Latest news with #regional security
Arab News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan confers award on CENTCOM chief for promoting Islamabad-Washington military ties
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari this week conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) award on United States Central Command (CENTCOM) chief General Michael E. Kurilla for promoting military cooperation between the two states, state-run media said. Kurilla arrived in Pakistan to attend a rare regional defense conference on Saturday in which officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan also took part. Zardari conferred the award on General Kurilla during a formal investiture ceremony in Islamabad on Saturday, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported, acknowledging his 'outstanding contributions' to regional security and his dedicated efforts in strengthening strategic defense ties between the two countries. 'The award has been given in recognition of his exemplary service and pivotal role in advancing enduring military cooperation between Pakistan and the US,' Radio Pakistan said. The state media credited Kurilla's leadership for fostering mutual understanding, enhancing defense collaboration and deepening counterterrorism cooperation between Pakistan's armed forces and CENTCOM. Radio Pakistan said during his visit, Kurilla held detailed meetings with senior Pakistani civil and military leadership,which included Zardari and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. 'Discussions encompassed regional security, military-to-military engagement, and joint efforts to combat terrorism and emerging transnational threats,' the statement said. Pakistan has recently sought a diplomatic reset with Washington after years of estrangement between the two countries, particularly during the Afghan war, where diverging perspectives deepened mistrust. High-level bilateral exchanges gradually faded as the US withdrew from Afghanistan. However, Islamabad has undertaken efforts in recent months to grow closer to the US administration, with Pakistan even nominating President Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for brokering a ceasefire between Islamabad and New Delhi on May 10.
Jordan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Safadi, US Rubio discuss strategic Amman-Washington partnership, regional developments — ministry
AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the strategic partnership between the two countries and pressing regional developments, during a meeting in Washington on Wednesday. During the meeting, the two top diplomats reaffirmed the strong ties between Jordan and the United States, stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation across various sectors, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. Safadi expressed appreciation for the continued US support to Jordan, while Rubio highlighted Jordan's vital role in promoting regional security and stability. Talks also focused on efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, the statement said, with Safadi reiterating Jordan's support for US, Egyptian, and Qatari efforts aimed at reaching a swap agreement that would lead to a lasting ceasefire. The situation in the West Bank and Syria also featured prominently in the discussions. The two ministers reviewed progress following last week's tripartite Jordanian-American-Syrian talks hosted in Amman, particularly the implementation of a ceasefire in southern Syria's Sweida Governorate, the statement said. Rubio emphasised the need for dialogue to resolve the crisis in southern Syria and protect civilians. Safadi underlining the importance of sustaining the ceasefire, delivering aid, ensuring civilian protection, and upholding Syrian sovereignty and the rule of law throughout the country. He also stressed the importance of supporting Syria's reconstruction in a manner that safeguards its unity, sovereignty, stability, and the rights of all its citizens. Safadi and Rubio agreed to maintain coordination and communication to enhance bilateral cooperation, address regional crises, and advance peace and stability in the region.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Australia and China: Trade flows and security tensions shape ties
SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived in Shanghai on Saturday for a six-day visit to three Chinese cities where regional security tensions and economic ties are likely to dominate talks. Albanese's second visit to China, where he will meet President Xi Jinping, comes after Canberra stepped up screening of Chinese investment in critical minerals and as U.S. President Donald Trump rattles the global economy with sweeping import tariffs. Here is a timeline of relations between Australia and China over recent years: Nov 17, 2014 - Australia sealed a landmark free trade agreement with top trade partner China, concluding a decade of negotiations. It comes into effect in late 2015. Dec 5, 2017 - Australia, concerned about Chinese influence, announces a ban on foreign political donations to prevent external interference in its politics. Aug 23, 2018 - Australia bans Huawei Technologies from supplying equipment for its planned 5G broadband network, citing national security regulations. Apr 2020 - Australia seeks support for an international inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. China's then ambassador to Australia says that in response to the call, the Chinese public would boycott Australian wine, beef and tourism. Jun 9, 2020 - China urges students going overseas to think carefully before choosing Australia, citing racist incidents, threatening a $27.5 billion market for educating foreign students. Aug 2020 - Australian citizen Cheng Lei, a business anchor for Chinese state television in Beijing, is detained. Nov 27, 2020 - China announces temporary anti-dumping tariffs on Australian wine. Shipments of Australian live lobsters, timber and barley are also blocked or restricted around this time. China's embassy lists 14 grievances with Australia, including the blocking of 10 Chinese investments on national security grounds. May 22, 2022 - Australia's Labor Party, led by Albanese, wins the general election ending almost a decade of conservative rule. Nov 15, 2022 - Albanese meets Xi on the sidelines of the G20 in Indonesia. It is the first leaders' meeting since 2016. Jan 3, 2023 - China allows three government-backed utilities and its top steelmaker to resume coal imports from Australia. Aug 5, 2023 - China ends 80.5% tariffs on Australian barley. Oct 11, 2023 - China releases Australian journalist Cheng Lei after three years in a Beijing prison on national security charges. Oct 22, 2023 - China agrees to review dumping tariffs of 218% on Australian wine. Australia pauses WTO complaint. Nov 6-7, 2023 - Visiting Beijing, Albanese tells Xi and Premier Li Qiang that a strong relationship between the two countries was "beneficial into the future". Xi says stable bilateral ties served each other's interests and both countries should expand their cooperation. Jan 18, 2024 - Australia rejects comments by China's ambassador seeking to deflect blame from China's navy for the injury of Australian military divers in an incident near Japan in November. Feb 5, 2024 - A Beijing court hands Australian writer Yang Hengjun a suspended death sentence, five years after he was first detained in China and three years after a closed-door trial on espionage charges. Mar 29, 2024 - China lifts tariffs on Australian wine, triggering a surge in imports. Dec 3, 2024 - China lifts final restrictions on Australian beef. Dec 12, 2024 - Australia strikes rugby league funding deal with Papua New Guinea that is contingent on its Pacific Islands neighbour rejecting security or policing ties with China. Dec 26, 2024 - China resumes imports of Australian lobster. Feb 21, 2025 - Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong raises concerns with Chinese counterpart over inadequate notice given by the Chinese navy of a live-fire exercise in international waters between Australia and New Zealand that forced airlines to divert flights. May 3, 2025 - Albanese's Labor government is re-elected for a second term in national elections.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trade trumps geopolitics as Australia PM visits China
Australia's leader Anthony Albanese will visit China and meet with President Xi Jinping this weekend as he seeks to strengthen ties with Canberra's largest trading partner. Regional security and trade will take centre stage during the prime minister's six-day trip spanning three cities - Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. "My government will continue to cooperate with China where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in our national interest," Albanese said in a statement. The trip marks Albanese's second official visit to China - but the first since his re-election in May. It comes as countries around the world navigate US president Donald Trump's "America First" policies including tariffs. China accounts for nearly a third of Australia's total trade and "will remain so for the foreseeable future", Albanese said. "The relationship in China means jobs in Australia. It's as simple as that," he told reporters on Friday. Albanese, whose Labor Party government was re-elected with an increased majority in May, had pledged among other things to create more jobs and bring back manufacturing in Australia. Analysts say this trip signals a stabilisation of ties between Australia and China, even as Beijing has been trying to extend its military reach across the Pacific to some protest by Australia. Last month, Australia's defence minister Richard Marles called on China to explain why it needs to have "such an extraordinary military build-up". A rare Chinese military drill in the Tasman sea in February was also called "unusual" by Marles. "Both sides recognise their differences... [and] agree those differences should not define the relationship," says James Laurenceson, director of Australia-China Relations Institute. The two countries are not seeking geopolitical alignment, he said. "They need to keep the politics stable and constructive so that other parts of the relationship, like businesses, cultural organisations, universities and so on can forge ahead with engagement in their own areas." Mr Laurenceson notes, however, that Washington "will not be pleased" with Albanese's visit. But the prime minister has domestic support for this, he says. "Washington is heading in a direction so plainly contrary to Australia's interests that any [leader] seen as kowtowing to the White House would face pushback at home," he says. Beijing will continue to criticise Australia's involvement in the Aukus submarine deal with its longstanding allies, the UK and the US, observers tell the BBC, while Canberra will reiterate its commitment to the pact - even as Trump's administration has recently put the agreement under review. But disagreements over issues like Aukus will not thwart Australia's and China's relationship significantly, the observers say. And neither will other contentious topics Albanese may bring up - including China's actions in the South China Sea and the case of Australian novelist Yang Hengjun, who has been jailed and handed a suspended death sentence by Beijing on espionage charges which he denies. "This is part of a broader, understated and mature diplomacy from the current government and it does not fall into the recriminations of previous years," says Bryce Wakefield, who leads the Australian Institute for International Studies. Albanese's delegation to China includes top executives from Macquarie Bank and the Australian arm of HSBC, as well as mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, according to the Australian Financial Review. Albanese had cited green energy among the areas that Australia and China can "further engage" on. While in China, the prime minister will also meet with Premier Li Qiang and Zhao leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People' Congress. China's state newspaper Global Times says Albanese's visit "carries special significance" and shows "Australia's desire to seek more reliable partners in an uncertain world order... with China being the obvious choice". In November 2023, Albanese became the first Australian leader visit China in seven years - ending a hiatus triggered by a string of disputes including various Chinese sanctions on Australian goods, and back and forth accusations of foreign interference. Since then, his administration has managed to stabilise ties with Beijing and negotiate the end of a series of brutal tariffs.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Anthony Albanese: Trade trumps geopolitics as Australia PM visits China
Australia's leader Anthony Albanese will visit China and meet with President Xi Jinping this weekend as he seeks to strengthen ties with Canberra's largest trading security and trade will take centre stage during the prime minister's six-day trip spanning three cities - Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. "My government will continue to cooperate with China where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in our national interest," Albanese said in a trip marks Albanese's second official visit to China - but the first since his re-election in May. It comes as countries around the world navigate US president Donald Trump's "America First" policies including tariffs. China accounts for nearly a third of Australia's total trade and "will remain so for the foreseeable future", Albanese said."The relationship in China means jobs in Australia. It's as simple as that," he told reporters on whose Labor Party government was re-elected with an increased majority in May, had pledged among other things to create more jobs and bring back manufacturing in say this trip signals a stabilisation of ties between Australia and China, even as Beijing has been trying to extend its military reach across the Pacific to some protest by Australia. Last month, Australia's defence minister Richard Marles called on China to explain why it needs to have "such an extraordinary military build-up".A rare Chinese military drill in the Tasman sea in February was also called "unusual" by Marles. "Both sides recognise their differences... [and] agree those differences should not define the relationship," says James Laurenceson, director of Australia-China Relations two countries are not seeking geopolitical alignment, he said. "They need to keep the politics stable and constructive so that other parts of the relationship, like businesses, cultural organisations, universities and so on can forge ahead with engagement in their own areas."Mr Laurenceson notes, however, that Washington "will not be pleased" with Albanese's visit. But the prime minister has domestic support for this, he says."Washington is heading in a direction so plainly contrary to Australia's interests that any [leader] seen as kowtowing to the White House would face pushback at home," he will continue to criticise Australia's involvement in the Aukus submarine deal with its longstanding allies, the UK and the US, observers tell the BBC, while Canberra will reiterate its commitment to the pact - even as Trump's administration has recently put the agreement under review. But disagreements over issues like Aukus will not thwart Australia's and China's relationship significantly, the observers say. And neither will other contentious topics Albanese may bring up - including China's actions in the South China Sea and the case of Australian novelist Yang Hengjun, who has been jailed and handed a suspended death sentence by Beijing on espionage charges which he denies."This is part of a broader, understated and mature diplomacy from the current government and it does not fall into the recriminations of previous years," says Bryce Wakefield, who leads the Australian Institute for International delegation to China includes top executives from Macquarie Bank and the Australian arm of HSBC, as well as mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, according to the Australian Financial had cited green energy among the areas that Australia and China can "further engage" in China, the prime minister will also meet with Premier Li Qiang and Zhao leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People' state newspaper Global Times says Albanese's visit "carries special significance" and shows "Australia's desire to seek more reliable partners in an uncertain world order... with China being the obvious choice". In November 2023, Albanese became the first Australian leader visit China in seven years - ending a hiatus triggered by a string of disputes including various Chinese sanctions on Australian goods, and back and forth accusations of foreign then, his administration has managed to stabilise ties with Beijing and negotiate the end of a series of brutal tariffs.
