Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong addresses the first meeting of the China-South Africa High-Level People-to-People Exchange Mechanism in Pretoria, South Africa, April 24, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)
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BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a congratulatory message to the inaugural meeting of China-South Africa High-Level People-to-People Exchange Mechanism held in Pretoria, South Africa, expressing great expectation about the mechanism.
In the message, Xi noted that the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership has kept a strong growth momentum in recent years and brought real benefits to the peoples of both countries.
The mechanism is the first of its kind between China and an African country and an important follow-up action to implement the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Johannesburg Summit, Xi said in the congratulatory message.
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ATHENS -- China pledged Monday to continue its active role in the economic reconstruction of war-torn Iraq.
The promise came as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim al-Jaafari on the sidelines of the ongoing Ancient Civilization Forum here.
Wang said Iraq has made important contributions to the world's anti-terrorism cause, pledging China's support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq.
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ONBOARD SHIP XIANGYANGHONG 09 -- Chinese scientists embarked on a deep-sea mission in the South China Sea on Tuesday, the beginning of the second stage of China's 38th oceanic expedition.
China's manned submersible Jiaolong with her crew of scientists arrived in the location aboard the mother ship Xiangyanghong 09 on Tuesday.
The submersible is expected to conduct its first South China Sea dive this year on Wednesday if the weather conditions allow, according to Wu Changbin, general commander of the second stage of the expedition.
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BEIJING -- China on Monday urged all related parties to stay calm and exercise restraint and not to take any moves that may further escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made the remarks at a daily press briefing, saying that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is complicated, sensitive and extremely tense.
The United Nations Security Council has clearly prohibited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear and missile activities, Geng added.
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BEIJING -- China's quarterly job report delivered a positive message Tuesday as 3.34 million new jobs were created in the first quarter and the unemployment rate fell to 3.97 percent.
The number of new jobs was 160,000 higher than that in the same period last year, and the unemployment rate was down 0.07 percentage points from a year earlier and 0.05 percentage points lower compared with the previous quarter, official data showed.
"China's job market posted a strong start this year and remained stable in the first quarter," said Lu Aihong, spokesperson of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, at a press conference.
