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Ten years on, WIC Wuzhen Summit witnesses accelerated progress in building a digital China

STORY: Ten years on, WIC Wuzhen Summit witnesses accelerated progress in building a digital China SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 8, 2023 DATELINE: Nov. 9, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:00 LOCATION: WUZHEN, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY/TECHNOLOGY SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): YANG ZHIXIANG, Xinhua correspondent 2. various of the 2023 World Internet Conference 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): GENIE GAN, Head of Government Affairs for Asia-Pacific, Japan, Middle East, Türkiye & Africa, Kaspersky 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANTONIO FRISOLI, Co-founder, Board member & Scientific coordinator, Next Generation Robotics 5. various of the 2023 World Internet Conference STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): YANG ZHIXIANG, Xinhua correspondent "The 2023 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit is underway in Wuzhen, China. This year marks the 10th year that the WIC Wuzhen Summit is held. This year's event features 20 sub-forums on topics such as the Global Development Initiative, the coordinated transformation toward digitalization and green growth, and

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China visa application center opens in Ethiopia's capital

STORY: China visa application center opens in Ethiopia's capital DATELINE: March 12, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:56 LOCATION: Addis Ababa CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the ceremony 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ZHAO ZHIYUAN, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia 3. various of street scenes in Ethiopia 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SAMUEL FITSUMBIRHAN, Director of Asia Pacific Division at the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs STORYLINE: The Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia on Friday inaugurated the China visa application center in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. The center is responsible for handling some consular document applications and consular authentication, as well as collecting governmental fees for these certificates. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ZHAO ZHIYUAN, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia "The flow of people between our two countries is rising. More and more Ethiopian friends want to go to China. As a result, Chinese visa applications have surged." SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SAMUEL FITSUMBIRHAN, Director o

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China's carmaker BYD breaks ground on Thailand plant

STORY: China's carmaker BYD breaks ground on Thailand plant DATELINE: March 11, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:50 LOCATION: RAYONG, Thailand CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of groundbreaking ceremony 2. close shot of ATTO 3 3. shot of construction site 4. delivery ceremony for the 9,999th and 10,000th ATTO 3 cars 5. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LIU XUELIANG, General manager of BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division 6. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG LIPING, Minister-counsellor for economic and commercial affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand 7. promotion video of BYD STORYLINE: China's leading electric vehicle manufacturer BYD held a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday for its first car plant in Thailand, marking the latest move by Chinese automakers to expand their footprint in Southeast Asia. The new factory, located in the Eastern Economic Corridor Special Zone in coastal Rayong province, is expected to serve as a hub for the production and distribution of electric vehicles (EVs) in Thailand, neighboring ASEAN count

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China's economy set for robust rebound in 2023

STORY: China's economy set for robust rebound in 2023 DATELINE: Feb. 7, 2023 LENGTH: 00:06:35 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY:POLITICS/ECONOMY/MARKET SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in China 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): THOMAS HELBLING, Deputy Director in the Asia Pacific Department of the International Monetary Fund 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): RAYMOND LUI, Chief investment officer, Red Beacon Asset Management Pte Ltd, Singapore 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): HAROON SHARIF, Former Minister of State for Investment of Pakistan 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): SELCUK COLAKOGLU, Director of the Ankara-based Turkish Center for Asia-Pacific Studies 6. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): THOMAS HELBLING, Deputy Director in the Asia Pacific Department of the International Monetary Fund 7. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): HAROON SHARIF, Former Minister of State and Chairman of Pakistan's Board of Investment 8. SOUNDBITE 7 (English): PATRICK MWANGI, International affairs analyst in Kenya 9. SOUNDBITE 8 (Arabic): KARIM ADEL, Head of the Cairo-based Al Adl Ce

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China, leading engine for global economy amid pandemic

STORY: China, leading engine for global economy amid pandemic DATELINE: Jan. 30, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:34 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of economy related footage 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MICHELE GERACI, Former undersecretary of state, Italian Ministry of Economic Development 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MOATASEM RASHED, Economic consultant for Egyptian Federation of Investors Associations (EFIA) 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): FATIH BIROL, Head of International Energy Agency (IEA) 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): HAMID RASHID, Chief of Global Economic Monitoring Branch, Economic Analysis and Policy Division, UN Department of Economic & Social Affairs 6. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): SELCUK COLAKOGLU, Director of Turkish Center for Asia-Pacific Studies STORYLINE: In its three-year-long fight against COVID-19, China posted outstanding results in economic development and epidemic control, reinforcing its status as a leading engine for the global economy. In 2020, China became the first major economy in the

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ASEAN, dialogue partners welcome N. Korea's denuclearization moves

MANILA, Philippines - Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso (R), U.S. assistant secretary of state foe East Asian and Pacific affairs Christopher Hill (C) and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney (R) walk into a room for an ASEAN Regional Forum dinner in Manila on Aug. 1. Foreign ministers and representatives from 16 Asia-Pacific nations and their four dialogue partners welcomed North Korea's moves so far toward denuclearization, a Japanese official said.

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ARF to welcome N. Korea's denuke steps as 6-way talks gain momentum

MANILA, Philippines - Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso (C), South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Song Min Soon (R) and North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun (left back to the camera) are seated for the 14th ministerial meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum in Manila on Aug. 2. The ministers from 27 Asia-Pacific nations and their dialogue partners are expected to welcome North Korea's announcement that it will implement its commitment to denuclearize itself.

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China, Taiwan policy planners hold talks on APEC sidelines

BEIJING, China - China's Taiwan Affairs Council Minister Zhang Zhijun (R) meets with Wang Yu-chi, head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, on Nov. 12, 2014, in Beijing on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. They agreed to negotiate on more trade pacts and set up representative offices of their quasi-official cross-strait agencies, among other things.

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China, Taiwan policy planners hold talks on APEC sidelines

BEIJING, China - China's Taiwan Affairs Council Minister Zhang Zhijun (R) shakes hands with Wang Yu-chi, head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, on Nov. 12, 2014, in Beijing. During their meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, they agreed to negotiate on more trade pacts and set up representative offices of their quasi-official cross-strait agencies, among other things.

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Taiwan's ex-vice president talks with China's president

BEIJING, China - Taiwan's former Vice President Vincent Siew (R) and Wang Yu-chi, head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, attend a news conference in Beijing on Nov. 9, 2014. They met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit.

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U.S. diplomat Campbell

WASHINGTON, United States - Kurt Campbell, assistant U.S. secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, speaks at a symposium in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 13, 2011. Campbell, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, said the United States will ''play a central role'' in the Asia Pacific.

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U.S.-China talks on Asia-Pacific issues

HONOLULU, United States - Kurt Campbell, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, speaks at a press conference in Honolulu on June 25, 2011, after attending the first U.S.-China talks on Asia-Pacific issues.

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New U.S. defense strategy to focus on energy, climate change

SINGAPORE, Singapore - U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Wallace Gregson speaks in an interview with Kyodo News in Singapore on June 6, 2010. Gregson said the U.S. Defense Department needs to seriously consider energy security, climate change and other non-traditional issues when it creates a new strategy for the Asia-Pacific region.

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U.S. House committee passes 'comfort women' resolution

WASHINGTON, United States - The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee meets on June 26 to adopt a resolution demanding an apology from Japan over the sexual exploitation of women in the Asia-Pacific region by the Japanese military during World War II. The nonbinding resolution was approved by a vote of 39-2.

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APEC ministers start talks

BUSAN, South Korea - South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki Moon (L) greets Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso before the beginning of talks by foreign and trade ministers from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum on Nov. 15 in Busan, South Korea.

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China's Li and S. Korea's Ban meet in S. Korea

BUSAN, South Korea - Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing (L) shakes hands with South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki Moon before their talks Nov. 15 in Busan, South Korea, on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign and trade ministers of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

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(2)APEC ministers begin talks on global trade, terrorism

BANGKOK, Thailand - Japan's Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi is greeted before an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum meeting on trade and foreign affairs in Bangkok Oct. 17.

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Russia ready to help Japan resolve abductions by N. Korea

MOSCOW, Russia - Alexander Losyukov, Russia's vice foreign minister in charge of Asia-Pacific affairs, meets the press Jan. 5 in Moscow ahead of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's four-day visit to Russia beginning Jan. 7. He said Russia is prepared to help Japan resolve issues related to North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals.

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S. Korea, U.S. initial revised SOFA agreement

SEOUL, South Korea - Frederick Smith (L), U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asia-Pacific Affairs, and Song Min Soon, director general for North American Affairs of the South Korea Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry shake hands in Seoul on Dec. 28 after initialing revisions to the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) covering some 37,000 U.S. military personnel stationed in South Korea.

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ARF ministers begin working dinner

BANGKOK, Thailand - (From L to R in the back row) Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono, North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun and South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minster Lee Joung Binn attend a photo session, along with other foreign ministers meeting for the ASEAN Regional Forum at a Bangkok hotel July 26. Ministers from Asia, North America and Europe began their annual discussion on security in the Asia-Pacific region during the dinner with the spotlight squarely on the North Korean delegation and developments on the Korean Peninsula.

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U.S. to keep 100,000 troops in E. Asia-Pacific: Campbell

WASHINGTON, United States - The United States is committed to maintaining about 100,000 troops in the East Asia-Pacific region given the uncertain situation there, Kurt Campbell, deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asian and Pacific affairs, says Sept. 22 in an interview with Kyodo News.

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China's green development benefits the world: experts

STORY: China's green development benefits the world: experts DATELINE: Nov. 21, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:13 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in China 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): LUCIO BLANCO PITLO, Research fellow at Philippine think tank Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CHERDCHAI CHAIVAIVID, Director-general, Department of International Economic Affairs, Thailand's Foreign Ministry 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): GERALD LEPARIYO, Geo-politics and climate change analyst in Kenya STORYLINE: International experts have spoken highly of China's accelerating green transformation, saying China's solid green development contributes to improving global climate governance amid global polycrisis. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): LUCIO BLANCO PITLO, Research fellow at Philippine think tank Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation "China now is actually, the position in its development, wherein it is now willing and able and keen to play a greater

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Pooling Asian wisdom for better global governance

STORY: Pooling Asian wisdom for better global governance DATELINE: Nov. 20, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:20 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: POLITICS/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of G20 and APEC-related footage 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): KAO KIM HOURN, Minister attached to prime minister of Cambodia 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): PELAGIA KARPATHIOTAKI, Greek scholar 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): LESLIE SOEMEDI, CEO of Master Steel, Indonesia 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): CHERDCHAI CHAIVAIVID, Director-general, Department of International Economic Affairs, Thailand's Foreign Ministry 6. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): SELCUK COLAKOGLU, Director of the Turkish Center of Asia Pacific Studies 7. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): STEPHEN NDEGWA, International relations lecturer, United States International University (USIU-Africa) STORYLINE: Amid the unprecedented difficulties unseen in many decades, the 17th Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Bali and the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Bangkok grouped global leaders and w

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THAILAND-BANGKOK-CHINA-WANG YI-PERU-FM-MEETING

(221118) -- BANGKOK, Nov. 18, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Peruvian Foreign Affairs Minister Cesar Landa on the sidelines of the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

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Chinese modernization to stimulate steady development in Asia-Pacific: observers

STORY: Chinese modernization to stimulate steady development in Asia-Pacific: observers DATELINE: Nov. 18, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:13 LOCATION: Bangkok CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Thailand 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): LESLIE SOEMEDI, CEO of Master Steel, Indonesia 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CHERDCHAI CHAIVAIVID, Director-general, Department of International Economic Affairs, Thailand's Foreign Ministry 4. SOUDNBITE 3 (Thai): KRIENGKRAI THIENNUKUL, 2022 APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Chairman 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): ADEM FARAH, Vice President and General Secretary of Prosperity Party, Ethiopia 6. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): ROBERT LAWRENCE KUHN, Chairman of Kuhn Foundation 7. various of the development of China STORYLINE: The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit was held Thursday in Bangkok, Thailand. Experts have hailed China's role in driving regional economic integration, saying it will stimulate steady development in the Asia-Pacific region. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): LES

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China's role in APEC framework very important: Thai MFA Spokesperson

STORY: China's role in APEC framework very important: Thai MFA Spokesperson DATELINE: Nov. 17, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:16 LOCATION: Bangkok CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Thailand and China 2. SOUNDBITE (English): TANEE SANGRAT, Spokesperson of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs STORYLINE: The 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Thailand on Friday and Saturday. With a combined population of 2.9 billion, the 21 APEC economies account for over 60 percent of the world's total gross domestic product (GDP) and about half of world trade. Ahead of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, a spokesperson of the Thai Foreign Ministry spoke highly of China's role in the APEC discussions. SOUNDBITE (English): TANEE SANGRAT, Spokesperson, Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs "China is one of the most important partners of ASEAN countries. Thailand and China have enjoyed very close relations, almost like brothers and sisters, a family. China is the second-lar

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China making example of sustainable development to Asia-Pacific region: Thai official

STORY: China making example of sustainable development to Asia-Pacific region: Thai official DATELINE: Nov. 17, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:07 LOCATION: Bangkok CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of general views 2. SOUNDBITE (English): CHERDCHAI CHAIVAIVID, Director-general of the Department of International Economic Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of Thailand STORYLINE: A Thai official has said that China has a big say in how the Asia-Pacific region moves forward and can lead certainly by making an example to the rest of the region, especially in terms of sustainable development. SOUNDBITE (English): CHERDCHAI CHAIVAIVID, Director-general of the Department of International Economic Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of Thailand "We believe that China has a big say in how we move forward, let's put it this way, the BCG (Bio-Circular-Green) economy agenda. And the cooperation and support we have received from China for our process. So China can lead certainly by making an example to the rest of the regi

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Exhibitors see CIIE important platform to tap into market opportunities

STORY: Exhibitors see CIIE important platform to tap into market opportunities DATELINE: Nov. 10, 2022 LENGTH: 0:03:00 LOCATION: SHANGHAI, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of CIIE 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CRAIG ALLEN, President of the U.S.-China Business Council 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): FEIX SIBEL, Vice President of Bosch Thermotechnology in Asia Pacific 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ROY VAN DEN HURK, General Manager of Theland Global R&D, Milk New Zealand Dairy 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): GRACE TAO, Vice President, Tesla 6. SOUNDBITE 5 (Turkish): DEMIR SARMAN, Head of Federation of Food and Drink Industry Associations of Türkiye 7. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): LILY LONG, Vice president of Corporate Affairs and Communications, Roche Pharma China 8. SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): TANG XIAODONG, President of Karcher Greater China STORYLINE: During the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) held on Nov. 5-10 in China's economic hub Shanghai, many exhibitors expressed their welcome to the opportunities offered

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Exploring future of agriculture at 5th CIIE

STORY: Exploring future of agriculture at 5th CIIE DATELINE: Nov. 9, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:58 LOCATION: SHANGHAI, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of crops and seeds area of the CIIE 2. STANDUP 1 (English): HUANG AIPING, Xinhua correspondent 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): YUAN WEI, Deputy manager, Division of Agricultural Affairs, Bright Seedbase 4. various of vertical farm 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): YUAN WEI, Deputy manager, Division of Agricultural Affairs, Bright Seedbase 6. STANDUP 2 (English): HUANG AIPING, Xinhua correspondent 7. various of seeds 8. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LU SHIXUE, Head of Digital Agriculture Platform, Bayer Crop Science, Asia Pacific 9. various of agricultural products 10. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): LU SHIXUE, Head of Digital Agriculture Platform, Bayer Crop Science, Asia Pacific STORYLINE: STANDUP 1 (English): HUANG AIPING, Xinhua correspondent "A new feature area has been set up at the fifth CIIE, which is the crops and seeds area. I heard there are many new technologies that mig

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Import expo boosts China's high-standard opening-up

STORY: Import expo boosts China's high-standard opening-up DATELINE: Nov. 3, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:38 LOCATION: SHANGHAI, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of venues of CIIE 2. various of view in Shanghai 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): FEIX SIBEL, Vice President of Bosch Thermotechnology in Asia Pacific 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): FABRICE MEGARBANE, President of L'Oreal North Asia Zone and chief executive officer of L'Oreal China 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): FELIX WELLER, President and Managing Director, The Durant Guild 6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LILY LONG, Vice president of Corporate Affairs and Communications, Roche Pharma China 7. various of view in Shanghai STORYLINE: Representatives from a total of 145 countries, regions and international organizations will participate in the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE), which is scheduled to be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. Data show that more than 280 of the world's top 500 enterprises and industry giants will participate in this year's CIIE, w

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NATO goes far beyond its area into Asia-Pacific: scholar

STORY: NATO goes far beyond its area into Asia-Pacific: scholar DATELINE: July 1, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:20 LOCATION: Madrid CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of NATO related footage 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): GILBERT ACHCAR, Professor of School of Oriental and African Studies at University of London 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): GILBERT ACHCAR, Professor of School of Oriental and African Studies at University of London STORYLINE: The 2022 Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) wrapped up in Madrid on Thursday amid mounting criticisms of the military alliance's increasingly aggressive and destabilizing security policies unveiled at the meeting. In an explicit move to meddle in the regional affairs of the Asia-Pacific, NATO invited the leaders of Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand to attend its summit for the first time. Gilbert Achcar, a scholar from the University of London, has told Xinhua recently that NATO's new strategic concept shows the alliance is "going far bey

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China dedicated to cooperation in Asia-Pacific region

STORY: China dedicated to cooperation in Asia-Pacific region DATELINE: June 2, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:52 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of China-aided projects 2. various of anti-pandemic supplies provided by China 3. SOUNDBITE (English): JOSEPH MATTHEWS, Senior professor at BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh STORYLINE: According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for Pacific island countries, China has implemented more than 100 aid projects, delivered more than 200 batches of in-kind assistance, and trained about 10,000 talents in various fields. China has dispatched 600 medical staff to the countries, benefiting more than 260,000 local residents. In April, an athletic track and a football pitch constructed with the aid of China were handed over to the Solomon Islands. Prime minister Manasseh Sogavare has said China has become the biggest cooperative partner of the Solomon Islands on basic infrastructure and a reliable development partner, expressing tha

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U.S. House committee passes 'comfort women' resolution

WASHINGTON, United States - The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee meets on June 26 to adopt a resolution demanding an apology from Japan over the sexual exploitation of women in the Asia-Pacific region by the Japanese military during World War II. The nonbinding resolution was approved by a vote of 39-2. (Kyodo)

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APEC ministers start talks

BUSAN, South Korea - South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki Moon (L) greets Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso before the beginning of talks by foreign and trade ministers from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum on Nov. 15 in Busan, South Korea. (Kyodo)

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ASEAN, dialogue partners welcome N. Korea's denuclearization mov

MANILA, Philippines - Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso (R), U.S. assistant secretary of state foe East Asian and Pacific affairs Christopher Hill (C) and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney (R) walk into a room for an ASEAN Regional Forum dinner in Manila on Aug. 1. Foreign ministers and representatives from 16 Asia-Pacific nations and their four dialogue partners welcomed North Korea's moves so far toward denuclearization, a Japanese official said. (Kyodo)

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ARF to welcome N. Korea's denuke steps as 6-way talks gain momen

MANILA, Philippines - Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso (C), South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Song Min Soon (R) and North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun (left back to the camera) are seated for the 14th ministerial meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum in Manila on Aug. 2. The ministers from 27 Asia-Pacific nations and their dialogue partners are expected to welcome North Korea's announcement that it will implement its commitment to denuclearize itself. (Kyodo)

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China's Li and S. Korea's Ban meet in S. Korea

BUSAN, South Korea - Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing (L) shakes hands with South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki Moon before their talks Nov. 15 in Busan, South Korea, on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign and trade ministers of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. (Kyodo)

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New U.S. defense strategy to focus on energy, climate change

SINGAPORE, Singapore - U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Wallace Gregson speaks in an interview with Kyodo News in Singapore on June 6, 2010. Gregson said the U.S. Defense Department needs to seriously consider energy security, climate change and other non-traditional issues when it creates a new strategy for the Asia-Pacific region. (Kyodo)

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U.S.-China talks on Asia-Pacific issues

HONOLULU, United States - Kurt Campbell, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, speaks at a press conference in Honolulu on June 25, 2011, after attending the first U.S.-China talks on Asia-Pacific issues. (Kyodo)

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China, Taiwan policy planners hold talks on APEC sidelines

BEIJING, China - China's Taiwan Affairs Council Minister Zhang Zhijun (R) shakes hands with Wang Yu-chi, head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, on Nov. 12, 2014, in Beijing. During their meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, they agreed to negotiate on more trade pacts and set up representative offices of their quasi-official cross-strait agencies, among other things. (Kyodo)

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Taiwan's ex-vice president talks with China's president

BEIJING, China - Taiwan's former Vice President Vincent Siew (R) and Wang Yu-chi, head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, attend a news conference in Beijing on Nov. 9, 2014. They met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit. (Kyodo)

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U.S. diplomat Campbell

WASHINGTON, United States - Kurt Campbell, assistant U.S. secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, speaks at a symposium in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 13, 2011. Campbell, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, said the United States will ''play a central role'' in the Asia Pacific. (Kyodo)

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(2)APEC ministers begin talks on global trade, terrorism

BANGKOK, Thailand - Japan's Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi is greeted before an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum meeting on trade and foreign affairs in Bangkok Oct. 17. (Kyodo)

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Russia ready to help Japan resolve abductions by N. Korea

MOSCOW, Russia - Alexander Losyukov, Russia's vice foreign minister in charge of Asia-Pacific affairs, meets the press Jan. 5 in Moscow ahead of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's four-day visit to Russia beginning Jan. 7. He said Russia is prepared to help Japan resolve issues related to North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals. (Kyodo)

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S. Korea, U.S. initial revised SOFA agreement

SEOUL, South Korea - Frederick Smith (L), U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asia-Pacific Affairs, and Song Min Soon, director general for North American Affairs of the South Korea Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry shake hands in Seoul on Dec. 28 after initialing revisions to the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) covering some 37,000 U.S. military personnel stationed in South Korea.

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ARF ministers begin working dinner

BANGKOK, Thailand - (From L to R in the back row) Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono, North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun and South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minster Lee Joung Binn attend a photo session, along with other foreign ministers meeting for the ASEAN Regional Forum at a Bangkok hotel July 26. Ministers from Asia, North America and Europe began their annual discussion on security in the Asia-Pacific region during the dinner with the spotlight squarely on the North Korean delegation and developments on the Korean Peninsula.

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U.S. to keep 100,000 troops in E. Asia-Pacific: Campbell

WASHINGTON, United States - The United States is committed to maintaining about 100,000 troops in the East Asia-Pacific region given the uncertain situation there, Kurt Campbell, deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asian and Pacific affairs, says Sept. 22 in an interview with Kyodo News.