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Xi to deliver keynote speech at FOCAC: FM
Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 2018 Beijing Summit on September 3, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced Wednesday.
The speech will expound China's new ideas on strengthening relations with Africa, and announce new measures for China's pragmatic cooperation with Africa, Wang said at a press conference.
On September 4, Xi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will separately chair the two rounds of discussion. Both Chinese and African leaders will exchange ideas on China-Africa relations and international and regional issues of common concern, according to Wang.
Xi will also invite foreign delegates to a welcoming banquet and a performance, and will hold bilateral meetings with other leaders during the summit, Wang added. (Xinhua)
China refutes US criticism of ties with El Salvador
China firmly opposes US criticism of diplomatic relations between China and El Salvador, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.
"Both China and El Salvador are independent sovereign states, and have the right to decide their diplomatic relations," said Lu Kang.
"China and El Salvador established diplomatic relations based on the one-China principle. This corresponds to the tide of history and the trend of the globe, conforms to the principles of international law and international relations, and complies with the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples. This does not influence the two countries' relationships with other countries," he said.
Lu said China urges the US to adhere to the one-China principle and the three joint communiques between the two countries, to correctly see the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and El Salvador, and to properly deal with issues concerning Taiwan. (Xinhua)
Trump accuses ex-lawyer Cohen of making up 'stories' to get plea deal
US President Donald Trump lashed out at Michael Cohen on Wednesday after his former lawyer implicated him in campaign finance violations, accusing him of making up "stories" in order to get a plea deal.
The president's longtime lawyer dealt him a bitter political blow on Tuesday as he admitted to charges in New York that included making illegal campaign contributions -- and pointed to the president as a co-conspirator.
At almost the same time, Trump's former campaign chief Paul Manafort was found guilty of eight counts of tax and bank fraud by a jury in Virginia.
In his first reaction to the Cohen bombshell, Trump asserted in a series of tweets that his campaign finance violations were "not a crime." (AFP)
Putin says US sanctions 'counterproductive and senseless'
As US threat of sanctions on Russia will take into effect around Aug. 22, US Under Secretary of Treasury Sigal Mandelker said Tuesday that Washington will impose "much more economic pain" to Russia if it does not change its global behaviors significantly.
Since January 2017, the Trump administration has sanctioned 217 Russian-related individuals and entities for a broad range of conduct.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called US sanctions against Moscow "counterproductive and senseless."
"Sanctions are actions that are counterproductive and senseless, especially against a country like Russia," Putin said during a press-conference with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto. (AP)
S. Korean separated families return home after reunions with N.Korean relatives
South Korean families, separated by the 1950-1953 Korean War, from relatives living in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, returned home Wednesday after three-day reunions.
Eighty-nine South Koreans, mostly in their 80s or older, crossed the heavily-armed inter-Korean border into Sokcho, a city in northeast South Korea, from Mount Kumgang, a scenic resort in the DPRK's southeast coast.
The meetings in nearly seven decades were painfully short. The separated families were granted permission to meet each other in group and private gatherings for only 12 hours during the three-day reunions.
A combined 20 rounds of face-to-face reunions had been arranged since the first inter-Korean summit was held in 2000, but the reunions had been limited to about 200 separated families from each side. (Xinhua)
China overcome Indonesia to claim men's badminton crown at Asian Games
The Chinese shuttlers survived heated atmosphere to beat hosts Indonesia 3-1 in the men's team final at the 18th Asian Games here on Wednesday.
After losing the first game 21-14 to Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, China's Shi Yuqi had to save two match points in the second game to force a decider at 23-21.
However, as injury worsened, Ginting decided to withdraw when trailing at 20-21, and had to be stretchered off.
In a highly-anticipated doubles clash, world champions Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen failed to stop world No. 1 Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo from marching on 21-17, 21-18.
Chen Long put China in front again as the Olympic champion prevailed on 20-year-old Jonatan Christie in full sets.
Liu Cheng and Zhang Nan, the 2017 world champion, sealed China's title after upsetting Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto 21-18, 17-21, 21-18. (Xinhua)
Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.
And now for the Question of the Day:
Which plateau in China is called "Roof of the World”?
(Answer: The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.)
Today’s quote is from Italian artist Michelangelo.
“Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”
(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, and Lance Crayon)