Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with his Swiss counterpart Doris Leuthard in Bern, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2017. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)
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BERN -- China and Switzerland on Monday pledged to better develop their innovative strategic partnership and jointly oppose trade protectionism.
During talks between visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Swiss counterpart Doris Leuthard, the two countries also agreed to align their respective development strategies and strengthen cooperation in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China.
After their talks, Xi and Leuthard witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation agreements between the two countries, covering diplomacy, free trade, energy, customs, intellectual property rights, culture, education, sports and others.
It is the first state visit to the European country by a Chinese president in the 21st century. And meanwhile, Xi will become the first Chinese head of state to attend the Davos meeting. http://xhne.ws/tkebK
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BEIJING -- China said on Monday that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attempted to drive a wedge between countries in the region by raising the South China Sea issue during his recent foreign trip.
"Thanks to the joint efforts of China and relevant ASEAN members, the South China Sea situation is stabilizing and getting back on the track of negotiation and consultation," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a regular news briefing.
"But the Japanese leader spared no effort in driving a wedge and playing up the regional tension, showing his ulterior motives and extremely unhealthy mindset," Hua said. http://xhne.ws/UpltA
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ABU DHABI -- Li Junfeng, director of China's National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, was awarded here on Monday the Zayed World Future Energy Prize in the category of "lifetime achievement."
The 500,000 U.S. dollar prize was presented during the 10th edition of the annual World Future Energy Summit which started earlier Monday, in recognition of Li's role in raising environmental awareness in China and in promoting renewable energy, green and clean technology across all industries in the country and beyond for over three decades. http://xhne.ws/TgyKj
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BEIJING -- Airbus is expected to deliver its first A330 aircraft in September 2017 from its completion and delivery center in north China's Tianjin, said Airbus China on Monday.
According to Airbus China, by 2019, the Airbus China site will reach stable production capacity, completing and delivering two A330 wide-body aircraft per month.
On March 2, 2016, construction on the Airbus China A330 completion and delivery center started in Tianjin, where A330 aircraft will be completed and delivered to Chinese clients. It is Airbus' first completion and delivery center for wide-body aircraft outside Europe. http://xhne.ws/xHHYK
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KATHMANDU -- Nepal Electricity Authority, the country's state-owned power utility body and China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC) on Monday initialed the joint venture agreement to develop the 750-MW West Seti Hydropower Project in midwest Nepal.
Maha Prasad Adhikari, chief executive officer of Investment Board Nepal, which facilitated the agreement between the two companies, described the development a "breakthrough" after the Nepali government and CWE Investment Corporation, a subsidiary company of CTGC signed a memorandum of understanding in August 2012 to develop the project. http://xhne.ws/hM6V1
