Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev have agreed to strengthen bilateral ties.

During the talks, the two leaders summed up the development of China-Kazakhstan partnership, charted a future course for cooperation and reached extensive consensus on deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership. 

Both leaders agreed that mutual support of each other's core interests and issues of major concern is the essence of the China-Kazakhstan comprehensive strategic partnership. 

They also agreed the "three evil forces" and organized cross-border crimes are the common threats of the two countries and the region, and have to be harshly cracked down. 

After the meeting, the two leaders signed a joint declaration on further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership and witnessed the signing of a package of cooperation documents.

President Xi Jinping has also discussed bilateral ties with the speaker of Kazakh Parliament's Lower House Nurlan Nigmatulin in Astana.

 

CHINESE PRESIDENT PROPOSES TO BUILD SILK ROAD ECONOMIC BELT

Chinese President Xi Jinping has delivered a keynote speech in Nazarbayev University in Alma-Ata,Kazakhstan. 

He said, at present China's relations with Central Asian countries face a golden opportunity of development. China hopes to work with Central Asian countries to strengthen trust, friendship and cooperation, and promote common development and prosperity so as to bring benefits to our people. 

Xi Jinping also proposed five-point suggestions to build an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in order to forge closer economic ties in the Eurasian region.

 

France, U.S. urge "limited", "strong" action to answer Syrian chemical attack 

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry have stressed the need to take quick moves to respond the alleged use of the deadly gas in Damascus.

Fabius said all the members of the UN Security Council should denounce the Syrian government and support the use of force. However, he reiterated the solution to end the Syrian crisis will be political," 

In a European tour to discuss an international response to the Syrian regime's alleged use of chemical weapons, Kerry said U.S. President Barack Obama has made no decisions about waiting for a UN weapons inspectors' report on chemical arms used in Syria, and he was keeping all of his options open. 

Recent polls showed a large majority of Americans and French opposed a military intervention in the Arab country.

 

Germany joins chorus urging "strong response" on Syria 

Germany became the fifth European Union member to sign a statement adopted at the G20 summit in Saint Petersburg, calling for "a strong response" to alleged chemical weapons attack by Syrian government.

Germany signed on to the G20 statement a day after opting not to do so at the G20 summit. Ten other countries, including the United States, Britain, France, Italy and Spain signed the statement.

 

Somali govt, AMISOM condemn deadly Mogadishu blasts

The Somali government and the African Union mission in the Horn of Africa country have condemned the deadly explosions targeting a popular restaurant in the capital Mogadishu on Saturday. 

A car bomb and a suspected suicide bomber hit the Village Restaurant, leaving 18 people dead and dozens more injured, the third time the popular eatery was targeted. 

The Islamist Al-Shabaab group claimed responsibility for attack .

 

Kevin Rudd concedes Labor's defeat in Australian federal election

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd conceded his ruling Labor Party's defeat in 2013 Australian federal election on Saturday night. 

He also confirmed that he would step down as Labor leader. 

Before Rudd's announcement, the exit poll of Sky News pointed to a clear win for Tony Abbott's Liberal-National Coalition.

 

Beijing women's rugby team punished for match throwing 

Seven players from the Beijing women's 7s-rugby team on Saturday was banned from this year's international matches for their match throwing in Tuesday's final at the 12th Chinese National Games. 

China Rugby Association says in a statement this is a serious violation of the sporting spirit and sportsmanship, damaging the images of both the National Games and the national sports, and casting shadows on the rugby in China.

The association has also suspended the Beijing team coaches for three matches. Seven on-court players were suspended for two matches. The substitutes were suspended for one match.

 

China investment fair attracts 12,500 overseas participants 

The 17th China International Fair for Investment and Trade is expected to draw 12,500 overseas participants.

More than 12,500 overseas clients and businessmen have applied to attend the four-day event that opens today in the southeastern coastal city of Xiamen.