Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi on Monday held meetings with Pakistan&rsquo;s Honorary Investment Counsellors (HICs) in China to review their performance, strengthen coordination and set priorities for the coming year.&nbsp;According to a press release by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ambassador Hashmi lauded the HICs&rsquo; efforts across key regions, including the Hong Kong-Macao-Greater Bay Area, Xinjiang, Shandong, and Henan, highlighting their role in promoting trade, investment, and people-to-people contacts, and urged them to align their work with Pakistan&rsquo;s national development priorities.&nbsp;&ldquo;He encouraged them to synergize their efforts with Pakistan&rsquo;s national development priorities and mobilize Chinese investments in export-oriented sectors of Pakistan,&ldquo; the statement added.&nbsp;The ambassador shared progress made over the last year, noting that two B2B investment conferences in Shenzhen and Beijing, along with six sectoral roadshows, have resulted in more than 300 Memoranda of Understanding and 25 joint ventures worth $11 billion.&nbsp;&nbsp;The ambassador ensured a high-level follow-up mechanism is in place in Pakistan to facilitate implementation of the agreements.&nbsp;Hashmi briefed the HICs on preparations made for the first China-focused Agriculture Investment Conference, scheduled to be held in Islamabad on January 19, 2026.&nbsp;The HICs welcomed the initiative for regular reviews and expressed commitment to supporting Pakistan&rsquo;s economic diplomacy, boosting Chinese investment, increasing Pakistani exports to China, and strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, met investment counsellors to review their work, discuss over 300 MoUs and 25 joint ventures worth $11 billion, and plan the January 2026 Agriculture Conference, which aims to boost China-Pakistan economic cooperation.

Pakistan envoy in China reviews investment cooperation, sets 2026 priorities

BEIJING: Brussels hit back Monday at China slapping duties of up to 42.7% on some dairy products from the European Union, calling the move &quot;unjustified.&quot;&nbsp;China&#39;s salvo on Monday is the latest in a trade spat with the EU that spans from food to electric vehicles.&nbsp;The &quot;duty deposits&quot;, which range from 21.9% to 42.7%, come into effect on Tuesday.&nbsp;They hit a range of items, including fresh and processed cheese, curd, blue cheese, and some milk and cream, the commerce ministry in Beijing said in a statement.&nbsp;Officials launched an anti-subsidy probe in August 2024 at the request of the Dairy Association of China. The probe will conclude in February.&nbsp;China&#39;s commerce ministry said Monday that preliminary findings showed a link between EU subsidies and &quot;substantial damage&quot; to its domestic dairy industry.&nbsp;European officials contested such conclusions.&nbsp;&quot;Our assessment is that the investigation is based on questionable allegations and insufficient evidence, and that the measures are therefore unjustified and unwarranted,&quot; a European Commission trade spokesman said.&nbsp;&quot;Right now, the Commission is examining the preliminary determination and will provide comments to the Chinese authorities,&quot; he added.&nbsp;The fees on EU dairy come a week after Beijing said it would impose anti-dumping levies on EU pork imports for five years.&nbsp;Those duties kicked in on Dec. 17 and range from 4.9% to 19.8%, down from temporary levies of 15.6% to 62.4% that had been in place since September.&nbsp;The two economic powerhouses have been locked in a trade spat fuelled by what many European countries view as an unbalanced economic relationship with China. Escalating spatThe current trade spat erupted in 2024 when the EU began moving towards imposing hefty tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, arguing that Beijing&#39;s subsidies were unfairly undercutting European competitors.&nbsp;Beijing denied that claim and announced what were widely seen as retaliatory probes into imported European pork, brandy, and dairy products.&nbsp;After the EU imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, Beijing forced EU brandy manufacturers to raise prices or face anti-dumping taxes of up to 34.9%.&nbsp;The EU ran a trade deficit of more than $350 billion with China in 2024.&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron said this month that Europe would consider adopting strong measures against China, including tariffs, if the trade imbalance was not addressed.&nbsp;Alongside trade frictions, China and the EU are at odds on issues such as Russia&#39;s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;The EU has urged China to exert pressure on Moscow to end the war, but Beijing has shown no sign of acceding.

Europe

China

China imposes 22–43% duties on EU dairy amid trade dispute. EU calls it unfair. Tensions rise over pork, brandy, electric vehicles, and differences on Russia, worsening China-EU economic and political relations. 

EU slams China dairy duties as 'unjustified'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday launched its fourth Hangor-class submarine, &ldquo;Ghazi,&rdquo; at the Shuangliu Base in China&rsquo;s Wuhan, the official statement said, marking another milestone in the Pakistan Navy&rsquo;s submarine modernization program.&nbsp;In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the launch reflects steady progress on the bilateral submarine project between Pakistan and China.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Pakistan Navy has achieved a major milestone as all four submarines being constructed in China are now undergoing rigorous sea trials and are in the final stages of handover to Pakistan,&rdquo; the ISPR said.&nbsp;The military&rsquo;s media wing said the submarine program is being executed under an agreement signed between the governments of Pakistan and China for the acquisition of eight Hangor-class submarines.&nbsp;&ldquo;Under this contract, four submarines are being built in China, while the remaining four will be constructed in Pakistan by Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works Limited under Transfer of Technology,&rdquo; the statement added.&nbsp;According to the ISPR, the Hangor-class submarines will be equipped with advanced weapons and sensors, enabling them to engage targets from standoff ranges.&nbsp;It said submarines would play a &ldquo;key role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.&rdquo;&nbsp;Senior officials from Pakistan and China attended the launching ceremony, underscoring the &ldquo;deepening bilateral cooperation&rdquo; between the two countries in the defense sector.&nbsp;The Hangor-class project is a central component of the Pakistan Navy&rsquo;s efforts to enhance its undersea warfare capabilities and strengthen maritime security.

Security

Pakistan Navy’s fourth Hangor-class submarine, Ghazi, launched in China, all four China-built vessels undergo sea trials, while remaining submarines will be locally built under technology transfer agreement.

Pakistan launches fourth Hangor-class submarine ‘Ghazi’ at China shipyard naval

SEOUL: South Korea and Japan reacted furiously on Wednesday after Chinese and Russian military aircraft conducted joint patrols around the two countries, with both Seoul and Tokyo scrambling jets.&nbsp;South Korea said it had lodged a protest with representatives of China and Russia, while Japan said it had conveyed its &quot;serious concerns&quot; over national security.&nbsp;According to Tokyo, two Russian Tu-95 nuclear-capable bombers on Tuesday flew from the Sea of Japan to rendezvous with two Chinese H-6 bombers in the East China Sea, then conducted a joint flight around the country.&nbsp;The incident comes as Japan is locked in a dispute with China over comments Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made about Taiwan.&nbsp;The bombers&#39; joint flights were &quot;clearly intended as a show of force against our nation&quot;, defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi wrote on X Wednesday.&nbsp;Top government spokesman Minoru Kihara said that Tokyo had &quot;conveyed to both China and Russia our serious concerns over our national security through diplomatic channels&quot;.&nbsp;Seoul said Tuesday the Russian and Chinese warplanes entered its air defence zone and that a complaint had been lodged with the defence attaches of both countries in the South Korean capital.&nbsp;&quot;Our military will continue to respond actively to the activities of neighbouring countries&#39; aircraft within the KADIZ in compliance with international law,&quot; said Lee Kwang-suk, director general of the International Policy Bureau at Seoul&#39;s defence ministry, referring to the Korea Air Defence Identification Zone.&nbsp;South Korea also said it deployed &quot;fighter jets to take tactical measures in preparation for any contingencies&quot; in response to the Chinese and Russian incursion into the KADIZ.&nbsp;The planes were spotted before they entered the air defense identification zone, defined as a broader area in which countries police aircraft for security reasons but which does not constitute their airspace.&nbsp;Japan&#39;s defense ministry also scrambled fighter jets to intercept the warplanes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Routine exerciseBeijing later Tuesday confirmed it had organized drills with Russia&#39;s military according to &quot;annual cooperation plans&quot;.&nbsp;Moscow also described it as a routine exercise, saying it lasted eight hours and that some foreign fighter jets followed the Russian and Chinese aircraft.&nbsp;Since 2019 China and Russia have regularly flown military aircraft into South Korea&#39;s air defence zone without prior notice, citing joint exercises.&nbsp;In November last year Seoul scrambled jets as five Chinese and six Russian military planes flew through its air defence zone.&nbsp;Similar incidents occurred in June and December 2023, and in May and November 2022.&nbsp;Meanwhile Tokyo said Monday it had scrambled jets in response to repeated takeoff and landing exercises involving fighter jets and military helicopters from China&#39;s Liaoning aircraft carrier as it cruised in international waters near Japan.&nbsp;It also summoned Beijing&#39;s ambassador after military aircraft from the Liaoning locked radar onto Japanese jets, the latest incident in the row ignited by Takaichi&#39;s comments backing Taiwan.&nbsp;Takaichi suggested last month that Japan would intervene militarily in any Chinese attack on the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims as its own and has not ruled out seizing by force.

Asia

South Korea and Japan condemned joint Russian and Chinese military aircraft patrols near their borders, with both countries scrambling jets. The incident, amid rising tensions over Taiwan, sparked diplomatic protests over national security concerns.

South Korea, Japan accuse China, Russia over aircraft incursions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have started their joint military exercise Warrior-IX, the ninth edition of the annual counterterrorism drills conducted between the two militaries, the military&#39;s media wing&nbsp;said on Tuesday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the exercise, which began on Monday at the National Counter Terrorism Center, Pabbi, focuses on counterterrorism operations and aims to enhance interoperability, improve professional skills, and facilitate the exchange of best practices in modern warfare. ISPR said the Pakistan Army and the People&rsquo;s Liberation Army of China continue to maintain time-tested defence cooperation built on mutual trust and strategic partnership. The Warrior series, it added, reflects the strong military-to-military ties and the shared commitment of both countries to regional peace, stability, and security. The Mangla Corps Commander, along with Major General Bian Xiaoming, Deputy Chief of Staff of the PLA Western Theatre Command, and senior military officials from both sides, attended the opening ceremony.

The exercise focuses on counterterrorism operations and aims to enhance interoperability, improve professional skills and facilitate the exchange of best practices in modern warfare.

Pakistan, China begin Warrior-IX joint military exercise

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China reaffirmed their strategic partnership and explored deeper cooperation in the energy and mineral sectors during a meeting at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad on Wednesday, according to an official statement.&nbsp;The information ministry said Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik met China&rsquo;s Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, to discuss mutual support, economic collaboration, and a shared commitment to regional stability and prosperity.&nbsp;Malik extended a formal invitation for China to participate in the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum (PMIF) 2026, stressing that the mining sector remains a national priority and offers &ldquo;significant opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation.&rdquo;&nbsp;Ambassador Zaidong welcomed the invitation, stating, &ldquo;We will encourage the heads of our relevant institutions to participate in the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum.&rdquo;&nbsp;He noted that mining remains a key pillar of China-Pakistan collaboration, highlighting the strong presence of Chinese companies in Pakistan&rsquo;s petroleum and mineral sectors, including the Saindak and Siadak projects.&nbsp;Malik reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s support for China, including its stance on China&rsquo;s sovereignty and regional stability.&nbsp;Zaidong praised Pakistan&rsquo;s reform efforts, saying, &ldquo;We are committed to supporting Pakistan&rsquo;s development and will continue to facilitate the economic development of the people of Pakistan through our cooperation.&rdquo;&nbsp;The meeting concluded with both sides expressing a firm commitment to further strengthen their all-weather strategic partnership through increased investment and expanded collaboration in the mining and energy sectors.

Pakistan and China reaffirmed their strategic partnership, focusing on energy and mineral cooperation. Both sides discussed economic collaboration, regional stability, and investment opportunities, including the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum 2026, highlighting ongoing Chinese projects in Pakistan.

Pakistan, China deepen energy and mineral cooperation to strengthen strategic partnership

HONG KONG: A cargo aircraft skidded off a Hong Kong runway into the sea when landing early Monday, killing two people. The Emirates flight, arriving from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was landing at Hong Kong International Airport around 3:50 a.m., according to Hong Kong&rsquo;s airport authority. Four crew members on the plane were rescued and taken to a hospital. Initial reports from police said two people in an airport ground vehicle were killed. Emirates said the Boeing 747 freighter flying as EK9788 was wet leased and operated by Turkish cargo carrier Act Airlines. In wet leases, the company supplying the plane also provides the crew, maintenance, and insurance. The airline said there was cargo on board. Local Hong Kong broadcasters showed the aircraft partially submerged just off the edge of the airport&rsquo;s sea wall. The aircraft&rsquo;s front half and cockpit were visible above water, but the tail end appeared to have broken off. The crash occurred on the north runway of Hong Kong&rsquo;s airport, one of Asia&rsquo;s busiest. That runway remained closed, while the two other runways at the airport continue to operate. Hong Kong&#39;s Civil Aviation Department said in a statement it was following up with the airlines and other parties involved in the crash.

A Turkish-operated Emirates cargo plane skidded off Hong Kong’s runway into the sea during landing, killing two airport workers and injuring four crew members, prompting runway closure and an ongoing aviation investigation.

Articles tagged with "china"