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Here are today’s picks from our editors.

China, Brunei issue joint statement, pledging to advance cooperation

Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah met on Monday and reaffirmed their political resolve to enhance bilateral ties through cooperation and collaboration across various areas, the two sides said in a joint statement.

Both agreed the "successful visit" by President Xi to Brunei was of "strategic importance" in deepening bilateral relations, said the statement, issued after talks between the two leaders.

Both sides also agreed to maintain frequent high-level exchanges, strengthen their strategic partnerships, and exchange views on regional and international issues. The two sides will make good use of bilateral mechanisms at all levels to coordinate and advance bilateral cooperation in various sectors.

According to the statement, the two leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation. (Xinhua)

Xi, Macron exchange congratulatory messages on launch of China-France ‘Year of the Environment’

Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron exchanged congratulatory messages on Monday to mark the official launch of the China-France Year of the Environment.

Xi said in his message that ecological advancement leads to civilization prosperity whereas ecological deterioration leads to civilization decline.

Xi also said the decision to launch the China-France Year of the Environment program is to strengthen bilateral dialogue and cooperation in areas such as eco-protection, climate change and biodiversity to deal with global environmental challenges through concerted efforts.

In his message, Macron said fighting climate change, protecting the environment, and biodiversity are among the most important challenges facing humans. The initiative forms the core of France-China comprehensive strategic partnership. (Xinhua)

China releases amended regulation for patent agencies

China's cabinet has released an amended regulation for the country's patent agencies to improve qualifications for practitioners and supervision on their services.

The new regulation, signed by Premier Li Keqiang, is an amendment to the one passed in 1991 and will go into effect on March 1, 2019, according to the State Council.

To become a qualified patent agent, individuals with the required educational background shall pass qualification tests to get certificates, according to the new regulation.

Organizations, either as a partnership firm or a limited liability company, shall apply for practice licenses before offering patent agency services, says the regulation. (China Plus)

Nissan chairman Ghosn arrested for allegedly violating financial law in Japan

Carlos Ghosn, chairman of Nissan and Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors alliance, was arrested Monday for allegedly violating a business law over misreporting his salary and using company funds for personal needs.  

Ghosn, prior to his arrest, was questioned Monday by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on suspicion of under-reporting his salary.

Investigators believed the chairman may have filed corporate financial statements and entries that were several million US dollars less than his real earnings, a violation of Japan's Financial Instruments and Exchange Law. (Xinhua)

New high-speed trains debut in China

China's train maker CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Company debuted two train models at an international rail expo in Central China's Hunan Province over the weekend.

The train, with 820 seats, has a maximum capacity of 1,708 passengers, a 40 percent higher capacity than current models operating today.

The new trains are equipped with advanced audio-visual entertainment facilities.

Yang Ying, deputy chief engineer with the company, said the double-decker can run at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour, which will be able to run faster with system upgrades. (China Plus)

Residents of Mexican border city protest migrant caravans

Residents at the Mexican border town Tijuana on Sunday protested over the presence of 2,000 Central American migrants en route to the US.

300 protesters gathered at a traffic circle along the city's main Paseo de los Heroes Boulevard, waving Mexican flags and holding signs calling the migrants "invaders" and "undesirables," local police said.

It was the second such protest inspired by the caravan.

On Wednesday, residents confronted the migrants in the city's coastal Playas de Tijuana district. (Xinhua)

Stolen Picasso painting discovered in Romania six years later

A signed Picasso painting, which could be one of the artworks stolen in 2012 from the Kunsthal Museum in Rotterdam was found in the Romanian Eastern county of Tulcea, the country's anti-organized crime authorities announced Sunday.

According to authorities, two Dutch nationals presented themselves at the Netherlands Embassy in Bucharest Saturday with the painting believed to be "Harlequin's Head" by Pablo Picasso, stolen in 2012 by Romanian thieves.

The Home Affairs Attache of the Dutch Embassy quickly notified Romanian authorities. (China Plus) 

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust?

(Answer: Aluminum.)

Today’s quote is from American writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849).

“With me poetry has not been a purpose, but a passion.”

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon and Elaine Yue Lin.)