-2050
    E-mail: bilibili@tpg-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Government works to boost the agricultural sector

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Government works to boost the agricultural sector

    Government is implementing comprehensive measures to support small-scale farmers, especially in rural and underdeveloped provinces like the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal. 

    This is according to Deputy President Paul Mashatile who outlined key strategies during a parliamentary question-and-answer session. At Thursday’s session, the Deputy President emphasised the importance of enhancing agricultural productivity and improving access to funding.

    Addressing the National Assembly, he stated that the government is improving agricultural productivity through the Agriculture Agro-Processing Master Plan (AAPP) and various support programmes, including the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and the Blended Finance Scheme.

    WATCH | Deputy President addresses the National Assembly

    He explained that the Master Plan aims to enhance agricultural products, promote agro-processing, and improve market access by building capacity, accelerating land reform, and providing financial assistance to farmers.

    “We need to support it to promote economic growth, ensure food security and employment creation, particularly in rural areas. 
    “Government is playing a crucial role in ensuring that small farmers become sustainable and thriving enterprises aligned to the country’s land reform and rural development objectives,” he said.

    He announced that government is assisting farmers by offering grants and loans through partnerships with financial institutions like the Land Bank, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). 

    According to the Deputy President, the state is providing blended finance schemes targeting black-owned agricultural enterprises. 

    “We are enhancing collaboration between government and private entities to boost productivity, service delivery and sustainability growth. Infrastructure and technology adoption depend on these collaborations,” he said.

    He told Members of Parliament that efforts are being made to address the challenge of accessing funding from commercial banks by de-risking investments and mobilising Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).

    Meanwhile, the Deputy President said government is also leveraging trade agreements, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to boost regional trade. 

    “If we effectively utilise regional structures like the African Continental Free Trade Area, our smallholder farmers will have a platform to access larger regional markets and potentially benefit from increased demand for their products. 

    “In this regard, continuous industry consultation and reporting are taking place through the agricultural trade forum.” 

    Export opportunities

    He announced that South Africa is exploring export opportunities in strategic markets like Japan and focusing on products such as citrus fruits and avocados. 

    In the meantime, arrangements are currently in place with the European Union and the country’s BRICS partners to fast-track export protocols, enhance biosecurity to meet international standards and ensure international outreach is professional, responsive and strategic.

    BRICS is an intergovernmental organisation comprising 10 countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

    Funding and market access 

    The country’s second-in-command also took the time to acknowledge the challenges, including commercial banks’ reluctance to fund small farmers due to a lack of collateral. 

    However, he stated that the government is intervening to reduce investment risks and encourage bank participation. 

    According to Deputy President Mashatile, government aims to transform small-scale farming into sustainable enterprises, which will promote economic growth, food security, and job creation in rural areas.

    “We are actively seeking to expand agricultural market access to countries like Japan, particularly for our citrus fruits and avocados.” 

    The Deputy President also took the time to extend his condolences to the families of the people affected by the severe weather conditions in the Eastern Cape. 

    “Our hearts are with you. Government will do everything in its power to assist you. The President will be visiting the Eastern Cape tomorrow,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

    Gabisile

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi urges hard work to build strong China as CPC marks 120th birth anniversary of veteran leader Chen Yun

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Xi urges hard work to build strong China as CPC marks 120th birth anniversary of veteran leader Chen Yun

    Xinhua | June 13, 2025

    Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for learning from veteran leader Chen Yun and carrying forward his legacy with an enterprising spirit and hard work to build China into a strong country.

    Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a meeting held in the Great Hall of the People to mark the 120th anniversary of Chen’s birth.

    Chen, born in 1905, joined the Party in 1925. He was recognized as a great proletarian revolutionary and statesman, and as one of the founding figures of the country’s socialist economy. He was a key member of both the Party’s first generation of central collective leadership with Mao Zedong at the core and the second generation of central collective leadership with Deng Xiaoping at the core, according to Xi. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: AIIB to host 10th annual meeting in Beijing

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will convene its 10th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors in Beijing from June 24 to 26, with over 3,500 participants from nearly 100 countries and regions expected to attend, Vice President and Corporate Secretary Ludger Schuknecht announced at a recent media briefing.

    Founded in 2016, the Beijing-headquartered multilateral development bank has expanded from 57 to 110 members – representing 81% of the world’s population and 65% of global GDP – while maintaining highest credit ratings from three major rating institutions.

    The bank has approved $60 billion in financing across 318 projects, mobilizing over $200 billion in infrastructure investments.

    Apart from launching a series of events to celebrate a decade of impact, the meeting will convene members, partners, business leaders, and international organizations, as well as global experts from a variety of fields, to engage in discussions, collaborations, and forward-looking dialogue.

    With the theme of “Connecting for Development, Collaborating for Prosperity,” the event will address topics including interconnectivity and regional collaboration, green financing, private capital mobilization, digital transformation, and partnership building in its 17 public forums.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Suzhou Industrial Park provides fertile ground for innovation

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    More than 30 years ago, Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) was just a stretch of low-lying paddy fields on the outskirts of Suzhou, eastern China’s Jiangsu province. Today, towering skyscrapers and modern infrastructure define the skyline of what has become a fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship. 

    This combo photo shows a blueprint of the Suzhou Industrial Park drawn in 1994 (top) and an aerial view of the industrial park (bottom) in 2024. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

    The transformation began in the spring of 1994, when SIP was launched as the first cooperation project between the Chinese and Singaporean governments, aiming to build a world-class industrial zone.

    For three decades, SIP has centered its growth strategy on openness and innovation. In 2024, the park’s GDP reached 400.2 billion yuan (US$55.68 billion), making up nearly one sixth of the entire city’s GDP. Its R&D intensity reached 5.61% this year, among the highest in China’s economic and technological development zones.

    “Opening-up and innovation are the park’s greatest feature,” said Liu Hua, vice chairperson of the Administrative Committee of SIP, during an interview on Wednesday.

    Much of SIP’s growth has been driven by its efforts of supporting enterprises as the main players in its innovative development. The park channels resources to help them launch businesses, tackle technological challenges, and unlock new creative potential.

    So far, SIP is home to more than 10,000 technology companies and over 3,000 national high-tech enterprises. It has also cultivated more than 4,600 small and medium-sized tech firms. 

    “We provide efficient services and support to companies, achieving win-win results through cooperation,” Liu said. She added that SIP has accelerated the development of a modern industrial system centered on artificial intelligence, digital industries, and next-generation information technologies.

    AISpeech is one such company that came to SIP to develop conversational artificial intelligence. Yu Kai, the firm’s co-founder and chief scientist, said Suzhou was the first national development zone in China to support AI development with dedicated policies.

    “Suzhou is very active in attracting investment and boasts strong technological infrastructure,” Yu said. Even before he founded AISpeech in 2007, local officials had visited Cambridge University, where he earned his Ph.D. in engineering, to promote investment opportunities.

    “I chose to set up my company in SIP because Suzhou offers a solid foundation with its strategic planning, efficient governance, and clear support for technology industry policies,” he said.

    Today, AISpeech holds 1,597 intellectual property rights and has developed over 70 national and industry standards. Its clients include major automakers and tech firms such as Mercedes-Benz, BYD, Haier, and Xiaomi.

    Last year, the Yangtze River Delta Innovation Consortium in Language Computing, led by AISpeech, was selected as one of the first 12 Yangtze River Delta innovation consortiums.

    “Through this consortium, companies and institutions work together to accelerate breakthroughs in key technologies and applications,” Yu said. “It will play a key role in advancing the development and application of language intelligence technologies in China.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • China tells G7 to stop ‘manipulating’ China issues for its own agenda

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    China warned the Group of Seven advanced economies on Friday against “manipulating” issues related to the world’s second-largest economy for their own agenda, after they accused Beijing of unfair business practices a year earlier.

    Beijing’s criticism of the G7 and what it represents comes amid a surge in global trade tension between the United States and China this year, as well as within the bloc’s membership.

    In remarks ahead of a three-day G7 summit in Canada set to start from Sunday, Lin Jian, a spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry, accused the group of having always upheld a Cold War mentality.

    The bloc should “stop interfering in other countries’ internal affairs, stop undermining other countries’ development, (and) stop manipulating issues related to China,” Lin told a regular news conference.

    The G7 provokes conflicts and confrontations, said Lin, adding that such practices were “doomed to fail”.

    In the communique after its 2024 summit in Italy that mentioned China more than 20 times, the G7 said its companies needed to be protected from China’s unfair business practices.

    It also warned of action against Chinese financial institutions that helped Russia obtain weapons for its war in Ukraine.

    The participation of countries beyond the grouping, such as India and Brazil, in last year’s event also irked China, which viewed the move as a bid to sow discord among countries of the Global South.

    New leaders will represent five of the G7’s members – Britain, Canada, Germany, Japan and the United States – at next week’s summit.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Lord O’Neill of Gatley: Lord Speaker’s Corner | House of Lords | Episode 29

    Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)

    ‘The US is just so obsessed about being big, it doesn’t understand that by others becoming bigger, the US can become wealthier.’

    Jim O’Neill, Lord O’Neill of Gatley, is an ex-Treasury Minister, former Chief Economist at Goldman Sachs and Crossbench member of the House of Lords.

    In this latest episode of Lord Speaker’s Corner, Lord O’Neill shares his perspectives with Lord McFall of Alcluith on a range of topics, from China and the USA to AI, the risks of rising antimicrobial resistance and why Manchester should be prioritised as Britain’s second city.

    At Goldman Sachs, Lord O’Neill coined the term BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) to describe the group of emerging economies. In this episode he shares his thoughts on how that has progressed, as well as President Donald Trump’s current tariffs approach by the US. He explains ‘the path which Trump seems to have embarked on, of aggressive confrontation, is not likely to be sustained because it is in America’s interests for China to continue to do well economically.’

    He also shares his thoughts on the current approach to AI, warning against letting tech sectors self-regulate: ‘this idea that just let the financial sector regulate itself and there’d be no problem…that didn’t turn out too well, did it? And there’s a lot of these AI guys wanting to do the same.’

    Lord O’Neill also calls for greater devolution, with powers for regions to raise local taxes, suggesting ‘people here (in Westminster) need to have excitement about giving responsibility to local people in these places to make a national difference.’ He also calls for devolution on welfare-spending with health-linked budgets for local authorities: ‘There’s a serious case for exploring devolving aspects of the welfare support budget as it links to critical health illness’

    See more from the series https://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/house-of-lords-podcast/

    #HouseOfLords #UKParliament #LordSpeakersCorner #LordsMembers

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BHfC5saj3g

    MIL OSI Video –

  • Inflation to average 2.5% over next six months: HSBC

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s inflation is expected to average around 2.5 per cent over the next six months, according to a report by HSBC Global Research released on Friday.

    The report attributed the softer inflation outlook to a high base effect from last year, as well as stable food prices and adequate grain supplies. Data for June is already trending slightly below May levels, it noted.

    “Vegetable prices in the first 10 days of June have increased in the range of 0–13 per cent, but the high base from last year is helping keep overall inflation in check,” HSBC said in its outlook.

    The monsoon, which began early this year, has slowed recently. Despite this, the sowing of key summer crops such as rice and pulses is reportedly progressing well. Combined with strong cereal production from last year, this has helped keep granaries well-stocked—providing the government with flexibility to release grain stocks gradually and manage food inflation over a longer horizon.

    Headline and core inflation (excluding gold) stood at 2.8 per cent, well below the RBI’s medium-term target of 4 per cent. Food prices remained in deflation for the fifth consecutive month, falling by 0.2 per cent on a month-on-month basis. Prices of items such as fruits, eggs, fish, meat, and sugar showed subdued momentum.

    However, high gold prices continue to exert upward pressure on core inflation. With gold accounting for 1.1 per cent of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket, and prices having risen by over 30 per cent in recent months, core inflation remains slightly elevated. Excluding gold, HSBC estimates core inflation at 3.5 per cent year-on-year.

    Looking ahead, the report forecasts that core inflation could ease further in the second half of 2025 if gold prices decline, as projected by HSBC’s commodities team. It also expects external factors to aid disinflation, including a stronger rupee, falling commodity prices, and weaker global demand—particularly from China.

    The RBI has already cut the policy rate by 100 basis points this year and reduced the cash reserve ratio by an equivalent amount. HSBC expects the central bank to maintain a pause in its August and October policy meetings, before delivering one final 25-basis-point rate cut in December. This would bring the repo rate down to 5.25 per cent by the end of the year.

    IANS

  • MIL-OSI: Himax Technologies, Inc. to Hold Annual General Meeting on August 13, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TAINAN, Taiwan, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Himax Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: HIMX) (“Himax” or “Company”), a leading supplier and fabless manufacturer of display drivers and other semiconductor products, today announced that the Company will hold its Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) in Taiwan on August 13, 2025.

    Details of the Annual General Meeting are below:

    TIME and DATE: TAIWAN 9:30 a.m., August 13, 2025
       
    LOCATION: HIMAX FAB 2 – TAINAN CITY, TAIWAN
       

    Shareholders will vote to adopt the Company’s 2024 Audited Accounts and Financial Reports, re-elect Mr. Yan-Kuin Su as an Independent Director of the Company, amend and restate the Company’s Amended and Restated 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan by the Amendment(s) extending its duration for additional five years to September 6, 2030, and transact any other business brought before the 2025 AGM. Copies of the Company’s Proxy Statement and 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan Amended and Restated as of August 31st, 2016, 2nd Amended and Restated as of August 28th, 2019, 3rd Amended and Restated as of August 16th, 2022, and 4th Amended and Restated as of August 13rd, 2025 have been filed with the SEC.

    Additionally, a copy of Himax Technologies 2024 Annual Report has been posted on the Himax website for download. The Annual Report can be accessed at the following link: https://www.himax.com.tw/investors/financial-information/.

    For additional information and travel arrangements, please contact Company or investor relations representatives listed below.

    About Himax Technologies, Inc.

    Himax Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: HIMX) is a leading global fabless semiconductor solution provider dedicated to display imaging processing technologies. The Company’s display driver ICs and timing controllers have been adopted at scale across multiple industries worldwide including TVs, PC monitors, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, automotive, ePaper devices, industrial displays, among others. As the global market share leader in automotive display technology, the Company offers innovative and comprehensive automotive IC solutions, including traditional driver ICs, advanced in-cell Touch and Display Driver Integration (TDDI), local dimming timing controllers (Local Dimming Tcon), Large Touch and Display Driver Integration (LTDI) and OLED display technologies. Himax is also a pioneer in tinyML visual-AI and optical technology related fields. The Company’s industry-leading WiseEye™ Ultralow Power AI Sensing technology which incorporates Himax proprietary ultralow power AI processor, always-on CMOS image sensor, and CNN-based AI algorithm has been widely deployed in consumer electronics and AIoT related applications. Himax optics technologies, such as diffractive wafer level optics, LCoS microdisplays and 3D sensing solutions, are critical for facilitating emerging AR/VR/metaverse technologies. Additionally, Himax designs and provides touch controllers, OLED ICs, LED ICs, EPD ICs, power management ICs, and CMOS image sensors for diverse display application coverage. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Tainan, Taiwan, Himax currently employs around 2,200 people from three Taiwan-based offices in Tainan, Hsinchu and Taipei and country offices in China, Korea, Japan, Germany, and the US. Himax has 2,603 patents granted and 389 patents pending approval worldwide as of March 31, 2025.

    http://www.himax.com.tw

    Forward Looking Statements

    Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in this conference call include, but are not limited to, the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Company’s business; general business and economic conditions and the state of the semiconductor industry; market acceptance and competitiveness of the driver and non-driver products developed by the Company; demand for end-use applications products; reliance on a small group of principal customers; the uncertainty of continued success in technological innovations; our ability to develop and protect our intellectual property; pricing pressures including declines in average selling prices; changes in customer order patterns; changes in estimated full-year effective tax rate; shortage in supply of key components; changes in environmental laws and regulations; changes in export license regulated by Export Administration Regulations (EAR); exchange rate fluctuations; regulatory approvals for further investments in our subsidiaries; our ability to collect accounts receivable and manage inventory and other risks described from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings, including those risks identified in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in its Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC, as may be amended.

    Company Contacts:
      
    Karen Tiao, Head of IR/PR
    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Tel: +886-2-2370-3999
    Fax: +886-2-2314-0877
    Email: hx_ir@himax.com.tw
    www.himax.com.tw

    Mark Schwalenberg, Director
    Investor Relations – US Representative
    MZ North America
    Tel: +1-312-261-6430
    Email: HIMX@mzgroup.us 
    www.mzgroup.us

    The MIL Network –

  • Inflation to average 2.5% over next six months, below RBI forecast: HSBC

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s inflation is expected to average around 2.5 per cent over the next six months, significantly lower than the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) forecast of 3.5 per cent, according to a report by HSBC Global Research released on Friday.

    The report attributed the softer inflation outlook to a high base effect from last year, as well as stable food prices and adequate grain supplies. Data for June is already trending slightly below May levels, it noted.

    “Vegetable prices in the first 10 days of June have increased in the range of 0–13 per cent, but the high base from last year is helping keep overall inflation in check,” HSBC said in its outlook.

    The monsoon, which began early this year, has slowed recently. Despite this, the sowing of key summer crops such as rice and pulses is reportedly progressing well. Combined with strong cereal production from last year, this has helped keep granaries well-stocked—providing the government with flexibility to release grain stocks gradually and manage food inflation over a longer horizon.

    Headline and core inflation (excluding gold) stood at 2.8 per cent, well below the RBI’s medium-term target of 4 per cent. Food prices remained in deflation for the fifth consecutive month, falling by 0.2 per cent on a month-on-month basis. Prices of items such as fruits, eggs, fish, meat, and sugar showed subdued momentum.

    However, high gold prices continue to exert upward pressure on core inflation. With gold accounting for 1.1 per cent of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket, and prices having risen by over 30 per cent in recent months, core inflation remains slightly elevated. Excluding gold, HSBC estimates core inflation at 3.5 per cent year-on-year.

    Looking ahead, the report forecasts that core inflation could ease further in the second half of 2025 if gold prices decline, as projected by HSBC’s commodities team. It also expects external factors to aid disinflation, including a stronger rupee, falling commodity prices, and weaker global demand—particularly from China.

    The RBI has already cut the policy rate by 100 basis points this year and reduced the cash reserve ratio by an equivalent amount. HSBC expects the central bank to maintain a pause in its August and October policy meetings, before delivering one final 25-basis-point rate cut in December. This would bring the repo rate down to 5.25 per cent by the end of the year.

    IANS

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China, Spain pledge to deepen cooperation, support multilateralism and free trade

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    MADRID, June 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Spanish King Felipe VI here on Thursday. The two sides pledged to deepen cooperation and uphold multilateralism and free trade.

    China is willing to further strengthen cooperation with Spain in areas such as new energy, agriculture, food industry, electric vehicles and digital economy, and intensify people-to-people exchanges in culture and education, Han Zheng said.

    According to him, China and Spain hold similar views on many important international issues and are important positive forces in defending multilateralism, upholding free trade rules and order, promoting openness and cooperation, and improving global governance.

    China is willing to work with Spain and Europe to strengthen communication and dialogue, jointly safeguard the international system with the UN at its core, and contribute to world peace, stability and development, Han added.

    Felipe VI recalled his pleasant visit to China and said that since the beginning of the year, the two countries have held frequent high-level exchanges, continuously deepened political mutual trust and achieved abundant results in practical cooperation, and their relations have shown positive development dynamics.

    Spain admires China’s achievements in new energy, high-speed rail and other sectors, the king said, adding that Madrid is ready to further strengthen cooperation with Beijing to advance bilateral ties.

    Today, the world is experiencing complex changes, and China plays an important, active and stabilizing role in this process, the monarch emphasized.

    According to him, Spain supports multilateralism and free trade, and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China in multilateral mechanisms, jointly safeguard the order and rules of international multilateral trade, and promote global sustainable development.

    The parties also exchanged views on issues such as relations between major powers, the Ukrainian crisis and the situation around Palestine. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Five minors died in a fire in a private house in the Moscow region of Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Moscow, June 13 /Xinhua/ — Five minors died in a fire in a private house in the Moscow region, the Main Directorate of the Russian Emergencies Ministry for the Moscow Region reported on Friday on its Telegram channel.

    “A private residential building caught fire in the village of Kurovskoye in the Orekhovo-Zuevsky urban district. Before the rescuers arrived, a woman was hospitalized. Unfortunately, during the extinguishing, the bodies of children were found: a one-month-old, a one-year-old, 9, 11 and 17 years old,” the report says.

    Open fires have been extinguished on 72 square meters. 16 people and four units of equipment have been involved in extinguishing the fire. Investigators from the Russian Emergencies Ministry are working at the scene. The causes of the fire are being established. A criminal case has been opened into the deaths of the children. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi extends condolences to King Charles III over plane crash in India

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 13 — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday sent a message of condolence to Britain’s King Charles III over the heavy British casualties caused by the crash of an Air India flight.

    In his message, Xi expressed shock upon learning of the crash of an Air India flight, which caused heavy British casualties.

    Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, expressed deep condolences to the victims, conveyed sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured, and wished the injured an early recovery.

    On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent a message of condolence to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi extends condolences to Indian leaders over plane crash

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 13 — Chinese President Xi Jinping extended on Friday condolences to Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi respectively over the heavy casualties caused by the crash of an Air India flight.

    In his message, Xi expressed shock upon learning that the crash had caused heavy casualties. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, he conveyed deep condolences over the loss of lives, extended sympathies to the injured and the bereaved families, and wished the injured a swift recovery.

    On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent a message of condolence to Modi.

    MIL OSI China News –