live UK and France pledge stronger military support for Ukraine
Britain and France have pledged stronger military support for Ukraine, including access to classified technology for Storm Shadow missile productio...
Senior officials from China and Uzbekistan met in Beijing this week for talks on trade, infrastructure and bilateral cooperation, underscoring a relationship that has continued to deepen steadily in recent years.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang met visiting Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where he said China was willing to deepen cooperation with Uzbekistan across energy and resources, connectivity, the digital economy, green development and other sectors, with the aim of creating more landmark projects together.
Chief among those projects is the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, an overland rail link that would connect China to Uzbekistan through Kyrgyzstan, opening a more direct trade route between East Asia and Central Asia. The project has been under discussion for years, and both sides used the meeting to reaffirm their commitment to advancing it.
Premier Li said the current international situation was “complex and intricate” and added that, as “all-weather comprehensive strategic partners for a new era,” China and Uzbekistan should strengthen coordination and work more closely together.
The designation of “all-weather comprehensive strategic partners” is Beijing’s highest diplomatic tier, reserved for countries it considers especially close. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev previously agreed to the framework, and Wednesday’s meetings were presented as a practical expression of that relationship.
Separately, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong met Aripov and co-chaired the eighth meeting of the China–Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, a standing body that coordinates policy and oversees joint projects between the two countries.
Eight rounds into the process, the committee has become a well-established channel for bilateral engagement, reflecting how institutionalised the relationship has become.
Prime Minister Aripov said the partnership had maintained “high-quality development” and served as “a model of good-neighbourly cooperation.”
For Uzbekistan, the relationship offers access to Chinese investment, infrastructure and markets. For China, Uzbekistan is a key partner in Central Asia, valued for both its strategic geographic position and its consistent engagement.
The visit produced no major announcements. However, meetings of this kind are often less about grand gestures and more about maintaining momentum - reviewing progress, aligning on next steps and ensuring both sides remain focused on shared priorities.
Iran on Saturday denounced U.S. plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on the Islamic Republic's economy and have an impact on its most important trading partners including China.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv wants peace but will not surrender to Russia, as foreign leaders joined Independence Day events marking 35 years since Ukraine’s independence.
A newly created pro-government political party has secured a commanding victory in Kazakhstan's snap parliamentary election, according to exit polls, strengthening President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's influence at a pivotal moment in the country's political transition.
Only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 transits a day earlier, as disruptions continue to restrict traffic through the key energy chokepoint.
Oil prices fell after the U.S. expanded economic sanctions on Iran, as Tehran vowed to retaliate and warned it had tools to respond, raising concerns over potential disruption to regional oil supplies.
Britain and France have pledged stronger military support for Ukraine, including access to classified technology for Storm Shadow missile production and faster deliveries of air defence missiles.
France and Saudi Arabia have agreed on plans for a $7 billion manga-themed amusement complex near Paris, inspired by the hugely popular Japanese franchise Dragon Ball Z.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 25th of August, covering the latest developments.
The United States has formally removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, ending a designation that had been in place for nearly five decades and marking a major step in Washington's efforts to rebuild relations with the country's new leadership.
The Trump administration has announced plans to revoke the temporary visitor visas of foreign nationals who entered the United States on tourist or business visas and later sought asylum, marking the latest expansion of Washington's immigration enforcement policies.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment