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Category: China

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China holds an executive meeting of the State Council

    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, May 9 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday chaired an executive meeting of the State Council to study and implement the guiding spirit of the important speech delivered by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, at the meeting on China’s economic and social development during the implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

    The State Council meeting also heard a report on improving the quality and efficiency of pilot free trade zones, studied measures to deepen reforms and innovations in national-level economic and technological development zones, reviewed and approved a draft regulation on the joint use of government data, discussed a national plan for the deployment of a water transport safety and rescue control system for 2025-2035, and gave orders to improve industrial safety.

    The meeting participants emphasized the importance of rationally defining goals and objectives in various areas for the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

    The need to ensure that pilot free trade zones comply with high standards of international trade and economic rules and to continue promoting institutional innovation was noted.

    The meeting called for deepening reforms and innovations in national-level economic and technological development zones and promoting deep reforms and high-quality development of the country through high-level external openness.

    Participants pointed out the need to establish a national integrated government big data system, promote the integrated application of information resources, enhance social governance capabilities and develop industrial ecosystem, so as to inject new impetus into economic development.

    The meeting also noted the need to accelerate the creation of a modern water transport safety and rescue control system, strengthen coordination and interaction between relevant departments and local authorities, intensify innovation in the field of basic equipment and key technologies, create conditions for attracting public capital to participate in large-scale engineering control and rescue projects, providing reliable support for building a powerful transport power.

    In addition, participants emphasized the need to carefully identify risks and hidden dangers and resolutely prevent major accidents at work. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow hosts parade dedicated to 80th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War

    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, May 9 (Xinhua) — A grand military parade was held on Moscow’s Red Square on May 9 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke in his speech about the need to remember the lessons of World War II, not to allow history to be distorted, and to remember all those who gave their lives for the Victory.

    More than 11,500 servicemen and over 180 units of equipment took part in the Victory Parade. Leaders from over 20 countries were present. Representatives of all strata of Russian society and veterans from various countries who participated in the war against fascism were on the podium.

    “Today, we are all united by feelings of joy and sorrow, pride and gratitude, admiration for the generation that crushed Nazism and, at the cost of millions of lives, won freedom and peace for all of humanity,” said V. Putin.

    “We remember the lessons of World War II and will never agree with the distortion of its events, with attempts to justify the executioners and slander the true victors,” the Russian leader emphasized.

    In memory of the fallen, the Russian President declared a minute of silence.

    V. Putin noted that the complete defeat of Nazi Germany, militaristic Japan and their satellites was achieved through the joint efforts of the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition.

    “We will always remember that the opening of the second front in Europe – after the decisive battles on the territory of the Soviet Union – brought Victory closer. We highly value the contribution to our common struggle of the soldiers of the allied armies, the participants of the Resistance, the courageous people of China. All those who fought for a peaceful future,” added the head of the Russian state. “Glory to the victorious people!”

    Servicemen from the Ministry of Defense and other law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation – the Federal Security Service, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Russian National Guard, cadets from military schools and academies of the Russian army and navy, and members of the youth patriotic organization Yunarmiya marched in a ceremonial march across Red Square.

    This was followed by parade units from friendly states: China, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Vietnam and other countries.

    The mechanized column consisted of 183 units of combat equipment from the Great Patriotic War and modern models in service with the Russian army: T-90M Proryv, T-72B3M and T-80BVM tanks, BMP-2M and BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, BMD-4 airborne combat vehicles, BRM-1K combat reconnaissance vehicles, BTR-82A armored personnel carriers, Tigr-M armored vehicles, transport vehicles, S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, Iskander-M missile systems, Yars strategic missile systems, Orlan-10, Orlan-30, Lancet-51, Lancet-52, and Geran unmanned aerial vehicles.

    For the first time, modern models of the Tornado-S multiple launch rocket systems, the Tosochka heavy flamethrower systems, and the Malva and Giatsint-K artillery systems took part in the parade.

    The parade was completed by pilots of the aerobatic teams “Russian Knights” and “Swifts” on Su-30 and MiG-29 fighters. Six Su-25 attack aircraft closed the parade formation.

    After the parade, Russian and foreign leaders laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin Wall.

    In addition to Moscow, military parades dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory were held in 27 other Russian cities, including St. Petersburg, Volgograd, Yekaterinburg, Khabarovsk and Vladivostok. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Preferred Bank Announces New Chief Risk Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Preferred Bank (NASDAQ: PFBC), one of the largest independent commercial banks in California, today reported that the Board of Directors has named Nick Pi to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer. Mr. Pi has served as the Bank’s Chief Credit Officer since 2015 and will continue to oversee the credit function. Mr. Pi will now also oversee the BSA and Compliance Departments as well.

    Li Yu, Chairman and CEO of the Bank said “Nick has been a very strong leader in Credit Administration and we’re excited to have someone with his experience and knowledge taking over the role of Chief Risk Officer. We feel this is an important step in developing our enterprise risk oversight. Please join me in congratulating Nick”.

    About Preferred Bank

    Preferred Bank is one of the larger independent commercial banks headquartered in California. The Bank is chartered by the State of California, and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Bank conducts its banking business from its main office in Los Angeles, California, and through twelve full-service branch banking offices in the California cities of Alhambra, Century City, City of Industry, Torrance, Arcadia, Irvine (2 branches), Diamond Bar, Pico Rivera, Tarzana and San Francisco (2 branches) and two branches in New York (Flushing and Manhattan) and one branch in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land, Texas. Additionally, the Bank operates a Loan Production Office in Sunnyvale, California. Preferred Bank offers a broad range of deposit and loan products and services to both commercial and consumer customers. The Bank provides personalized deposit services as well as real estate finance, commercial loans and trade finance to small and mid-sized businesses, entrepreneurs, real estate developers, professionals and high net worth individuals. Although originally founded as a Chinese-American Bank, Preferred Bank now derives most of its customers from the diversified mainstream market but does continue to benefit from the significant migration to California of ethnic Chinese from China and other areas of East Asia.

    AT THE COMPANY: AT FINANCIAL PROFILES:
    Edward J. Czajka Jeffrey Haas
    Executive Vice President General Information
    Chief Financial Officer (310) 622-8240
    (213) 891-1188 PFBC@finprofiles.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Mother’s Day, Senator Murray, King County Executive Braddock, Moms and Local Parents Slam Trump’s “Baby” Tax, Painful Unnecessary Price Hikes for Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Washington Post: Trump’s tariffs hit baby industry hard, threatening parents with price hikes, shortages

    Axios: “Baby tax”: Trump tariffs send baby gear prices soaring

    *** B-ROLL AND PHOTOS HERE***

    Seattle, WA — Today, ahead of Mother’s Day, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a press conference at WestSide Baby in Seattle to highlight how President Trump’s chaotic trade war is raising costs on moms and families across the board. Trump’s sweeping tariffs are the highest in decades, and are estimated to cost American families more than $4,000 per year—the largest tax increase since 1968.

    Senator Murray was joined by King County Executive Shannon Braddock, Executive Director of WestSideBaby Allie Lindsay Johnson, Brittney Geleynse owner of Clover Toys, and local moms and parents who all outlined how Trump’s tariffs are already raising the cost of items moms need for their families, purchases that can’t be pushed off—from car seats and strollers, to high chairs, kids clothes, and cribs.

    The press conference comes as new reporting lays out how Trump’s tariffs are making it more expensive to raise kids, driving up prices on children’s products and threatening shortages of critical baby gear at a time when household budgets are already under strain.

    “The last thing any mom wants right now is higher costs for things like diapers, high chairs, and car seats—but that is exactly what Donald Trump is delivering with his nonsense trade war,” said Senator Murray. “His across-the-board tariffs are already raising prices for new moms and families. With all the costs new parents are going to have to pay for these goods, Trump has essentially announced a new ‘baby’ tax. If you are a billionaire, Republicans are getting ready to give you a massive tax break. But babies? Moms? Dads? Trump says you are out of luck. Yes, Trump’s ‘baby’ tax is going to mean fewer toys, smaller birthdays—but it is also going to mean parents struggling to buy high chairs or specialty formula, struggling to buy a safe bassinet, or a stroller, or a car seat.”

    “Well, my message to moms is: I got into politics to fight for moms like me—and I am never going to stop,” continued Senator Murray. “I know what you are going through, all the things you already have to worry about. You should not have to worry about Trump’s new baby tax driving up costs as well. Congress CAN reverse these tariffs—we could do it next week if Republicans chose to. So, I am going to be lifting up your voices, and using mine—to push for Congress to act and demand this administration reverse their incredibly damaging price hikes on families.”

    “Tariffs that drive up the cost of baby essentials like car seats, strollers and diapers aren’t just bad economics—they’re bad values,” said King County Executive Shannon Braddock. “Working families are the ones who pay the price. We need real leadership in Washington, D.C., and I’m grateful Senator Murray is standing with us in this fight.” 

    “Children should not be the casualties of a trade war. Items like car seats, strollers, and cribs aren’t luxuries—they’re critical for a child’s safety and development. At WestSide Baby, we regularly see parents forced to choose between paying rent or buying a car seat. For families facing poverty or sudden financial strain, even small price increases can mean going without or making unsafe compromises,” said Allie Lindsay Johnson, Executive Director of WestSide Baby.

    “As a parent, I want the best possible future for my children. I want to give them the tools and opportunities to get ahead in life, not put limits on what they can do. But Trump’s unnecessary tariffs are increasing prices on my baby’s basic needs like his formula, stroller, and car seat,” said Salia Gartrell, a public school teacher and mother of four from Kent, WA. “My family isn’t the only one feeling the financial squeeze from these bad tariffs. Even though my boys are active in their community, and my husband and I work hard to give them every opportunity, the rising costs of living that are due to bad policies like Trump’s Baby Tax leave me and my husband no other choice but to cut back on what our kids can do.”

    “Tariffs on imported toys present a significant operational challenge for Clover Toys, directly impacting our costs and forcing us to navigate complex pricing and inventory decisions,” said Brittney Geleynse owner of Clover Toys. “We are committed to our customers and the Seattle community, and we’re working hard to manage these pressures while continuing to offer the curated selection they expect from their local toy store.”

    Senator Murray has been a vocal opponent of Trump’s chaotic trade war from the very start and has been lifting up the voices of people in Washington state harmed by this administration’s approach to trade and calling on Republicans to end Trump’s trade war—which Congress has the power to do—and take back Congress’ Constitutionally-granted power to impose tariffs. Earlier last month, Senator Murray brought together leaders across Washington state who highlighted how Trump’s ongoing trade war is already a devastating hit to Washington state’s economy, businesses, and our agriculture sector. Senator Murray also took to the Senate floor to lay out how Trump’s chaotic trade war is seriously threatening our economy, American businesses, families’ retirement savings, and so much else.

    Murray has also been sounding the alarm on Trump’s tariffs across Washington state. Recently, Senator Murray held a roundtable discussion in Tacoma with local businesses and ports, met with farmers in Yakima to discuss the consequences of Trump’s tariffs, and held a roundtable discussion in Vancouver at a local metal fabrication company to highlight how Trump’s trade war is hurting businesses and our economy Washington state. Last month, Senator Murray met with small business owners in Seattle’s University District to hear how Trump’s tariffs and the broader economic uncertainty are affecting them, and later she met with farmers in Skagit County to discuss tariffs, and visited Blaine near the Canadian border to highlight the impacts of Trump’s trade war. Just last week, Senator Murray rallied her West Coast colleagues and ports from Washington state and California to sound the alarm on how Trump’s tariffs will mean bare shelves, higher prices, and painful layoffs.

    From Groundwork Collaborative – Trump’s Tariffs are increasing prices on everything:

    Car seats: UPPAbaby, a major manufacturer of car seats and strollers, announced increased prices across most of its products beginning May 5. Nuna has increased prices by $50, and Evenflo has increased prices by 10-40%.

    • This represents a major challenge for parents, as car seats – which can run over $400 – are required by law in all 50 states and should be bought new due to safety concerns.
    • New parents spend, on average, $1,000 on baby safety gear.

    Strollers: To put it in Trump’s words, prices are rising for “the thing that you carry the babies around in.” UPPAbaby’s popular Vista stroller just increased from $900 to $1,200. Or, for a cheaper option, Bombi’s flagship stroller now costs $225 instead of $199.

    • Few strollers are made in the U.S. Most are made in China, while others come from Italy, Taiwan, Hungary, and the Netherlands.

    Cribs: Since the average parent spends approximately $2,000 on a new nursery, it is terrible news that three-quarters of all baby furniture is made in China. The Consumer Product Safety Commission does not recommend buying used cribs, as unsafe sleep environments are the main cause of injuries and deaths with nursery products.

    • The popular smart bassinet SNOO is manufactured in China and might soon cost more than its current $1,695 price tag.

    High Chairs & Sippy Cups: The CEO of popular baby accessory brand Munchkin, Steve Dunn, said the company will increase prices on about 90% of products, likely by at least 20%. Their cheapest high chair is currently $170.

    Clothes: Carter’s has already raised prices on many items. Approximately 74% of its products are sourced from Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and India, which now face the 10% universal tariff rate.

    Toys: About 80% of all toys imported to the U.S. come from China, according to the Toy Association. Mattel CFO Anthony DiSilvestro has warned of possible price hikes as 40% of Mattel toys come from China.

    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

    “As families across the country get ready to celebrate Mother’s Day, the last thing any mom wants right now is higher costs for things like diapers, high chairs, and car seats—but that is exactly what Donald Trump is delivering with his all-out trade war. His across-the-board tariffs are ALREADY raising prices for new moms and families.

    “Because just about every single car seat sold in this country, just about every single stroller, just about every bassinet and changing table—is made somewhere else. And the vast majority of them are made in China—meaning Trump’s tariffs will jack up the cost by 145%. To say nothing of baby clothes made in other countries in the Pacific, or specialty baby formulas imported from Europe, or the materials and machinery we import—even for products made in America—like bamboo fibers in some diapers.

    “With all the costs new parents are going to have to pay for these goods, Trump has essentially announced a new “baby” tax. If you are a billionaire,  Republicans are getting ready to give you a massive tax break. But babies? Moms? Dads? Trump says you are out of luck.

    “Maybe this is hard for a billionaire who calls strollers “the thing that you carry babies around in” to understand—but most babies in America aren’t born with a golden spoon in their mouth. Parents are already struggling, the concern I hear from new parents almost more than anything else—is simply “how do we afford this?” After all, child care can cost more than college tuition and Trump’s trade war is just going to make that—and everything else—worse.

    “This isn’t about having to skimp on Christmas—though Trump has made it all too clear he’s eager to play Grinch, and toys are definitely going to get more expensive. Trump’s new taxes are making sure of that.


    “But every parent understands there is yet a bigger problem here. There are a lot of costs that are not really optional! You can’t just not buy diapers. You can’t just go without high chairs or sippy cups—even though manufactures are already warning about 20 percent price increases.

    “And—as much as they like to wriggle out of them—you can’t just go without baby clothes—even though three-quarters of them are made abroad and are about to get taxed out the wazoo. And those are just everyday necessities—don’t forget the big ticket items. No family should have to choose between cost and safety as they’re making decisions for their children.

    “Some companies have already raised stroller prices by hundreds of dollars. And then there’s cribs. The average parent already spends two thousand dollars on a crib—this is a critical item. And three-quarters of all baby furniture is made in China—meaning Trump wants to slap a 145% tax on it.

    “The same goes for car seats which are virtually all made in China. You absolutely cannot just go without a car seat, and safety experts emphasize you should not buy them used. But with Trump’s 145% tax—parents are wondering how they can even afford them at all. That’s what Trump’s trade war is doing to families! Trump’s baby tax is not just expensive for families and it is not just one more callous and careless policy from a billionaire without a clue—it is also dangerous.

    “Yes, it is going to mean fewer toys, smaller birthdays—but it is also going to mean parents struggling to buy high chairs or specialty formula, struggling to buy a safe bassinet, or a stroller, or a car seat.

    “Well my message to moms: I got into politics to fight for moms like me—and I am never going to stop. I know what you are going through, all the things you already have to worry about. You should not have to worry about Trump’s new baby tax driving up costs as well. Congress CAN reverse these tariffs—we could do it next week if Republicans chose to. So, I am going to be lifting up your voices, and using mine—to push for Congress to act and demand this administration reverse their incredibly damaging price hikes on families.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. Reports April 2025 Assets Under Management

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MILWAUKEE, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (NYSE: APAM) today reported that its preliminary assets under management (“AUM”) as of April 30, 2025 totaled $164.4 billion. Artisan Funds and Artisan Global Funds accounted for $80.2 billion of total firm AUM, while separate accounts and other AUM1 accounted for $84.2 billion.

    PRELIMINARY ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT BY STRATEGY2    
         
    As of April 30, 2025 – ($ Millions)    
    Growth Team    
    Global Opportunities $   18,847  
    Global Discovery 1,747  
    U.S. Mid-Cap Growth 10,196  
    U.S. Small-Cap Growth 2,688  
    Franchise 735  
    Global Equity Team    
    Global Equity 347  
    Non-U.S. Growth 13,559  
    China Post-Venture3 113  
    U.S. Value Team    
    Value Equity 4,784  
    U.S. Mid-Cap Value 2,454  
    Value Income 16  
    International Value Group    
    International Value 47,949  
    International Explorer 693  
    Global Special Situations 11  
    Global Value Team    
    Global Value 30,526  
    Select Equity 316  
    Sustainable Emerging Markets Team    
    Sustainable Emerging Markets 1,670  
    Credit Team    
    High Income 11,884  
    Credit Opportunities 306  
    Floating Rate 83  
    Developing World Team    
    Developing World 4,367  
    Antero Peak Group    
    Antero Peak 1,927  
    Antero Peak Hedge 231  
    International Small-Mid Team    
    Non-U.S. Small-Mid Growth 5,464  
    EMsights Capital Group    
    Global Unconstrained 894  
    Emerging Markets Debt Opportunities 1,036  
    Emerging Markets Local Opportunities 1,591  
         
    Total Firm Assets Under Management (“AUM”) $   164,434  

    1 Separate account and other AUM consists of the assets we manage in or through vehicles other than Artisan Funds or Artisan Global Funds. Separate account and other AUM includes assets we manage in traditional separate accounts, as well as assets we manage in Artisan-branded collective investment trusts, and in our own private funds.
    2 AUM for Artisan Sustainable Emerging Markets and U.S. Mid-Cap Growth Strategies includes $113.3 million in aggregate for which Artisan Partners provides investment models to managed account sponsors (reported on a lag not exceeding one quarter).
    3 The China Post-Venture strategy is currently in the process of being wound down.

    ABOUT ARTISAN PARTNERS
    Artisan Partners is a global investment management firm that provides a broad range of high value-added investment strategies to sophisticated clients around the world. Since 1994, the firm has been committed to attracting experienced, disciplined investment professionals to manage client assets. Artisan Partners’ autonomous investment teams oversee a diverse range of investment strategies across multiple asset classes. Strategies are offered through various investment vehicles to accommodate a broad range of client mandates.

    Investor Relations Inquiries: 866.632.1770 or ir@artisanpartners.com
    Source: Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chairman of NPC Standing Committee calls for effective legislative work to promote high-quality development

    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

    FUZHOU, May 9 (Xinhua) — Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), has called on local people’s congresses (NPCs) to fulfill their duties in accordance with the law and make contributions to advancing the country’s high-quality development.

    Zhao Leji, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour of Fujian Province in eastern China from May 7 to 9.

    During the visit, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC talked with local deputies and representatives of the masses, hearing their opinions and suggestions regarding improving the work of the NPC and promoting legal construction.

    He stressed the important role of the People’s Congresses in ensuring the comprehensive and effective implementation of the Constitution and laws of the PRC, their leading role in legislative work and their significant role in exercising oversight functions within the system of party and state supervision.

    Zhao Leji, who led the NPC Standing Committee’s oversight group, also inspected the implementation of the Forestry Code of the People’s Republic of China in Fujian Province.

    He called for strengthening the protection and cultivation of forest resources, promoting forestry reform and development with a firm foundation on the rule of law, and ensuring the practical implementation of the provisions of the Forest Code on forest management and use. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking News: China Expects to Face Challenges Together with Other Countries, Uphold International Fairness and Justice – Xi Jinping

    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

    Xinhua | 10. 05. 2025

    Keywords: Xi Jinping, China expects together, Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, other countries, honesty, justice, defend, challenges, urgently, progressive development of China, during the meeting, promoting positive, in the field of celebrations, Chinese leader, European relations, anniversary of the victory

    Moscow, May 9 (Xinhua) — China hopes to work with Slovakia and other countries to address challenges through unity and cooperation and uphold international fairness and justice, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday.

    The Chinese leader expressed hope that Slovakia will play an active role in promoting the positive and progressive development of China-EU relations.

    Xi Jinping made the relevant statements during a meeting with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico on the sidelines of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War. –0–

    Source: Xinhua

    Breaking News: China hopes to work with other countries to confront challenges, uphold international fairness and justice — Xi Jinping Breaking News: China hopes to work with other countries to confront challenges, uphold international fairness and justice — Xi Jinping

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe is developing steadily and opening up wide opportunities – Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China

    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, May 9 (Xinhua) — Economic and trade relations between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries are developing soundly and steadily, opening up great opportunities for further cooperation, China’s Ministry of Commerce said Friday.

    Since 2012, China’s trade with Central and Eastern European countries has grown by an average of 8.8 percent per year, while imports from these countries have grown by an average of 7.4 percent per year, outpacing the growth rate of China’s foreign trade over the same period, Deputy Minister of Commerce Yan Dong said at a departmental press conference.

    In 2024, trade volume between China and CEE countries increased by 6.3 percent year-on-year to reach a record high of $142.3 billion, according to the ministry.

    At the same time, both sides have also seen increasingly active investment activities, Yan Dong said, adding that Chinese investment in CEE countries has now exceeded US$24 billion.

    In recent years, a new bright spot has emerged in the investment cooperation between China and CEE countries: Chinese enterprises in the upstream and downstream sectors of the electric vehicle and traction battery production chains have increased their momentum in research and investment in CEE countries, he noted.

    He said that China’s efforts to comprehensively expand the country’s high-level opening up to the outside world and build various economic and trade platforms that provide a basis for both sides to carry out multi-faceted cooperation will open up important opportunities for cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe countries in the future.

    The strong trade and economic complementarity between China and the Central and Eastern European countries provides new space for cooperation in the industrial, trade in goods and trade in services sectors, Yan Dong added.

    The 4th China-CEEC Expo and China International Consumer Goods Fair will be held in Ningbo, east China’s Zhejiang Province, from May 22 to 25 this year. The event will be a major platform for showcasing branded products from CEEC countries, expanding imports from CEEC countries, and promoting mutual investment between China and these countries, the Ministry of Commerce said. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking: China supports Cuba in defending sovereignty, resisting foreign interference – Xi Jinping

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Moscow, May 9 (Xinhua) — China firmly supports Cuba in defending its national sovereignty and opposing foreign interference and blockade, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in the Russian capital on Friday.

    Xi Jinping made the statement during a meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on the sidelines of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War.

    As the Chinese President noted, the Chinese side also supports Cuba’s efforts to promote socio-economic development. The two countries, as important members of the Global South, should strengthen coordination and cooperation within such structures as BRICS and the China-CELAC Forum (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States), oppose power politics and unilateral bullying, and uphold international fairness and justice, the Chinese leader stressed. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Lightning: Slovakia’s Prime Minister has declared his readiness to adhere to multilateralism, uphold free trade rules, and protect the stability of global supply chains together with China

    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

    Xinhua | 10. 05. 2025

    Keywords:

    Source: Xinhua

    Flash: Slovakian Prime Minister says he is ready to work with China to adhere to multilateralism, uphold free trade rules, and protect the stability of global supply chains Flash: Slovakian Prime Minister says he is ready to work with China to adhere to multilateralism, uphold free trade rules, and protect the stability of global supply chains

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking News: China Will Always Firmly Support Venezuela in Safeguarding Sovereignty, National Dignity, Social Stability: Xi Jinping

    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

    Xinhua | 10. 05. 2025

    Keywords: Xi Jinping, sovereignty protection, PRC Chairman, social stability, national dignity, support, China, Venezuela, urgently, during the meeting, jointly develop, in the field of celebrations, each other, anniversary of the victory, Venezuela are, Jinping

    Moscow, May 9 (Xinhua) — China and Venezuela are reliable partners who trust each other and develop together. China will always firmly support Venezuela in safeguarding its sovereignty, national dignity and social stability, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday.

    Xi Jinping made the statement during a meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on the sidelines of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War. –0–

    Source: Xinhua

    Urgent: China will always firmly support Venezuela in safeguarding its sovereignty, national dignity and social stability: Xi Jinping Urgent: China will always firmly support Venezuela in safeguarding its sovereignty, national dignity and social stability: Xi Jinping

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Bond Market Launches ‘Science and Technology Platform’

    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, May 9 (Xinhua) — The first batch of science and technology innovation bonds was issued in China on Friday, marking the opening of a “science and technology platform” in the Chinese bond market.

    The Beijing Financial Capital Exchange held a roadshow, attended by the first eight companies that issued scientific and technological innovation bonds on the interbank bond market.

    The “science and technology platform” is designed to help financial institutions, science and technology enterprises and direct equity investment institutions issue science and technology innovation bonds, Pan Gongsheng, director of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC, the central bank), said in March.

    According to a notice published by the Central Bank on May 7, such bonds include corporate bonds, enterprise bonds and debt financial instruments issued by non-financial enterprises.

    Issuers are encouraged to apply flexible bond servicing terms and issue bonds with longer maturities, which will better suit the characteristics and needs of the scientific and technological innovation sector when using equity funds.

    As Duan Dawei, Senior Vice President of iFLYTEK, noted, technology enterprises must remain committed to innovation, which requires long cycles, cost-effective solutions and a variety of financial instruments.

    According to him, a series of innovative solutions presented on the “scientific and technical platform” of the bond market flexibly combine with the financing needs of scientific and technical companies and expand the range of financial support instruments.

    According to preliminary estimates by the PBOC, nearly 100 market institutions are preparing to issue sci-tech innovation bonds worth over 300 billion yuan (about 41.7 billion U.S. dollars). More participants are expected to join the initiative in the future. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao Introduces Legislation to Expand Domestic Energy Production

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Reps. Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Mark Amodei (NV-02), and Dan Newhouse (WA-04) in introducing the Certainty for Our Energy Future Act. This legislation would provide some much-needed clarity surrounding renewable energy projects and ensure our nation’s resources do not enrich adversarial nations.

    “The Central Valley is leading the way in renewable energy production, and our communities deserve policies that provide stability and certainty for the future,” said Congressman Valadao. “The Certainty for Our Energy Future Act preserves the clean energy tax credits farmers and energy producers rely on, while phasing out long-term subsidies for technologies that can now stand on their own. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bill to expand domestic energy production and keep the door open for new technologies to grow and compete.”

    “The Certainty for Our Energy Future Act is a critical step toward aligning our clean energy priorities with today’s economic and national security realities,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “By responsibly phasing out subsidies for technologies like wind and solar, and ensuring foreign adversaries like China and Russia can’t exploit American tax benefits, we are safeguarding both our energy independence and our taxpayers. Energy security is national security, and the bottom line is that in order to increase American energy dominance, we need to protect as much production and innovation as possible. I am proud to introduce this legislation and help secure America’s energy future!”

    “Certainty for the energy industry is essential to securing American energy dominance, driving innovation, and lowering costs for consumers,” said Congressman Garbarino. “The Certainty for Our Energy Future Act provides the predictability businesses need to invest with confidence while protecting taxpayers from foreign threats. I look forward to working with my colleagues to responsibly deliver on the President’s energy agenda and meet our nation’s growing energy demand with a stronger, more secure energy future.”

    “America’s path to energy independence must involve an all-of-the-above clean energy approach that puts American manufacturers at the center,” said Rep. Amodei. “By excluding foreign adversaries from tax benefits and prioritizing American innovation, we are one step closer to a more secure and self-reliant energy future.”

    “The United States has the opportunity to lead the world in clean energy production while lowering costs for consumers,” said Congressman Newhouse. “By phasing out tax incentives supporting wind and solar projects, Congress can provide long-term certainty to utilities and investors. This legislation provides critical protections to ensure federal investments are not being utilized by foreign adversaries, including Communist China. I thank Rep. Kiggans for her leadership as we work to ensure American clean energy is safe, reliable, and affordable as new forms of energy emerge.”

    “CRES is grateful for the leadership of Reps. Kiggans, Valadao, Newhouse and Amodei on introducing the Certainty for Our Energy Future Act,” said Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions. “Right sizing policies in parallel with offering business and investment certainty is both critical and commonsense.  As America seeks to beat China in the global AI race, legislation like this strengthens our nation’s competitive edge while also ensuring American energy remains abundant and affordable.”

    “ACP commends Reps. Kiggans, Garbarino, Valadao, Newhouse, and Amodei for introducing the Certainty for our Energy Future Act. The Act ensures that we protect business certainty for projects currently under planning and development and offers a very constructive starting point for discussions on the clean energy tax credits. With electricity demand projected to increase by up to 50% over the next 15 years, we need an all-of-the-above energy strategy. This legislation helps provide a roadmap to lawmakers as they continue to address this important issue,” said Frank Macchiarola, Chief Advocacy Officer, American Clean Power Association.

    “As electric companies work to meet growing customer demands for electricity and to strengthen our nation’s energy security, we must have policy certainty. We are grateful to Reps. Kiggans, Amodei, Garbarino, Newhouse, and Valadao for their ongoing leadership and for recognizing that clear timelines for tax credits and access to tools like transferability support investment in critical energy infrastructure, while helping to keep costs to customers as low as possible,” said Edison Electric Institute interim President and CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn. “We look forward to continuing to work with Reps. Kiggans, Amodei, Garbarino, Newhouse, Valadao, and other leaders in Congress as they deliberate on tax policy changes that could impact the costs customers pay for electricity.”

    The Certainty for Our Energy Future Act would:

    • Extend the 45Y and 48E tax credit for solar and wind projects with a phase out in 2030.
    • Ensure safe harbor rules apply for 10 years on public lands and 4 years everywhere else—codifying rules already in effect.
    • Restrict or disqualify companies created, organized, or owned by foreign entities of concern (FEOC) from claiming energy tax credits. FEOCs include China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

    Read the full bill here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Inland Empire Man Sentenced for Possessing Trade Secrets Belonging to U.S. Employer to Build Business with China Company

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    A San Bernardino County man was sentenced Thursday for illegally possessing sensitive technologies that he downloaded from his Southern California-based employers and used to market his own competing company to a China-based company.

    Liming Li, 66, of Rancho Cucamonga, was sentenced to 12 months in prison by United States District Judge John A. Kronstadt, who also fined Li approximately $14,000 and ordered him to pay an additional $17,000 in restitution. LI was ordered to self-surrender by August 12, 2025.

    Li pleaded guilty to one count of possession of trade secrets in February.

    According to his plea agreement, from 1996 to 2013, Li worked for a Southern California-based business identified in court documents as “U.S. Company #1,” which specialized in precision measuring instruments and metrological technology and equipment. The company designed and sold a range of products such as micrometers, calipers, coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), and optical measurement systems.

    Li worked at U.S. Company #1 as a senior software engineer, then as a program manager. From 2013 to 2018, Li worked as chief technologist at a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Company #1. During his employment at U.S. Company #1 and its subsidiary, Li worked on the development of the source code for one of the company’s software programs, which was considered its proprietary information.

    In July 2013, Li signed an employee handbook and confidentiality agreement with U.S. Company #1 that required him to turn over all writings, records, files, technology, trade secrets or data containing any proprietary information belonging to the company. The agreement also prohibited Li from copying the company’s proprietary information without written permission.

    Li admitted in his plea agreement that he occasionally downloaded the company’s proprietary information onto his personal devices without permission. Li failed to return all the proprietary information belonging to U.S. Company #1 after its subsidiary terminated him in January 2018.

    In February 2018, Li operated a consulting company named JSL Innovations Inc. and in March 2020, he signed an employment agreement with Suzhou Universal Group Technology Co. Ltd., a China-based chain-and-bearing manufacturer. Li continued to work for Suzhou Universal until his arrest in May 2023. During this period, Li continued to knowingly possess U.S. Company #1’s proprietary information and – more than once – accessed this information without that company’s authorization.

    Li admitted that he used the proprietary information for his own economic benefit and that it would injure U.S. Company #1’s interests.

    The FBI investigated this matter with substantial assistance from the Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, Bureau of Industry and Security.

    The case against Li was brought under the auspices of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, which is co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce. The Strike Force seeks to counter efforts by hostile nation-states to illicitly acquire sensitive U.S. technology to advance their authoritarian regimes and facilitate human rights abuses.

    Assistant United States Attorney Aaron B. Frumkin of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, Solomon D. Kim of the Major Frauds Section, and David T. Ryan, Chief of the National Security Division are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s central bank to step up financial support to boost consumption

    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, May 9 (Xinhua) — The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) will roll out a package of measures to improve financial services to boost consumer spending, the central bank said in a report on Friday.

    According to the PBOC’s monetary policy report for the first quarter of 2025, the bank will continue to consistently implement a moderately accommodative monetary policy while exploring the use of structural monetary policy tools. These measures aim to guide financial institutions to provide greater support to key consumption areas, including tourism, catering, entertainment and education.

    The report stressed that the PBOC will develop a comprehensive package of financial measures to stimulate consumption with an emphasis on supply-side support.

    Financial institutions will be encouraged to optimize credit products and services targeted at key consumer scenarios, priority strategies and key population groups.

    In addition, the NBC will provide support to auto finance companies and consumer credit companies in issuing financial bonds.

    Attention will also be paid to creating an efficient and convenient payment ecosystem, including improving the convenience of payments for overseas visitors to China. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s current account surplus was $165.6 billion in the first quarter of 2025

    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, May 9 (Xinhua) — China’s current account surplus stood at $165.6 billion in the first quarter of 2025, data released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) showed Friday.

    During the reporting period, the positive balance of trade in goods amounted to USD 237.6 billion, and the deficit in trade in services amounted to USD 59.3 billion.

    In terms of special drawing rights (SDRs), China’s current account surplus in the first three months of this year reached SDR 126.2 billion.

    The SDR is an interest-bearing international reserve asset created by the International Monetary Fund to supplement other reserve assets of member countries. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Beijing to Achieve Improved Air, Water Quality in 2024: Report

    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, May 9 (Xinhua) — China’s capital made new progress in improving air and water quality last year, an official report showed Friday.

    According to the 2024 Beijing Environmental Report, the average concentration of fine particulate matter PM2.5, a key indicator of air pollution, was 30.5 micrograms per cubic meter, down 65.9 percent from 2013. The city recorded 290 days of excellent air quality and only two days of severe pollution.

    Beijing has also made significant progress in improving water quality. According to the document, 87.2 percent of sections of the capital’s five major river systems, with a total length of 2,551.6 kilometers, were assessed as having excellent water quality in 2024. This is an increase of 15.9 percentage points year-on-year and nearly 40 percentage points higher than in 2013.

    In addition, according to the report, Beijing’s environmental quality index was 71.4 last year, up 0.85 percent year-on-year. This shows that the city has seen a steady improvement in environmental quality. From 2020 to 2024, 7,121 biological species were documented in Beijing, including rare species such as the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta and the Oriental stork.

    “Beijing will continue to implement targeted, scientific and law-based anti-pollution measures,” said Liu Baoxian, deputy head of the city’s ecology and environment bureau, which compiled the report. He added that the capital will further coordinate environmental protection with high-quality development. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking: Xi Jinping Calls on China, Myanmar to Steadily Push Forward Key Projects of China-Myanmar Economic Corridor

    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

    Xinhua | 10. 05. 2025

    Keywords: Xi Jinping, Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, projects Chinese, China, implementation, promote, Myanmar, corridor, urgently, leader of Myanmar Min, field of celebrations, anniversary of victory, meeting time, Jinping, Hlaing, union

    Moscow, May 9 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on China and Myanmar to deepen strategic cooperation and steadily advance the implementation of key projects of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.

    Xi Jinping made the statement during a meeting with Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing on the sidelines of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War. –0–

    Source: Xinhua

    Breaking News: Xi Jinping Calls on China, Myanmar to Steadily Push Forward Key Projects of China-Myanmar Economic Corridor Breaking News: Xi Jinping Calls on China, Myanmar to Steadily Push Forward Key Projects of China-Myanmar Economic Corridor

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China expands financial support for elderly care and service consumption through new refinancing mechanism

    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, May 9 (Xinhua) — The People’s Bank of China (PBOC, the central bank) announced on Friday the establishment of a refinancing mechanism for the service consumption and elderly care sectors, in a move to encourage financial institutions to step up support for these sectors.

    According to the PBOC, the refinancing quota is 500 billion yuan (about 69.35 billion US dollars), with an interest rate of 1.5 percent per annum and a term of one year.

    According to the Central Bank, this mechanism is available to 21 national-level financial institutions, including political banks and state-owned commercial banks, as well as five city commercial banks, including Bank of Beijing and Bank of Shanghai.

    The new refinancing mechanism will be in effect until the end of 2027. The PBC emphasized that it intends to encourage financial institutions to strengthen financial support for key areas of the service sector, such as the hotel and restaurant business, culture, sports and entertainment, education, and the elderly care industry. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton Introduces Bill to Prevent Diversion of Advanced Chips to America’s Adversaries and Protect U.S. Product Integrity

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353May 8, 2025
    Cotton Introduces Bill to Prevent Diversion of Advanced Chips to America’s Adversaries and Protect U.S. Product Integrity
    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Chip Security Act, legislation that will prevent advanced American chips from falling into the hands of adversaries like Communist China by improving oversight of advanced chips and directing Commerce and DoD to study promising chip security mechanism.
    “We must do better at maintaining and expanding our position in the global market, while safeguarding America’s technological edge. With these enhanced security measures, we can continue to expand access to U.S. technology without compromising our national security,” said Cotton.
    Text of the bill may be found here. 
    The Chip Security Act would direct the Secretary to:
    Require a location verification mechanism on export-controlled advanced chips or products with export-controlled advanced chips within 6 months of enactment and require exporters of advanced chips to report to BIS if their products have been diverted away from their intended location or subject to tampering attempts.
    Study, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, other potential chip security mechanisms in the next year and establish requirements over the next few years for implementing such mechanisms, if appropriate, on covered advanced chips. This longer timeline accommodates the years-long technological roadmap for development of the next generation of advanced chips. 
    Assess, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the most up-to-date security mechanisms annually for three years and determine if any new mechanisms should be required
    Make recommendations annually for three years on how to make export controls more flexible, thus streamlining shipments to more countries.
    Prioritize confidentiality when developing requirements for chip security mechanisms.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: India-Pakistan conflict over water reflects a region increasingly vulnerable to climate change

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Mehebub Sahana, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, Geography, University of Manchester

    Water from the Chandra Taal lake in Himachal Pradesh, India, ultimately flows into Pakistan and the Indus river. ImagesofIndia / shutterstock

    In an unprecedented move, India recently suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, citing cross-border terrorism. This was one of a series of escalations between the two countries which now find themselves on the brink of war.

    The treaty suspension reflects a growing regional trend: South Asian countries are increasingly treating water as a strategic asset rather than a shared resource amid rising mistrust, climate stress and geopolitical competition.

    The region is home to nearly a quarter of the global population, and relies on huge transboundary rivers fed by Himalayan glaciers – the so-called “Third Pole” of freshwater reserves. A breakdown in water diplomacy could trigger environmental collapse, humanitarian crises and geopolitical instability. The weaponisation of water must be urgently addressed as a global climate justice issue.

    A flashpoint occurred in August 2024 when devastating floods affected nearly 5.8 million people in Bangladesh. Some Bangladeshi officials accused India of releasing excess water from a large dam upstream without warning. India denied responsibility, citing extreme rainfall and standard dam operations. Nevertheless, the incident reignited longstanding tensions between the two countries.

    Complicating matters further is China recently approving the construction of the world’s largest hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet, which becomes the Brahmaputra in India. This massive project has raised alarm about China’s ability to exert control upstream, and the ecological risks for India and Bangladesh downstream.

    China hasn’t signed formal water-sharing agreements with its neighbours, but its growing presence in regional water infrastructure signals a dramatic shift in south and east Asian hydro-politics.

    Climate change is making things worse

    Recent climatic trends are making transboundary rivers an increasing focus of geopolitical friction. These trends include accelerated glacier melt, erratic monsoon patterns, and intensifying extreme weather.

    While melting glaciers will temporarily boost the flow of rivers, the long-term prognosis is bleak. If emissions and warming trends continue, many glacier-fed rivers – including the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra – could see dramatically reduced flows by the end of the century. This will directly affect hundreds of millions of people who depend on them.

    The crisis is being intensified by changes in the Himalayas. The region is warming faster than the global average, with a shift from snowfall to rainfall that disrupts the timing and volume of water that flows down from the mountains to the fields and cities below.

    At the same time, unsustainable groundwater extraction has pushed South Asia’s reserves of underground water toward collapse, threatening both food and water security.

    A dangerous precedent

    A collapse or suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty could set a dangerous precedent. Importantly, the threat is less about India cutting off water flows – an unlikely and technically challenging act – and more about the erosion of trust, transparency and data sharing.

    One of the treaty’s most valuable features has been the routine sharing of data on things like water levels, river flow and dam operations. Pakistan needs this data to forecast floods and droughts, plan its irrigation, generate hydropower effectively and manage its drinking water, yet India is indicating it will no longer honour these obligations.

    But India’s strained water relations are not limited to Pakistan. Bangladesh and Nepal have often felt sidelined or pressured in negotiations, and India’s indication that it may reconsider longstanding treaties raises concerns in both countries.

    This is especially the case as the Ganges Water Treaty nears its 2026 expiration: the vast Ganges river flows through India and irrigates much of Bangladesh – and the treaty guarantees Bangladesh a minimum river flow.

    Other key agreements, such as the Mahakali Treaty and Kosi river accord with Nepal, and the Teesta water-sharing deal with Bangladesh, remain largely unimplemented, breeding mistrust. These failures undermine confidence in regional water diplomacy and cast doubt on India’s commitment to equitable cooperation.

    None of this is helped by India, Pakistan and Bangladesh all continuing to rely on outdated irrigation methods that mean they use more water than necessary. As climate change intensifies floods, droughts and glacial melt, there is an urgent need to reform existing water treaties to reflect present-day climate, hydrological and geopolitical realities.

    Canals, like this one in Punjab, India, irrigate much of South Asia.
    Hussain Warraich / shutterstock

    The Indus Waters Treaty, negotiated in the 1960s before the emergence of modern climate science, no longer accounts for these transformations. Indeed, most water treaties in the region remain rooted in technocratic, engineering-centric frameworks which fail to address extreme climate variability and its cascading impacts.

    The upcoming expiration of the Ganges Water Treaty, and the pending negotiation of other basin agreements, present a critical opportunity to rethink water governance in South Asia.

    Though the Indus flows through India before Pakistan, in other basins, India is downstream. This is the case with the Brahmaputra, where it demands upstream cooperation from China.

    Undermining the Indus treaty could weaken India’s own position in future negotiations and strain its relations with Nepal and Bangladesh, while giving China more influence in South Asian hydro-politics. China is already expanding its footprint by offering billions in loans to Bangladesh and strengthening ties with Nepal, particularly around water infrastructure.

    Many of the world’s largest rivers begin in the Himalayas or the Tibetan Plateau.
    JudeMakesMaps, CC BY-SA

    Weaponising water is a perilous strategy that may backfire. The weakening of water diplomacy in South Asia is not just a regional threat; it endangers global climate security.

    In the face of escalating climate change impacts and recurring disasters, updating transboundary agreements like the Indus Waters Treaty, Ganga Water Treaty, and Kosi and Teesta accords is no longer optional – it is an urgent necessity with enormous consequences.

    Mehebub Sahana receives funding from the Leverhulme Trust, United Kingdom.

    – ref. India-Pakistan conflict over water reflects a region increasingly vulnerable to climate change – https://theconversation.com/india-pakistan-conflict-over-water-reflects-a-region-increasingly-vulnerable-to-climate-change-256253

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Congratulates Cardinal R.F. Prevost on His Election as New Pope

    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, May 9 (Xinhua) — China has congratulated Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost on his election as the new pope, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Friday.

    The diplomat made the corresponding statement at a regular briefing, answering a question about the new head of the Vatican.

    Lin Jian noted that China hopes that under the leadership of the new pope, the Vatican will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with China, conduct in-depth communication on international issues of mutual interest, jointly promote the continuous improvement of China-Vatican relations, and contribute to world peace, stability, development and prosperity. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Foreign Ministry: Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin reached many new important agreements

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) — During his visit to Russia, Chinese President Xi Jinping held detailed, friendly and fruitful talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they exchanged views in-depth on China-Russia relations and major international and regional issues, and reached many new important agreements, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Friday.

    At the invitation of Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping is making a state visit to Russia from May 7 to 10, during which he is taking part in celebrations in Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

    Lin Jian made the above-mentioned statement in response to journalists’ requests to comment on the visit at a regular departmental press conference.

    The heads of state of China and Russia signed the Joint Statement of the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Further Deepening the Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Cooperation in the New Era to Commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the Victory of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War and the Founding of the United Nations, and jointly witnessed the exchange of more than 20 documents on bilateral cooperation between the Chinese and Russian sides, which gave new impetus to the development of Chinese-Russian relations, Lin Jian noted.

    Lin Jian said that Xi Jinping said that China and Russia are good neighbors that can never be separated, true friends who share our sorrows and hardships, and reliable partners who help each other achieve success. China-Russia relations have a clear historical logic, strong internal dynamics and a deep civilizational foundation. They are not aimed at third parties and do not depend on the influence of any third party. The two countries have successfully paved the right path of cooperation between major neighboring countries, and formed the spirit of China-Russia strategic cooperation in the new era with eternal good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic cooperation, and mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation as its core. The two countries should adhere to the centuries-old friendship, deepen political mutual trust and strengthen strategic coordination; adhere to mutual benefit and win-win results, and continue to deepen pragmatic cooperation in all fields; adhere to equality and justice, firmly safeguard the UN-centered international system and the international order based on international law; adhere to unanimous cooperation, uphold genuine multilateralism, and guide global governance in the right direction.

    Lin Jian noted that, as Xi Jinping emphasized, 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War. In the face of unilateralism and hegemonic actions in the international arena, China, as major world powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council, stands ready to shoulder special responsibilities together with Russia, show firm determination, jointly uphold the correct understanding of the history of World War II, safeguard the authority and status of the UN, firmly defend the fruits of victory in World War II, resolutely safeguard the rights and interests of China, Russia and a wide range of developing countries, and jointly promote an equal and orderly multipolar world as well as an accessible and inclusive economic globalization.

    According to Lin Jian, during the visit, the two countries issued a joint statement on global strategic stability, reaffirming that China and Russia are committed to genuine multilateralism and support the central role of the UN and relevant multilateral mechanisms in arms control. The document emphasizes that nuclear-weapon states bear special responsibility for international security and global strategic stability, and calls for abandoning the mentality of the “Cold War” and “zero-sum games”, resolving problems through equal dialogue and consultation, strengthening trust, and avoiding misunderstandings and erroneous decisions. This reflects the aspirations of China and Russia as major powers to maintain and strengthen global strategic stability.

    Lin Jian said the two sides also issued a joint statement on further strengthening cooperation to safeguard the authority of international law. In it, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the UN Charter and principles of international law such as the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Both sides opposed the abuse of unilateral sanctions and “long-arm jurisdiction,” and stressed that states have the right to carry out normal economic and trade cooperation. The two sides outlined their common positions on major issues related to international law, and called on the international community to firmly uphold the world order based on international law. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking: Xi Jinping Meets Myanmar Leader Min Aung Hlaing

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Xinhua | 09. 05. 2025

    Keywords: Xi Jinping, Myanmar leader Min, Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, Hlaing, met, urgently, in the field of celebrations, anniversary of victory, union, occasion, Friday, war

    Moscow, May 9 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping met here on Friday with Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing on the sidelines of celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War. –0–

    Source: Xinhua

    Breaking: Xi Jinping Meets Myanmar Leader Min Aung Hlaing Breaking: Xi Jinping Meets Myanmar Leader Min Aung Hlaing

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking: Xi Jinping Meets Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel

    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

    Xinhua | 09. 05. 2025

    Keywords: Xi Jinping, Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, Canelem, Diaz, met, urgently, in the fields of celebrations, anniversary of victory, union, occasion, Friday, war

    Moscow, May 9 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping met here on Friday with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on the sidelines of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War. –0–

    Source: Xinhua

    Breaking: Xi Jinping Meets Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Breaking: Xi Jinping Meets Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese President Xi Jinping attended celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory

    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, May 9 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday attended celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War.

    The celebratory event was attended by leaders from more than 20 countries and international organizations.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Xi Jinping to the Kremlin on Friday morning. The two leaders then walked together to Red Square and took their seats on the main podium.

    At 10:00 local time /07:00 GMT/ the celebrations began to the sound of the Kremlin chimes. A military band began playing “The Holy War” and the honor guards marched past.

    Speaking at the event, V. Putin said that the Soviet Union won freedom and peace for all mankind at the cost of millions of lives. The people of China fought courageously during World War II, V. Putin noted, highly appreciating their contribution to building the common future of mankind.

    “We remember the lessons of World War II and will never agree with the distortion of its events, with attempts to justify the executioners and slander the true victors,” said V. Putin. “Truth and justice are on our side.”

    After the Russian president’s speech, a grand military parade began: a military orchestra played the Russian anthem, and cannon shots rang out on Red Square. Army units marched across the square one after another, marching in unison.

    Units of the armed forces from more than 10 countries, including China, were also invited to participate in the parade.

    After the celebrations, Xi Jinping and other leaders walked from Red Square to the Alexander Garden, where they laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and observed a minute of silence in memory of Soviet soldiers. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Solidarity and dedication in response to devastating Myanmar earthquake

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    On 28 March, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar. From the epicentre in the city of Sagaing, the tremors were felt across Thailand, Bangladesh, China and Laos. Our teams already in the country immediately mobilised to travel to the affected areas in Sagaing, Mandalay, Naypyitaw and Southern Shan states to assess initial needs, while our emergency teams prepared to arrive in Myanmar as earlier as possible.

     

    Jessa Pontevedra, emergency coordinator based in southeast Asia was one of them. She shares her experiences from the first week of our emergency response in Myanmar.

    Jessa Pontevedra, medical coordinator in Myanmar What I witnessed in Naypyidaw deeply affected me as a public health professional, but the devastation in Mandalay touched me to my core as humanitarian.

    Jessa Pontevedra, Switzerland, 2024.
    © Pierre-Yves Bernard/MSF

    We landed in Yangon in the middle of the night on 1 April and headed directly to the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) office for briefings. After a few hours of rest, we set out the next morning on the 6.5-hour long drive to Naypyitaw, mainly along the highway to join the team who had already gone there on 30 March.

    But about 100 kilometres from the city we started seeing the impact of the earthquake – cracks marred the road, a stark reminder of the disaster’s reach. We entered this well-designed city, Myanmar’s capital, and checked into a hotel, where some displaced families who could afford it had taken refuge.

    In the evening, we met the rest of the emergency team to set the objectives for the coming days. As a medical coordinator, my role is to assess the health situation: evaluating both the condition of medical facilities and the urgent needs of affected people.

    A maternity ward in a jewellery museum

    Before the earthquake, Naypyidaw boasted major medical institutions: a 1,000-bed hospital, a 500-bed paediatric hospital, 500-bed orthopaedic hospital, 500-bed maternity, and more. Yet, all of these large, specialised hospitals couldn’t operate to their full capacity due to structural damage to the facilities.

    One of the more striking examples of adaptation was the repurposing of a 500 beds-obstetric-children’s hospital. The patients, staff and some of the equipment relocated to an unoccupied private jewellery museum that was untouched by the earthquake. The owner, eager to help, welcomed the maternity in his building and compound. The museum, originally intended to be a high-end tourist attraction, had become an emergency healthcare space. Inside the grand rooms, there were rows and rows of beds set up for pregnant women about to give birth.

    A metal detector at the entrance now served as the triage point, with desks further inside used for antenatal and postnatal consultations. Other rooms were transformed into emergency wards, and an operating theatre was already performing caesarean sections. Staff, who were themselves displaced, had set up tents to sleep in the compound, as well as the families of patients. A brick building in the back of the compound which looked like a train station, was used as the administration offices and kitchen for the staff. 

    The express road connecting Mandalay to Sagaing was cracked by the earthquake on 28 March and parts of it are still unusable. Myanmar, April 2025.
    Lena Pflueger/MSF

    I saw a lot of solidarity and dedication

    There, I met the superintendent of the hospital, who took the time to speak with us despite the challenging situation. Amid the hectic environment, she was still smiling. Staff and patient’s families were sharing the place, sharing meals, offering donations to the ones in need, supporting each other… acting as a big community. Everyone was coping as best they could… collectively.

    A paediatric hospital, originally another 500-bed facility, had been relocated across the city and was now operating as a 32-bed township hospital – without any operating theatre. Looking at the community’s needs – pregnant women give birth, and kids get sick even amidst a natural disaster –, a 500-bed hospital becoming a 32-bed hospital, the math was not adding up.

    The encounter with the superintendent at this facility, deeply touched me. The healthcare professionals were so dedicated, trying their best. The community spirit everywhere and coming together really resonated with me as I am southeast Asian, and this is a big part of our culture. Coming together in times of needs… They were also appreciative that MSF is with them in this emergency.

    Many people experiencing homelessness in an urban space

    Five days later, I left Naypyidaw, taking the old highway instead of the express road. As we approached Mandalay city, we saw makeshift shelters of plastic sheeting on one side of the road, housing perhaps 1,000 people. On the other side, buildings lay in ruins. The following days, as we moved around the city to assess the hospitals, we saw similar damages – collapsed homes and communities in disarray. Many affected people were quite vulnerable, without access to water and sanitation, lacking the basic requirement to preserve their dignity. 

    A patient receives medication at an MSF mobile clinic set up inside a monastery, which is currently sheltering about 80 families from the neighbourhood whose homes have been destroyed or severely damaged and are no longer safe to live in. Myanmar, April 2025.
    Lena Pflueger/MSF

    In Mandalay, families who chose to stay close to their damaged or collapsed houses were staying at the gates or front yard, or along the street – some even re-entering their damaged houses, risking further injury just to access basic facilities like bathrooms. The hospitals were partially functional and able to attend to the injured – although oftentimes outside barely shielded from the elements by simple tarps.

    Throughout these assessments, our teams have already been providing basic health consultations, psychological first aid to the affected communities and distributed essential items such as hygiene kits in cooperation with local civil society organisations. The logistics teams have been working tirelessly to restore water and sanitation facilities, setting up latrines in monasteries where many displaced families sought refuge.

    More challenges may come

    With the rainy season approaching, the challenges are mounting. The situation might become increasingly precarious. If thousands of people are experiencing homeless in urban areas, and with the risk of disease outbreaks, responding to their needs will be incredibly challenging.

    What I witnessed in Naypyidaw touched me to my core as a public health professional, but what I saw in Mandalay touched to my core as humanitarian.

    For now, the communities are finding ways to support one another. I remember one couple staying at the same hotel in Naypyidaw, that I met when I was out for my usual run. They were also doing their morning exercise. It was the man’s birthday that day. But given the situation, the celebration would not be a party. “We have lost our home too,” he said, “But we are bit more blessed, so we want to give back.” And they did so by doing food, water and essential item distributions in one of the most affected neighbourhoods of Naypyidaw.

    I also keep in mind this doctor I met. He was from a less affected town who had rallied a group of healthcare colleagues to set up a free clinic. They quickly began receiving donations from people abroad – food, essential items, and more. This spirit of community in Myanmar is powerful, but I can’t help but wonder: how long can it last?

    Our emergency teams continue to work almost around the clock, further assessing and anticipating the needs, supporting the relief efforts wherever possible along with the communities that are so engaged. The recovery from this massive earthquake will be long for the affected people, no matter where they live, they need to have access to life-saving humanitarian assistance. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Burlison Joins Push to Scrap Biden’s $1 Trillion Energy Scam

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Burlison (R-Missouri 7th District)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Eric Burlison (MO-07) joined fellow House Republicans in calling for the full repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) costly green energy subsidies. In a letter sent to Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, the lawmakers warned that keeping even a single subsidy undermines conservative energy principles and jeopardizes America’s return to energy dominance.

    “Republicans were elected on a promise to dismantle Biden’s Green New Scam,” said Rep. Burlison. “These subsidies are distorting the energy market, driving up costs, and threatening our grid. We must follow through—no half-measures, repeal it all.”

    The letter emphasizes that the IRA’s nearly $1 trillion in subsidies for solar, wind, EVs, hydrogen, and more are not only fiscally irresponsible but also weaken national security, destabilize the energy grid, and betray Republican commitments to free-market energy policy.

    Read the full letter below.

    Dear Chairman Smith:
    As fellow Members of the House Republican Conference, we write to underscore the urgent need to fully repeal the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its green energy subsidies, which will cost taxpayers approximately $1 trillion over the next decade. We are deeply concerned that President Trump’s commitment to restoring American energy dominance and ending what he calls the “green new scam” is being undermined by parochial interests and short-sighted political calculations. 
     

    The IRA contains eight major energy subsidies, each of which burdens taxpayers, inflates energy costs, and threatens the reliability of our power grid. Each of these subsidies props up unreliable energy sources while displacing dependable, proven energy like coal and natural gas.

    Republicans ran—and won—on a promise to completely dismantle the IRA and end the left’s green welfare agenda. The first chapter of our 2024 platform reaffirms our commitment to “terminating the Socialist Green New Deal.” Despite our previously unified stance, some Members of our conference now feel compelled to defend wind and biofuel credits, advocate for carbon capture and hydrogen subsidies, or protect solar and electric vehicle giveaways. Keeping even one of these subsidies opens the door to retaining all eight. How do we retain some of these credits and not operate in hypocrisy? The longstanding Republican position has been to allow the market to determine energy production. If every faction continues to defend their favored subsidies, we risk preserving the entire IRA because no clearly defined principle will dictate what is kept and what is culled. 

    Leaving IRA subsidies intact will actively undermine America’s return to energy dominance and national security. In 2024 alone, solar represented 61% of all new electricity generation in our nation, with more expected this year. By the end of this year, wind generation in the U.S. is expected to increase 11% from 2023 because of these subsidies.These numbers do not reflect a natural market shift. They are the result of government subsidies that distort the U.S. energy sector, displace reliable coal and natural gas and the domestic jobs they produce, and put the stability and independence of our electric grid in jeopardy.

    To see the consequences of this path, we need only to look at Europe’s overreliance on renewables, which has left them vulnerable and reliant on Russian oil and gas. Meanwhile, China gladly sells us solar panels and electric vehicle components while expanding its own coal capacity to maintain grid stability and economic advantage. If we do not course correct, we will trade American energy
    dominance for dependence on hostile regimes.

    Our path forward is clear. We must fully repeal the IRA’s green subsidies. Doing so will:
     

    • Save Taxpayers $1 trillion. Estimates project the Inflation Reduction Act will cost
      between $825 billion—according to the Congressional Budget Office as of January 2025—
      and over $1 trillion, per analysts at Goldman Sachs, over the next decade.4 Eliminating
      these subsidies will allow us to rein in the debt and reallocate funds to genuine national
      priorities.
    • Ease inflation and spur economic growth. IRA subsidies exacerbate inflation and push
      up interest rates, making it harder for Americans to buy homes and cars and start
      businesses. Repealing them will provide immediate financial relief and create a stronger
      economic environment.
    • Restore energy affordability and security. IRA subsidies force utilities to overbuild
      solar and wind capacity, weakening grid reliability and increasing energy costs. Ending
      these subsidies will restore affordability and stability to our energy supply.

    This is our only opportunity for an IRA repeal. Without effectively fully repealing all IRA subsidies, as envisioned under the House reconciliation framework, we would jeopardize America’s return to energy dominance and passage of an extension of the expiring Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) provisions, as well as the President’s other tax priorities. Failure to act undermines the mandate given to us by the American people.

    We urge our colleagues to stand firm in the upcoming reconciliation process. We must reject half-measures and deliver a full repeal of the IRA’s energy subsidies for the sake of American taxpayers and for the future of American energy. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi attends Russia’s Victory Day celebrations

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

    MOSCOW, May 9 — Chinese President Xi Jinping attended here on Friday celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War.

    Leaders from more than 20 countries and international organizations were invited to the events.

    Xi was welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Friday morning. The leaders then walked to the Red Square together and took their seats at the main reviewing stand.

    At 10:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT), as the chimes of the Kremlin clock rang out, the celebrations began. As the military band played The Sacred War, the honor guards marched in.

    Delivering a speech at the event, Putin said that the Soviet Union defended peace and freedom for all humanity at the cost of tens of millions of lives. “We will forever remember the moment of victory, carry forward the legacy of our forefathers, stand united, and always uphold the sacred glory,” he said.

    Putin noted that the Chinese people fought bravely in World War II (WWII), and highly commended their contribution to forging a shared future for mankind.

    “We remember the history of WWII and draw lessons from it,” said Putin. “Victory is sacred, history must not be distorted, and the victors must not be defamed. History and justice are always on our side.”

    Following Putin’s speech, the grand military parade began as the military band played the Russian national anthem and gun salutes echoed across the Red Square. Marching in unison, the formations passed through the square one after another.

    In the “historical” part of the parade, Russian service members, dressed in uniforms from the era of the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War, proudly carried the military flags and weapons of that time, evoking memories of the years of resistance against fascism.

    In the “modern” part, formations of Russia’s various military branches and modern weaponry units passed by the reviewing stand. The Russian Aerospace Forces’ flight formations roared overhead, soaring across the skies above the Red Square.

    Armed forces formations from more than 10 countries, including China, were also invited to participate in the parade.

    Following the celebrations, Xi, along with other leaders, walked from the Red Square to Alexander Garden, where they laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and observed a moment of silence.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China bolsters service consumption, elderly care financial support via relending facility

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

    China bolsters service consumption, elderly care financial support via relending facility

    BEIJING, May 9 — China’s central bank announced on Friday that it has set up a relending facility for service consumption and elderly care, aiming to guide financial institutions in strengthening support for these sectors.

    The relending facility quota for service consumption and elderly care is 500 billion yuan (about 69.35 billion U.S. dollars), and features an annual interest rate of 1.5 percent and a term of one year, according to the People’s Bank of China.

    Eligible applicants for the facility include 21 national financial institutions, such as policy banks and state-owned commercial banks, as well as five city commercial banks including Bank of Beijing and Bank of Shanghai, the central bank noted.

    This relending facility will be in effect until the end of 2027, the central bank said, while adding that it will encourage and guide financial institutions to beef up support for key areas in the service consumption sector — such as accommodation and catering, culture, sports and entertainment, and education, as well as the elderly care industry.

    MIL OSI China News –