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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Austria on Sunday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, according to a statement from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office.&nbsp;Upon arrival at Vienna International Airport, the prime minister was presented with a guard of honor.&nbsp;Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch are also part of the visiting delegation, the Foreign Office reported.&nbsp;Bilateral talks and business engagementDuring the visit, the prime minister will hold bilateral and delegation-level talks with his Austrian counterpart, in which &quot;both leaders will conduct a detailed review of all aspects of Pakistan-Austria relations,&quot; the foreign office statement said.&nbsp;The two leaders will also jointly chair a meeting of prominent business figures.&nbsp;The prime minister is further scheduled to address the Pakistan-Austria Business Forum.&nbsp;UN engagement in ViennaSharif will participate in and address a special event under the United Nations in Vienna on the theme &ldquo;Sustainable Development: The Path to Global Peace and Prosperity.&rdquo;&nbsp;He is also scheduled to meet the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during his visit.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Vienna on a two-day official visit, at the invitation of Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, to discuss Pakistan-Austria bilateral relations and to address a UN special ceremony.

PM Sharif in Vienna to boost bilateral ties

Ayesha Mir

DHAKA: Bangladesh&rsquo;s incoming leadership has placed the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) at the center of its regional strategy, framing South Asian integration as both an economic necessity and a political priority following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)&rsquo;s sweeping election victory.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, BNP Standing Committee member and former commerce minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the party sees its sweeping mandate not as a victory, but as a responsibility entrusted by voters after years of disenfranchisement.&nbsp;&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t see this as a victory. We see this as a trust that the people have put on us,&rdquo; Chowdhury said, adding that restoring democratic order and economic stability would be the government&rsquo;s immediate focus.&nbsp;Chowdhury said the BNP believes Bangladesh historically turns to the party during periods of national difficulty, and argued that voters backed the BNP this time to deliver democratic transition, economic recovery and institutional reform.&nbsp;On foreign policy, he stressed that the BNP would pursue a non-aligned, multilateral approach rooted in national interest, rejecting any country-centric alignment.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our foreign policy is never country-centric. It is based on mutual respect, mutual interest, non-interference and strategic autonomy for Bangladesh,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Within that framework, Chowdhury identified Pakistan as an important regional partner, particularly in the broader push to revive South Asian cooperation.&nbsp;&ldquo;South Asian integration is very important. We are the least integrated region in the world, with only five to six percent intra-regional trade,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We need to integrate for the benefit of all countries in the region.&rdquo;&nbsp;He acknowledged that tensions between India and Pakistan have stalled SAARC in the past but insisted Dhaka would work to overcome political roadblocks. <figure id="isPasted"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/e267e889-0d1e-4fa6-9a78-25069b43d3a5-WhatsApp Image 2026-02-15 at 11.26.47 PM.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp Image 2026-02-15 at 11.26.47 PM.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><figcaption>Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, BNP Standing Committee member and former commerce minister, speaks during an interview with Pakistan TV Digital in Dhaka on February 15, 2026, ahead of Bangladesh&#39;s incoming government swearing-in ceremony. (Pakistan TV Digital)</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;&ldquo;It has been a problem, we have to admit it. But we have to work around it. Integration is a must for the future of South Asia,&rdquo; he said, citing trade, textiles, pharmaceuticals, connectivity and supply chains as shared regional priorities.&nbsp;Chowdhury also downplayed allegations of foreign propaganda and misinformation during the election period, saying external narratives had little bearing on the outcome.&nbsp;&ldquo;The people of Bangladesh are the ultimate judges. As long as there is no interference in our domestic affairs, what others say is their own business,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;On bilateral ties, Chowdhury confirmed that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had called BNP leader Tarique Rahman to congratulate him, underscoring what he described as improving regional engagement. He said neighbourhood diplomacy would remain central to the BNP&rsquo;s outlook.&nbsp;Domestically, Chowdhury outlined plans for wide-ranging economic reform, including deregulation, liberalization and restoring damaged institutions to attract investment and create jobs.&nbsp;&ldquo;Investment is the only thing that can drive the economy and create jobs,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Government&rsquo;s role is to facilitate, not to control.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that small and medium enterprises, youth employment, women and underprivileged groups would be covered under what he described as a holistic reform agenda, aligned with constitutional commitments to social welfare.&nbsp;On constitutional reform, Chowdhury said the outcome of the recent national referendum would now be debated in parliament.&nbsp;&ldquo;Now that we have an elected parliament, it will be placed there for discussion and decision,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;As Bangladesh prepares for a new government, the BNP is positioning regional integration, economic openness and institutional rebuilding as the pillars of what it calls a post-authoritarian reset, with SAARC&rsquo;s revival framed as both a strategic goal and a test of South Asia&rsquo;s political will.

Bangladesh

In a wide-ranging interview to Pakistan TV Digital ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury says voters’ mandate prioritizes democratic restoration, economic revival and South Asian integration.

Bangladesh’s incoming government signals regional reset, pushes SAARC revival

ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump announced that member states of the Board of Peace have pledged $5 billion for Gaza&#39;s reconstruction and committed thousands of personnel to join the International Stabilization Force in the region. In a post on Truth Social,&nbsp;Trump said he would announce this development when the board meets in Washington at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace on Feb. 19.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;We will announce that member states have pledged more than $5 billion dollars toward the Gaza humanitarian and reconstruction efforts, and have committed thousands of personnel to the International Stabilization Force and local police to maintain security and peace for Gazans.&rdquo; Trump wrote. He also urged Hamas to move forward with disarmament under his plan for postwar Gaza. &quot;Very importantly, Hamas must uphold its commitment to Full and Immediate Demilitarization,&quot; Trump said in the post.&nbsp;Disarmament is a key part of the second phase of the US-brokered ceasefire plan sealed in October between Israel and the Palestinian militant group to end the war triggered by Hamas&#39;s attack on Israel in October 2023. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/c51f8c1d-e843-4892-a1f8-4b170e26e738-Screenshot 2026-02-15 214653.png" alt="Screenshot 2026-02-15 214653.png" class="fr-fil fr-dib"></figure> The United Nations endorsed the plan in November.&nbsp;The second phase stipulates that Israeli forces gradually withdraw from Gaza and Hamas should disarm, with an international stabilization force deployed to ensure security.&nbsp;Hamas has repeatedly said that disarmament is a red line, although it has indicated it could consider handing over its weapons to a future Palestinian governing authority.&nbsp;Both sides accuse each other daily of ceasefire violations.&nbsp;Although originally intended to oversee Gaza&#39;s rebuilding, the Board of Peace&#39;s charter does not appear to limit its role to Palestinian territory.&nbsp;&quot;The Board of Peace has unlimited potential,&quot; Trump said Sunday in his post.&nbsp;After an initial meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, the board is due to meet on Thursday in the US capital.&nbsp;Countries have been asked to pay $1 billion for permanent membership of the board, and the invitation for Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country invaded Ukraine in 2022, has drawn criticism.&nbsp;Key US allies, including France and Britain, have expressed doubts.&nbsp;Trump has said the organization will work &quot;in conjunction&quot; with the United Nations.&nbsp;&quot;The Board of Peace will prove to be the most consequential International Body in History,&quot; he said.&nbsp;Under the ceasefire plan, a Palestinian technocratic committee has also been set up with a goal of taking over governance in the battered Gaza Strip.

Americas

The US president urged that 'Hamas must uphold its commitment to Full and Immediate Demilitarization.'

Board of Peace members have committed 'thousands of personnel' to peace force, over $5B for Gaza: Trump

TEHRAN: Iran&#39;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi headed to Switzerland on Sunday for the second round of renewed nuclear talks with the United States later this week, his ministry said.&nbsp;Araghchi &quot;left Tehran for Geneva late Sunday, heading a diplomatic and technical delegation to conduct the second round of nuclear talks and hold a number of diplomatic consultations,&quot; the ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;&quot;Indirect Iran-US nuclear talks will be held on Tuesday with the mediation and good offices of Oman.&quot; During his visit to Geneva, Araghchi is expected to hold talks with his Swiss and Omani counterparts as well as the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, and other international officials, the foreign ministry statement said.&nbsp;Tehran and Washington restarted nuclear negotiations in Muscat on February 6, months after previous talks collapsed when Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran last June that started a 12-day war.&nbsp;The latest talks came with Washington having threatened Tehran with military action and deployed an aircraft carrier group to the region following Iran&#39;s deadly crackdown on anti-government protests last month.&nbsp;On Feb. 6, Araghchi led the Iranian delegation in indirect nuclear talks with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump&#39;s influential son-in-law Jared Kushner in Muscat.&nbsp;Switzerland has played a key role in diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States for decades.&nbsp;It has represented US interests in Iran since Washington broke off relations with Tehran after the 1980 hostage crisis, a year after the Iranian revolution.

Europe

Asia

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is leading a diplomatic and technical delegation for the second round of indirect nuclear talks with the US on Tuesday, mediated by Oman.

Iran FM heads to Geneva for second round of nuclear talks with US

COLOMBO: India defeated Pakistan by 61 runs on Sunday to qualify for the next round of the T20 World Cup in a showdown that had been in doubt until a few days ago.&nbsp;Suryakumar Yadav&#39;s side scored 175-7 after being given a flying start by Ishan Kishan&#39;s brilliant 77 and then bowled out Pakistan for 114 in 18 overs.&nbsp;India have won eight of nine T20 World Cup meetings and all eight of their ODI World Cup encounters.&nbsp;&quot;I think this is for India,&quot; said Suryakumar after his side followed the West Indies into the Super Eights stage.&nbsp;&quot;Batting first was (the) better option on this wicket.&quot; Pakistan&#39;s batting&nbsp;Pakistan got off to the worst possible start in their chase of 176 to win, Sahibzada Farhan top-edging a slog across the line to mid-on for a duck in Hardik Pandya&#39;s first over.&nbsp;It became 6-2 when Jasprit Bumrah&#39;s second ball trapped Saim Ayub (6) plumb in front.&nbsp;Captain Salman Agha (4) was next to go, with another mistimed slog off Bumrah&#39;s sixth ball leaving his team in dire straits at 13-3.&nbsp;When spinner Axar Patel bowled Babar Azam for five, Pakistan were in tatters at 34-4.&nbsp;Usman Khan offered some resistance, scoring 44 from 34 balls with a six and six fours.&nbsp;But after he charged down the pitch to Axar and Kishan stumped him by a mile, it sparked a mini-collapse to 78-7 and the game was done and dusted.&nbsp;Earlier, India captain Suryakumar and his Pakistan opposite number Agha did not shake hands at the coin toss, which Agha won and elected to bowl.&nbsp;The two captains did the same at their three matches at the Asia Cup in Dubai last year, including the final.&nbsp;India opening batsman Abhishek Sharma returned after a stomach bug but lasted only four balls before falling without scoring. Dominant KishanKishan was unperturbed by the loss of his partner and set about an assault on the Pakistan bowlers, bringing up his 50 off 27 balls.&nbsp;He was middling the ball all round the park, so it was a major surprise when he missed a straight delivery from spinner Ayub and was bowled.&nbsp;&quot;Ishan thought outside the box,&quot; said Suryakumar. &quot;After we were 0-1, someone had to take responsibility and the way he took it was amazing.&quot;&nbsp;Kishan dominated the strike so much that when he departed it was with 77 runs out of India&#39;s 88-2 after 8.4 overs to his name. He smacked three sixes and 10 fours. Kishan&#39;s departure enabled Pakistan to put the brakes on India&#39;s batsmen and, at after 14 overs, they had advanced the score only to 125-2.&nbsp;Tilak Varma, on 25, became Ayub&#39;s second victim, trapped in front and India were 126-3 and he then got Hardik caught in the deep next ball.&nbsp;Shivam Dube was beaten all ends up by the hat-trick ball, but it bounced over the top of middle stump and he somehow survived.&nbsp;Suryakumar made 32 off 29 balls. Dube was run out in the final over for 27.&nbsp;The cricket teams of the nuclear-armed neighbors only meet in multi-nation tournaments at neutral venues as part of a compromise deal.&nbsp;It has been more than 18 years since India and Pakistan last met in a Test match, and 13 years since either side crossed the border to play a bilateral series.

Cricket

India defeated Pakistan by 61 runs in the T20 World Cup to reach the Super Eights. Ishan Kishan’s 77 powered India to 175-7 before bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel, dismissed Pakistan for 114.

India defeats Pakistan by 61 runs in T20 World Cup match 

COLOMBO: India captain Suryakumar Yadav and his Pakistan opposite number Salman Agha did not shake hands at the coin toss for their T20 World Cup showdown in Colombo on Sunday.&nbsp;Agha won the toss and elected to bowl in the Group A match, which was only confirmed as going ahead six days ago when the Pakistan government made a U-turn on a threat to boycott the match.&nbsp;Suryakumar also did not shake hands with Agha in any of their three matches at the Asia Cup in Dubai last year, including the final.&nbsp;The biggest and most lucrative clash in world cricket was in doubt after Bangladesh refused to play their T20 World Cup matches in India and were kicked out, replaced by Scotland.&nbsp;The Pakistan government protested and responded by ordering its team to boycott the India game in Sri Lanka, the tournament&#39;s co-hosts.&nbsp;The cricket teams of the nuclear-armed neighbours only meet in multi-nation tournaments at neutral venues as part of a compromise deal.&nbsp;It has been more than 18 years since India and Pakistan last met in a Test match, and 13 years since either side crossed the border to play a bilateral series.&nbsp;The 35,000-capacity R.Premadasa Stadium was sold out for the clash, with tickets going for more than four times face value on the black market.&nbsp;Excitement was building outside the ground before the start of the hotly awaited clash.

At the ICC Men's T20 World Cup match in Colombo, India’s Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Salman Agha skipped a handshake amid political tensions. Pakistan won the toss and chose to field.

No handshake between India, Pakistan captains before T20 World Cup clash

TEHRAN: Iran is ready to compromise on its stockpile of highly enriched uranium in exchange for US sanctions being lifted, its deputy foreign minister said in a BBC interview published Sunday.&nbsp;Majid Takht-Ravanchi&#39;s remarks came after the resumption of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Oman on Feb. 6.&nbsp;Switzerland announced on Saturday that a new round of talks would take place in Geneva next week, without specifying the day.&nbsp;Iran has not yet officially confirmed the new round of talks, but Takht-Ravanchi, who was in Iran&#39;s delegation to Oman led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said they would be on Tuesday, the BBC reported.&nbsp;Western countries, led by the United States as well as by Israel, Iran&#39;s arch-enemy and considered by experts to be the only nuclear power in the Middle East, accuse the Islamic republic of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.&nbsp;Tehran denies having such military ambitions, but insists on its right to this technology for civilian purposes.&nbsp;Iran is ready to compromise to reach an agreement with the United States, including diluting its highly enriched uranium, but Washington must lift its sanctions, which are crippling Iran&#39;s economy, Takht-Ravanchi said, according to the BBC.&nbsp;&quot;If we see the sincerity on their (American) part, I am sure we will be on a road to have an agreement,&quot; he said, speaking in English.&nbsp;The BBC said he was also questioned about the possibility of Tehran agreeing to ship its stockpile of more than 400 kilos of highly enriched uranium out of the country and did not rule out a compromise, saying &quot;it is too early to say&quot; what will happen at the talks.&nbsp;Several countries, including Russia, have offered to take responsibility for the stockpile, an offer Iran has so far refused.&nbsp;Considerable uncertainty surrounds the fate of Iran&#39;s stockpile of more than 400 kilos of 60% enriched uranium that was last seen by nuclear watchdog inspectors last June 10, before Israeli and US strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.&nbsp;Iran had been enriching uranium to 60 percent, well above the 3.67 percent limit allowed by the now-defunct 2015 nuclear agreement and close to 90 percent needed to make a bomb, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for zero enrichment in Iran.&nbsp;&quot;The issue of zero enrichment is not an issue any more and as far as Iran is concerned, it is not on the table any more,&quot; Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC.&nbsp;The Fars news agency, citing a foreign ministry official, reported on Sunday that the talks would also cover potential American investments in Iran&#39;s energy sector.

Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi says Iran is open to diluting or compromising on its highly enriched uranium stockpile if the United States lifts sanctions, as nuclear talks resume and disputes over enrichment limits persist.

Iran says ready for nuclear compromise if US lifts sanctions

MUNICH: EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas pushed back Sunday against &quot;bashing&quot; of Europe by the United States, saying Russia must be forced to make concessions in talks to end the war in Ukraine. &quot;Contrary to what some may say, woke, decadent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/chinese-fm-wants-to-work-with-canadian-counterpart-to-eliminate-interference" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Europe</a> is not facing civilizational erasure,&quot; Kallas said on the last day of the Munich Security Conference. <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-and-europe-belong-together-rubio" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">US Secretary of State Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;on Saturday reassured allies by saying Washington and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/european-debate-over-nuclear-weapons-gains-pace-at-munich-security-conference" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Europe</a> &quot;belong together&quot; -- but insisted the continent must defend against mass migration to protect its &quot;civilization&quot;. &quot;The message that we heard is that America and Europe are intertwined, have been in the past and will be in the future. I think this is important,&quot; Kallas said. &quot;It is also clear that we don&#39;t see eye to eye in all the issues, and this will remain the case,&quot; she said. The gathering in Munich has seen European officials insist that the continent must take the lead in its defense in the face of an aggressive Russia and doubts about the reliability of the United States, as President Donald Trump upends ties. &lsquo;Need to reclaim European agency&rsquo;&quot;There is an urgent need to reclaim European agency,&quot; Kallas said. She said European defense &quot;starts in Ukraine&quot; and depends on how Russia&#39;s war ends as the United States pushes efforts to stop the fighting. &quot;Let&#39;s be clear-eyed about Russia. Russia is no superpower,&quot; Kallas said, insisting the country was &quot;broken.&quot; &quot;The greatest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiation table than it has achieved on the battlefield.&quot; Size of Russia&rsquo;s military&nbsp;The EU top diplomat called for the size of Russia&#39;s military to be capped, said Moscow must pay for damages caused, and be held accountable for war crimes. France&#39;s Europe minister, Benjamin Haddad, backed calls for Europe to pay less attention to what the US says and to focus on bolstering its own capabilities. &quot;I think the worst lesson we could draw from this weekend is to say, well, I can cling to some love words that I heard in part of his speech and push the snooze button,&quot; Haddad said of Rubio&#39;s address. &quot;Focus on what we can control, focus on our rearmament, on the support for Ukraine and the threat that Russia poses to all of our democracies.&quot;

‘Contrary to what some may say, woke, decadent Europe is not facing civilizational erasure,’ says Kaja Kallas on the last day of the Munich Security Conference.

EU top diplomat rejects Europe 'bashing' by US

DHAKA: Bangladesh&#39;s Jamaat-e-Islami-led coalition, which lost its chance to form the country&#39;s next government in this week&#39;s polls, submitted complaints to the Election Commission on Sunday, challenging results in 32 constituencies. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladeshs-next-pm-signals-regional-reset-unity-and-saarc-revival-in-first-address" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tarique Rahman</a>, the scion of one of the country&#39;s most influential <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladeshs-election-commission-publishes-gazette-of-newly-elected-mps" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">political dynasties</a>, celebrated a sweeping victory in the South Asian nation of 170 million after general elections on Thursday. They were the first polls since a 2024 uprising ousted the autocratic government of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.&nbsp;Election results&nbsp;The BNP-led alliance won 212 seats, compared with 77 for the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance, according to the Election Commission. Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman conceded on Saturday, saying his party would &quot;serve as a vigilant, principled, and peaceful opposition&quot;. Newly elected lawmakers are expected to be sworn in on Tuesday, after which Rahman is set to become the country&#39;s next prime minister. But on Sunday, Jamaat officials submitted their complaints. &quot;We have identified 32 constituencies where our candidates were unfairly defeated,&quot; said senior Jamaat official Hamidur Rahman Azad. &quot;The election day began smoothly, but the ending was not what we had expected. Fake votes, the circulation of black money (bribes), threats, assaults, and attacks marred the atmosphere.&quot; Police records show that political clashes during the campaign period left five people dead and more than 600 injured.&nbsp;Without major unrest&nbsp;But despite weeks of turbulence ahead of the polls, voting day passed without major unrest and the country has so far responded to the results with relative calm. At least two people were killed in post-poll clashes, while scattered acts of vandalism and assaults were reported in several districts, police said. Both Jamaat-e-Islami and its ally, the National Citizen Party (NCP) -- formed by student leaders who spearheaded the uprising -- reported attacks on their supporters. NCP loyalists marched through the Dhaka University campus against the BNP on Friday. Police spokesman AHM Shahadat Hossain said police were deployed to maintain order. &quot;Over 150,000 police personnel were trained to tackle pre- and post-election violence,&quot; Hossain told AFP.&nbsp;59% turnout&nbsp;The Election Commission said turnout was 59% across 299 of the 300 constituencies where voting was held. Only seven women were directly elected, although a further 50 seats reserved for women will be allocated to parties according to their share of the vote. Four members of minority communities won seats, including two Hindus -- a population that makes up roughly 7% in Muslim-majority Bangladesh.

'We have identified 32 constituencies where our candidates were unfairly defeated,' said senior Jamaat official Hamidur Rahman Azad.

Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami-led coalition submits poll complaints

MUNICH: China&#39;s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand, that their two countries should work to &ldquo;eliminate interference&rdquo; as they met on the sidelines of a security conference on Saturday. Wang, who met a slew of Western leaders at the Munich Security Conference, has been eager to portray Beijing as a more stable partner than the United States. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who took office last year, visited China in January as part of his global effort to broaden Canada&#39;s export markets and reduce its reliance on the United States for trade. Preliminary trade deal&nbsp;Under a preliminary trade deal announced, Beijing is expected to reduce tariffs on Canadian canola imports. But the United States -- Canada&#39;s traditional ally and largest trading partner -- has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Canadian products if the deal goes ahead, saying it would allow China to &quot;dump goods.&quot; Beijing&#39;s top diplomat, Wang, told his Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand, on Saturday that their countries should jointly counter &quot;interference,&quot; without naming the United States. &lsquo;Eliminate interference&rsquo;&quot;China is willing to work with Canada to eliminate interference, restart exchanges and cooperation in various fields,&quot; Wang told Anand, according to a readout from Beijing&#39;s foreign ministry. China has overturned the death sentence of Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, who was detained on drug charges in 2014, a Canadian official told AFP in February. China-Canada ties had nosedived following the 2018 arrest in Vancouver of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou. That arrest infuriated Beijing, which detained two Canadians -- Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig -- on espionage charges that Ottawa condemned as retaliatory. But on Saturday, Wang hailed Carney&#39;s visit to China as &ldquo;fruitful&rdquo; and said the two countries should build a healthy and stable &ldquo;new type of strategic partnership.&rdquo; China grants visa-free entryChina confirmed that Canadian and British citizens will be able to visit the country visa-free from Tuesday, after the two countries&#39; leaders announced the agreements during official trips to Beijing. British and Canadian prime ministers Keir Starmer and Mark Carney both visited Beijing in January, seeking to bolster relations with China and pivot from the increasingly mercurial United States. Both leaders had hailed progress following meetings with top Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping, on issues such as visa-free access for their citizens to China. Beijing&#39;s foreign ministry confirmed these agreements on Sunday, saying Canadian and British citizens will be able to travel to China visa-free from Tuesday, with the policy in effect until Dec. 31. &quot;Holders of ordinary passports from these countries can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, exchanges, or transit for a period not exceeding 30 days,&quot; it said in a statement. This was to &quot;further facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries,&quot; it added.

Wang Yi, who met a slew of Western leaders at the Munich Security Conference, has been eager to portray Beijing as a more stable partner than the United States.

PM Sharif in Vienna to boost bilateral ties

Latest News

Bangladesh’s incoming government signals regional reset, pushes SAARC revival

PM Sharif in Vienna to boost bilateral ties

Board of Peace members have committed 'thousands of personnel' to peace force, over $5B for Gaza: Trump

Iran FM heads to Geneva for second round of nuclear talks with US

India defeats Pakistan by 61 runs in T20 World Cup match