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The Star
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Colombian foreign minister resigns amid passport printing row
FILE PHOTO: Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia attends a press conference for a ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, in Beijing, China May 13, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/Pool/File Photo BOGOTA (Reuters) -Colombia's Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia announced her resignation on Thursday, as President Gustavo Petro's government faces turbulence over an administrative dispute involving the printing of national passports. Sarabia had expressed dissatisfaction with the government's decision to alter a previous passport printing agreement. "In the last few days, decisions have been made that I do not agree with," Sarabia wrote in a post on X, adding that she had decided to resign out of "personal coherence and institutional respect." Sarabia, who had previously served as Petro's chief of staff, was named the South American country's top diplomat by the leftist president in January. (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; Editing by Gabriel Araujo)
Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Colombian foreign minister resigns amid passport printing row
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia attends a press conference for a ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, in Beijing, China May 13, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/Pool/File Photo BOGOTA - Colombia's Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia announced her resignation on Thursday, as President Gustavo Petro's government faces turbulence over an administrative dispute involving the printing of national passports. Sarabia had expressed dissatisfaction with the government's decision to alter a previous passport printing agreement. "In the last few days, decisions have been made that I do not agree with," Sarabia wrote in a post on X, adding that she had decided to resign out of "personal coherence and institutional respect." Sarabia, who had previously served as Petro's chief of staff, was named the South American country's top diplomat by the leftist president in January. REUTERS
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First Post
18-06-2025
- Business
- First Post
Xi signs new treaty to deepen China's Central Asia outreach as ‘world enters new period of turbulence'
At a regional summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana on Tuesday, Xi, lauding a milestone, signed a treaty of 'permanent good-neighbourliness and friendly cooperation' with leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan read more China's President Xi Jinping delivers a speech during the opening ceremony for the China-CELAC Forum ministerial meeting in Beijing, China May 13, 2025. Source: Reuters China President Xi Jinping signed a treaty to elevate ties with Central Asian nations on Tuesday, as Beijing looks to further deepen cooperation on trade, energy and infrastructure with the resource-rich region. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Beijing has been stepping up efforts to boost economic links with Central Asian nations traditionally within Russia's sphere of influence, drawn by their strategic location and energy resources. At a regional summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana on Tuesday, Xi, lauding a milestone, signed a treaty of 'permanent good-neighbourliness and friendly cooperation' with leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, China's official Xinhua news agency reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The summit this week is the second such gathering, following the pomp-filled, inaugural gathering in northwest China in 2023. Both occasions have coincided with meetings of G7 leaders. 'At present, the world is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, entering a new period of turbulence and transformation,' Xinhua quoted Xi as saying in a speech at the summit. 'Trade wars and tariff wars produce no winners, and unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism are bound to harm both others and oneself,' he said, in a thinly veiled swipe at the United States that had engaged in escalating tariffs with Beijing. 'China is ready to work with Central Asian countries to safeguard international justice, oppose hegemonism and power politics,' Xi said. He also pledged 1.5 billion yuan ($208.86 million) in grant assistance to the Central Asian countries this year to support their livelihood and development projects, and called for more cooperation in areas including trade, minerals and agriculture. Despite a trade truce with the U.S., Beijing has been keen to consolidate relations with its regional partners. China's two-way trade with the five Central Asian countries reached a record 286.42 billion yuan in the first five months this year, a 10.4% year-on-year increase, Xinhua reported citing the Chinese Customs. Turkmenistan, a major supplier of natural gas for China, is the only Central Asian nation with a trade surplus with China. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan's trade deficits with China run into the tens of billions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Energy, mineral cooperation In separate bilateral meetings with the regional leaders, Xi called for expanded cooperation in natural gas, minerals, international railway and law enforcement, according to summaries posted by the Chinese foreign ministry. In meetings with the Uzbek and Kyrgyz presidents on Tuesday, he urged progress on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, an overland route bypassing Russia. The project has been discussed since the 1990s but gained new importance after the sanctions on Russia resulted in shippers between China and Europe avoiding sending goods via Russia. The five former Soviet republics offer China alternative routes to secure fuel and food in the event of disruptions elsewhere. In the long-term, the Central Asia route could potentially help cut freight transport times between China and Europe. In a separate meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhamedov, Xi said 'both sides should expand the scale of natural gas cooperation, explore cooperation in non-resource fields, and optimize trade structure.' (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Colombia's Petro threatens labor reform by referendum as congressional deadline looms
Placards in support of Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay of the opposition Democratic Center party, who was shot during a campaign event, are displayed at the Congress, on the day of a debate on a labor reform proposed by Colombian President Gustavo Petro's government, in Bogota, Colombia, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Nathalia Angarita Colombia President Gustavo Petro attends a group photo session before the opening ceremony for the China-CELAC Forum ministerial meeting in Beijing, China May 13, 2025. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Pool/File Photo BOGOTA - Colombia's leftist President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday signed a decree to hold a referendum on labor reforms, an attempt to force the Senate to vote on a proposal on the matter before their session wraps up later this month. The referendum proposal seeks to limit the working day, increase the surcharge for Sunday and holiday work from 75% to 100% and require social security payments for delivery app drivers. The Senate is currently debating a modified labor reform, after in May rejecting a 12-question version of the referendum in a tight 49 to 47 vote, which Petro later alleged was fraudulent. The legislature's current session ends on June 20. Petro and his interior minister, Armando Benedetti, said that if the reform passed, the referendum would be called off. If the referendum were to be held, each measure would need to be approved by the majority of at least 13.5 million voters, a third of Colombia's electoral roll, to be valid. Opposition parties have said Petro's decree is tantamount to a coup, violates the country's constitution and destroys the separation of powers of Colombia's three branches of government. Analysts have warned, meanwhile, that the decree could face legal challenges, including in the Constitutional Court. A majority of the social and economic reforms promised by Petro - who was elected in 2022 on pledges to right centuries of inequality in the Andean country - have been rejected by lawmakers. Colombia will hold legislative and presidential elections in the first half of 2026. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Express Tribune
04-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
China's role in shaping future of global governance
Since its establishment 80 years ago, the United Nations (UN) had been pivotal in preserving the postwar international order, managing crises, delivering humanitarian aid, and promoting sustainable development. As a founding member, China had significantly contributed to these efforts. According to political analyst Yi Fan, China had honored its commitment to the UN and played an integral part in the evolution of the global order. However, as noted by the commentator, certain UN member states had found themselves casting blame on the very world order they helped construct. Despite this, China had remained steadfast in adhering to the principles of the UN Charter, striving to ensure that the global governance system was just, equitable, and responsive to the needs of all nations, particularly those from the Global South. A firm vote for a multipolar world In Yi Fan's view, a fundamental principle of the UN Charter was the equality of all nations. In a multipolar world, each country, regardless of its power or influence, should have an equal voice. Chilean President Gabriel Boric emphasized this during the China-CELAC Forum, acknowledging the respect that China showed to other countries. This respect, as the political analyst pointed out, was not just symbolic but had been translated into tangible actions. He further observed that developing nations had often been excluded from key decision-making processes, their voices drowned out. Chinese President Xi Jinping had echoed this sentiment at the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, emphasizing China's ongoing support for the interests of developing countries. Over the past decade, the commentator noted, China had continually acted on its pledge to amplify the representation and voices of the Global South. China's role in initiatives like the BRICS forum exemplified its dedication to fostering inclusive dialogue. The political analyst also critiqued those who opposed multipolarity, asserting that it was not the root cause of global instability. According to Yi Fan, multipolarity was a solution to an imbalanced world order, not a cause of unrest. The turbulence seen at the time was more a result of a "We First" mentality that disregarded the needs of others. Yi Fan believed that the true cause of global challenges lay not in multipolarity but in the failure to effectively implement the UN Charter's principles. For the UN to fulfill its mission, the commentator argued, all nations had to adhere to international law, uphold the norms of international relations, and embrace the goals outlined in the UN Charter. Only by collectively following these principles could the UN guide the world toward peace, development, and justice for all. Economic globalization: a vast ocean of interdependence The global economy had become increasingly interconnected, resembling an ocean where a ripple from one side could affect distant shores. As Yi Fan explained, China had been a driving force behind this interconnected world economy. Since integrating into the global economic system, China had championed mutually beneficial economic globalization. At the time, China contributed more than 30 percent of global growth and 20 percent of global trade. The political analyst argued that China had viewed interdependence as a partnership, not rivalry. Unlike the United States, which had often used tariffs as a tool against its trading partners, China had consistently supported free trade, cooperating with countries around the world. China's decision to extend zero-tariff treatment to 43 least-developed countries further demonstrated its commitment to supporting the most vulnerable nations. Furthermore, Yi Fan observed that China had advocated for reform within the World Trade Organization (WTO), seeking to build a system based on openness, inclusivity, and non-discrimination. Through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, China had promoted infrastructure development and improved the livelihoods of more than 4.4 billion people in 65 countries. Additionally, the political analyst highlighted China's leadership in spearheading international cooperation in cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence, where a UN General Assembly resolution proposed by China aimed to foster innovation and collaborative progress. Yi Fan cautioned against isolationist tendencies, suggesting that the solution to global economic challenges lay in cooperation, not retreat. The future of the global economy, he argued, was built on shared efforts, not on going it alone. Looking toward the future: hope over hazard As the UN marked its 80th anniversary, Yi Fan underscored that the decisions made at that time would have a lasting impact on the future of global governance. Guided by its commitment to equality and cooperation, China had remained determined to ensure the international system benefited all nations. The commentator concluded by reiterating that China's vision for a multipolar world—one built on mutual respect and shared prosperity—offered hope for a more balanced and just global order. In his reflection, Yi Fan emphasized that global governance should not have been about dominating others, but about growing together toward a future where all nations could thrive. He believed that the UN Charter's principles, when fully embraced, would lead humanity toward a future of cooperation, peace, and sustainable development.
