BEIJING: China imposed export controls on 10 US companies involved in defense and rare earths mining in response to Washington&#39;s blacklist of Chinese firms, Beijing said Monday. The move comes a month after US President Donald Trump visited Beijing, seeking to stabilise fraught relations during talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Although the countries agreed to work towards reducing tariffs, ties have since been tested as both sides stunt the other in tech and defense. Washington released a new blacklist this month of 80 companies and their subsidiaries it said were aiding the Chinese military. That saw tech giants Alibaba and Baidu added, as well as electric vehicle giant BYD, prompting Beijing to threaten retaliation. China&#39;s new export controls come &quot;in response to the US government&#39;s egregious act of adding to its so-called &#39;Chinese military enterprise list&#39;&quot;, the commerce ministry said in a statement, adding the move was also to &quot;safeguard national security.&quot; The 10 entities include Aveox, which holds aerospace defense contracts with the US military, and Oshkosh Defense, which produces military vehicle fleets. It also lists US rare earths producers MP Materials and USA Rare Earth. Exporters are prohibited from providing dual-use items to the listed entities, China&#39;s commerce ministry said, adding that &quot;any relevant export activities currently underway must cease immediately.&quot; The ban also applies to &quot;organisations or individuals in any country or region... transferring or providing dual-use items originating in China to said entities,&quot; it said. China&#39;s finance ministry simultaneously announced a ban on agencies involved in public procurement from buying products made by 46 US firms, including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Boeing&#39;s defense division. Also listed were divisions of General Dynamics and Anduril Industries, which are major US military contractors, and several aerospace firms. Companies with US investments operating in China are excluded, according to a statement from the finance ministry, which said measures would take effect from Monday. China&#39;s commerce ministry had already sanctioned a number of those firms and their subsidiaries, both in 2024 and 2025, over US arms sales to Taiwan. Taipei relies heavily on Washington&#39;s support to counter growing pressure from Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out seizing it by force. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this month a proposed US$14 billion arms package to Taiwan was &quot;under review&quot;. Since he met with Xi in May, Trump has sought to publicly present an image of strong bilateral ties. Trump thanked the Chinese leader at the G7 conference in France last week for staying &quot;neutral&quot; in the United States&#39; conflict with Iran, as the countries adopted an initial ceasefire.

Flags of the United States and China are displayed. (File photo: Missouri State University)

China

New export controls come "in response to the US government's egregious act of adding to its so-called 'Chinese military enterprise list'", the commerce ministry said in a statement, adding the move was also to "safeguard national security".

China sanctions 10 US firms over Pentagon blacklist

BEIJING: Chinese exports surged almost a fifth last month, official data showed Tuesday, as the world&#39;s second-largest economy weathered pressure from the Middle East war. Overseas shipments from the manufacturing powerhouse jumped 19.4% from the same period last year, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said. That figure beat the 15.0% forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists, and picked up pace from April&#39;s 14.1% increase. Imports soared 27.4% year-on-year in May, topping the 26.0% estimated in the Bloomberg survey. Exports to the United States surged 35.4% on-year, as President Donald Trump visited Beijing with trade high on the agenda. Shipments to the world&#39;s biggest economy hit $39 billion, according to the GAC, up from $28.8 billion in the same month last year, when they plunged during Trump&#39;s trade war. Trade gains The trade gains are a bright spot for the Chinese economy, which has struggled to shift drivers of growth away from manufacturing to domestic consumption. But weaker demand and rising energy costs caused by the Middle East war have started to weigh on growth. China&#39;s factory activity was flat last month after two months of expansion, official data showed. The country&#39;s factories are facing higher costs with the prices of raw materials rising, particularly in the energy and chemical sectors, as shipping constraints remain a problem.

This aerial photo shows a general view of containers at Qingdao port, in China’s eastern Shandong province on June 5, 2026. (Photo by CN-STR / AFP) / CHINA OUT

Business

China’s exports and imports surged in May, beating forecasts and boosted by strong US demand, though rising energy costs and weaker domestic demand continue to pressure the economy.

China says exports jump 19.4% on-year in May, beating forecasts

SEOUL: Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday that Beijing&#39;s friendship with Pyongyang was &quot;invincible&quot; and pledged closer cooperation, North Korean state media reported, as Xi prepared to visit the North for the first time in seven years. &quot;No matter how the times change or how the international situation evolves, the traditional friendship between China and North Korea will always remain invincible,&quot; Xi wrote in an article featured on the front page of Rodong Sinmun newspaper.

Asia

Chinese President Xi Jinping says that Beijing's friendship with Pyongyang is 'invincible,' pledging closer cooperation.

China's Xi says friendship with North Korea 'invincible' ahead of visit

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: China is fast advancing its ambitious program to become the world&#39;s first major economy to commercialize 6G technology, widening its lead in next-generation telecommunications as the United States and parts of Europe continue to focus on expanding existing 5G networks. In a breakthrough, a Chinese aerospace company, Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co, recently announced the successful transmission of 6G satellite data to Earth at a speed of 100 gigabytes per second, using laser communication technology.&nbsp; According to the company, the speed is fast enough to download around 10 full-length movies in just one second. China&#39;s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has also launched a nationwide pilot program for 6G innovation and development, bringing together provincial governments, research institutions, universities and technology firms.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 793px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1875647942582780245&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=76c4416628b71497f40202872aafdba5211dda33&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The initiative aims to accelerate research in areas such as artificial intelligence integration, satellite internet, wireless sensing, advanced chips, operating systems and next-generation network equipment. Beijing has approved trial spectrum in the 6GHz band for 6G testing. It plans to develop independent 6G technical solutions by 2029, laying the groundwork for commercial deployment before the end of the decade.&nbsp; Industry experts say China currently enjoys a significant advantage over many Western countries.&nbsp; 6G in USA and EuropeWhile China, Japan and South Korea are aggressively investing in 6G research, several European telecom operators have adopted a more cautious approach due to slower returns from 5G investments.&nbsp; Analysts also note that the United States remains active in 6G research but has yet to match China&#39;s scale of infrastructure deployment and coordinated national strategy. Experts believe 6G could deliver speeds and reliability between 10 and 100 times greater than 5G while enabling transformative technologies such as holographic communications, digital twins, autonomous systems and intelligent industrial networks. With extensive government support and the world&#39;s largest 5G ecosystem already in place, China appears well-positioned to shape the future global standards of 6G communications. What is 6G?6G, or sixth-generation wireless technology, is the successor to 5G and is expected to become commercially available around 2030.&nbsp; It is designed to deliver data speeds 10 to 100 times faster than 5G, with ultra-low latency, greater reliability and significantly improved network capacity.&nbsp; Unlike 5G, which mainly connects smartphones, devices, and industrial systems, 6G aims to seamlessly integrate artificial intelligence, satellite communications, sensing technologies, and cloud computing into a single network.&nbsp; This will enable advanced applications such as holographic communication, real-time digital twins, autonomous transportation, immersive extended reality (XR), smart factories, and globally connected intelligent systems across land, sea, air, and space.

Artificial Intelligence

A Chinese aerospace company recently announced the successful transmission of 6G satellite data to Earth at a speed of 100 gigabytes per second using laser communication technology. 

China races ahead in global 6G push, eyes commercial rollout before 2030

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea next week, state media said Friday, the latest in a series of high-level summits as Beijing asserts its position as a diplomatic superpower on the world stage. State broadcaster CCTV said that Xi would visit from June 8 to 9 at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, his first trip to Pyongyang in seven years. Beijing is a vital source of political and economic support to North Korea, which is one of the most diplomatically isolated countries in the world and under heavy international sanctions. The upcoming meeting will be Xi&#39;s first official trip abroad this year, and comes after he hosted back-to-back summits with US President Donald Trump and Russia&#39;s Vladimir Putin last month. &quot;China is meeting leaders from around the world, coordinating positions and playing a mediating role,&quot; Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at South Korea&#39;s Kyungnam University, told AFP. &quot;As China&#39;s international standing rises, Beijing is likely seeking to draw Pyongyang more actively into its diplomatic orbit as a partner in advancing a more multilateral order.&quot; Pyongyang depends on China for up to 95% of total trade and 85% of its exports, according to 2022 statistics from the National Committee on North Korea, a Washington-based think tank. But North Korea has drawn closer to Russia in recent years, particularly since Moscow&#39;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Pyongyang sending thousands of troops and weapons to support the war effort. In return, analysts say North Korea is receiving financial aid, military technology, food, and energy, helping it circumvent sanctions over its banned nuclear programmes. Xi&#39;s choice of Pyongyang for his first overseas trip of 2026 is &quot;a deliberate visual rebuttal to the prevailing read in Western capitals that Pyongyang had quietly migrated into Moscow&#39;s orbit&quot;, said Seong-Hyon Lee from the George H. W. Bush Foundation for US-China Relations. Managing the relationshipXi last met Kim in September, when he invited the North Korean leader and Russia&#39;s Vladimir Putin as guests of honor to a military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over imperial Japan in World War II. In 2019, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan were welcomed to North Korea with great pomp and fanfare to celebrate the two countries&#39; &quot;unbreakable friendship&quot;. Prior to that trip, no Chinese leader had visited the North since Hu Jintao in 2005. Beijing&#39;s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a visit to Pyongyang in April that China and Korea should &quot;enhance coordination&quot; on international and regional issues and &quot;maintain close communication and interaction&quot;. China&#39;s interests include keeping an eye on North Korea&#39;s nuclear programme, the advancement of which is &quot;extremely rapid&quot;, Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) told AFP. &quot;This aspect needs to be managed. If North Korea acts in a provocative and belligerent manner, it could trigger regional conflict, which could run counter to China&#39;s interests,&quot; Hong said. Kim vowed an &quot;exponential&quot; increase in nuclear military capabilities on Wednesday as he visited a new atomic facility, Pyongyang&#39;s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported. South Korea&#39;s foreign ministry has said it hopes exchanges between North Korea and China contribute to peace and stability, and that China can play a constructive role. Pyongyang has repeatedly shunned efforts by the South Korean government to improve relations, calling Seoul its most &quot;hostile&quot; adversary. Traditional US allies, including Britain&#39;s Keir Starmer and France&#39;s Emmanuel Macron, have also come to Beijing. However, Hong, of KINU, judged the chances that Xi might help broker a meeting between Trump and Kim as &quot;very low&quot;.

This June 21, 2019 picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on June 22, 2019 shows China's President Xi Jinping (centre R) speaking with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (front L) upon his departure at the airport in P

State broadcaster CCTV said that Xi would visit from June 8 to 9 at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, his first trip to Pyongyang in seven years.



China's Xi to visit North Korea next week

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Muhammad Sadiq, said Tuesday he held talks with a senior Chinese diplomat in Islamabad on regional security challenges, including concerns over terrorist groups operating from neighboring Afghanistan. Sadiq, in a post on X, said&nbsp;he welcomed Chinese Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong and his delegation for discussions focused on strengthening coordination and synchronized counterterrorism efforts. He said the two sides exchanged views on &quot;threats posed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) operating from Afghan soil&quot;.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2061509383318851946&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4092%2F&sessionId=4a0186208528240165a547fa581bdc21a9f15b22&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Both sides agreed to &quot;strengthen coordination &amp; synchronize counter-terrorism efforts to protect regional peace &amp; stability,&quot; Sadiq said.&nbsp;

Foreign Affairs

Both sides discussed regional security challenges, particularly threats posed by the TTP and ETIM from Afghan soil, and agreed to strengthen coordination and synchronize counterterrorism efforts to promote lasting peace and stability across the region.

Pakistan, China discuss Afghan-based terror threats, strengthen counterterrorism cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s strong commitment to multilateralism, equitable global governance, and international cooperation while addressing the Meeting of the Group of Friends of Global Governance on Thursday. Speaking on the topic &ldquo;Reforming and Improving Global Governance; Working Together to Address Global Challenges&rdquo;, Dar commended China&rsquo;s leadership for its steadfast commitment to strengthening multilateralism and revitalizing international cooperation amid growing global uncertainty. Highlighting the challenges confronting the international community, the deputy prime minister referred to protracted conflicts, climate emergencies, rising inequalities, debt distress, food and energy insecurity, and governance challenges posed by emerging technologies. He said unilateralism and the selective application of international law were undermining global stability and weakening confidence in collective action, stressing the urgent need for renewed solidarity and a stronger global governance system anchored in the principles of the United Nations Charter.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 877px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2060066787627348103&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=f97d0ae85c8d94d844b46d4d70da19e771007333&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Dar emphasized that Pakistan and China stood united in support of a just and inclusive international order based on international law and centered on the United Nations.&nbsp; He described Pakistan-China relations as an enduring partnership built on mutual trust, strategic cooperation, and shared perspectives on key global issues. The deputy prime minister expressed Pakistan&rsquo;s full support for President Xi Jinping&rsquo;s Global Governance Initiative, calling it a timely and forward-looking framework to address contemporary global governance challenges. He also stressed the importance of reforming the UN Security Council to make it more democratic, representative, and accountable, particularly by ensuring adequate representation of small and medium-sized states. Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to international peace and cooperation, Dar said Pakistan would continue working closely with China and other global partners to promote equitable development, uphold international law, and strengthen multilateral cooperation worldwide.

Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism, UN reforms, and China’s Global Governance Initiative during the Group of Friends of Global Governance meeting held on May 28, 2025.

Pakistan FM reaffirms support for China’s global governance vision at UN meeting

BEIJING: China&#39;s top diplomat Wang Yi will visit Canada next week, seeking to build &quot;a new type of strategic partnership&quot;, Beijing said Friday. Wang will visit Canada from May 28 to 30, the first time a Chinese foreign minister has done so in 10 years, according to a government statement. China&#39;s ties with Canada have improved recently as the latter&#39;s relations with traditional ally Washington have soured, with Prime Minister Mark Carney visiting Beijing in January. Wang&#39;s trip &quot;is of great significance for consolidating the positive momentum in the improvement of bilateral relations&quot;, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news briefing Friday. &quot;China&ndash;Canada relations are currently undergoing a transition and continuing to improve, with both sides working to build a new type of strategic partnership,&quot; Guo said. Carney&#39;s winter trip to Beijing was one of a steady stream by foreign leaders hoping to woo China as they recoil from US President Donald Trump&#39;s mercurial policies and trade tariffs. Carney secured what he called a &quot;landmark trade agreement&quot; following talks with leader Xi Jinping, which has since seen China reduce anti-dumping duties on rapeseed imported from Canada. Beijing also temporarily lowered some tariffs on Canadian goods, while Ottawa agreed to import 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles under preferential tariffs. Wang will hold talks on advancing agreements reached between the two countries in January during his trip, spokesman Guo said. The trip will promote &quot;the development of a truly productive new China&ndash;Canada strategic partnership&quot;, Guo added.

China's President Xi Jinping (L) speaks next to China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd L) during a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)

Americas

Wang Yi is set to visit Canada from May 28 to 30, marking the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister in 10 years as Ottawa and Beijing move toward 'a new type of strategic partnership.'

China's top diplomat to boost 'new partnership' with Canada visit

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is seeking to establish a sustained presence in China&rsquo;s domestic capital markets after successfully completing its inaugural Panda Bond issuance, Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb said Friday in Beijing. Addressing the inaugural Panda Bond Issuance Ceremony at the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing, Aurangzeb described the transaction as &quot;far more than the completion of a financial transaction,&quot; saying it marked &quot;the beginning of a new chapter in Pakistan&rsquo;s economic and financial engagement with China in the context of international capital markets.&quot; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 696px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2055235741668852144&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=9a4935cb81f782164d64a139f9a69f4d32c243db&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> Pakistan raised 1.75 billion yuan ($250 million) through the three-year fixed-rate bond, its first sovereign yuan-denominated issuance in China&rsquo;s onshore market, which officials said attracted subscriptions exceeding five times the amount offered. &quot;The debut issuance of CNY 1.75 billion experienced an overwhelmingly positive response, was over-subscribed by five times, and closed at a coupon rate of 2.5%,&quot; Aurangzeb said. The finance minister said Pakistan had established a 7.2 billion yuan Panda Bond program following two years of engagement with Chinese regulators, financial institutions, development partners and market participants. &quot;Our goal was clear: to establish Pakistan&rsquo;s long-term presence in the Chinese capital markets and to create a sustainable platform for future sovereign issues,&quot; Aurangzeb said. The issuance marks Pakistan&rsquo;s first entry into China&rsquo;s domestic bond market and forms part of Islamabad&rsquo;s broader strategy to diversify external financing sources beyond conventional dollar-denominated borrowing. &quot;We have previously accessed the Eurobond market, US markets, and Islamic Sukuk markets, but accessing the Chinese capital market, the second largest and second deepest capital market in the world, was long overdue,&quot; the minister said. Aurangzeb said the transaction reflected growing confidence among Chinese institutions and investors in Pakistan&rsquo;s economic reforms and macroeconomic trajectory. &quot;This achievement is far more than the completion of a financial transaction; it reflects trust, partnership, innovation, financial collaboration, and our shared commitment to sustainable development and regional connectivity,&quot; he said. Pakistan became the first South Asian country to issue a Panda Bond, a milestone Aurangzeb linked to the growing maturity of economic cooperation between Islamabad and Beijing as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic relations. The minister said proceeds from the issuance would support sustainable development initiatives, including projects in water, social infrastructure and education, describing the transaction as Pakistan&rsquo;s first sustainable green Panda Bond. Speaking on the economy, Aurangzeb said Pakistan was witnessing &ldquo;renewed stability, disciplined reforms, and forward-looking transformation,&rdquo; citing improvements in inflation, foreign exchange reserves, fiscal consolidation and external-sector stability. He also reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to the International Monetary Fund reform programme, saying adherence to fiscal and structural reforms had strengthened market confidence and macroeconomic foundations. Aurangzeb said the government intended to expand its engagement with Chinese capital markets following the strong response to the debut issuance. &quot;This achievement is only the beginning,&quot; he said. &ldquo;We were always clear that we were not here for just one single trade.&quot; &quot;The overwhelming response, being five times oversubscribed, has guided us to issue the RFP for the next tranches right away,&quot; the minister added.&nbsp; &quot;We want to be regular issuers in the Chinese capital markets.&quot;

Economy

Finance minister says the oversubscribed issuance reflects investor confidence in Pakistan’s economic reforms, with authorities planning future yuan-denominated bond sales to expand financing sources and strengthen long-term access to Asian capital markets.

In Beijing, Pakistan declares Panda Bond ‘beginning of new chapter’

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE: US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would ask President Xi Jinping to &quot;open up&quot; China to US business when the two meet in Beijing this week for high-stakes talks. &quot;I will be asking President Xi, a Leader of extraordinary distinction, to &#39;open up&#39; China so that these brilliant people can work their magic, and help bring the People&#39;s Republic to an even higher level!&quot; Trump wrote on social media, referring to US business CEOs accompanying him on the trip. US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet in Beijing on May 14-15, a summit that was delayed in March following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran.&nbsp; It marks the first state visit to China from a US president since 2017, when Trump was first in office. Geopolitical tensions, particularly trade, Taiwan, the Iran war, and artificial intelligence, loom over the upcoming meeting. Meanwhile, the global economy continues to feel the effects of soaring oil and gas prices from the Strait of Hormuz blockade and the fragile trade truce between the United States and China.

Says that during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14-15, he would ask his Chinese counterpart to open the country to US business.

Trump says will ask Xi to 'open up' China to US business

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari&nbsp;presided over the commissioning of Pakistan Navy&rsquo;s first Hangor-class submarine at a ceremony in China,&nbsp;marking a major milestone in the country&rsquo;s naval modernization and defense capabilities. The commissioning ceremony of PNS/M Hangor was held in Sanya, China, said a press release issued by Pakistan&#39;s military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on Thursday. The president graced the occasion as the chief guest; Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, was also present.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2049751695882866954&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=23264f8a27cf403d3f3388e07ebb952ffab9bb6f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 568px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> President Zardari described the commissioning of Hangor as a historic milestone in Pakistan Navy&#39;s modernization, affirming Pakistan&#39;s resolve to maintain a robust, balanced and credible defense posture.&nbsp; He said that Pakistan is fully capable of defending its sovereignty, protecting its maritime interests and ensuring the security of its economic lifelines. Need for&nbsp;technologically advanced forcesAdmiral Naveed Ashraf&nbsp;highlighted that disruptions at critical maritime chokepoints increasingly threaten global trade and energy security, and that maintaining a stable, rule-based maritime order demands technologically advanced naval forces.&nbsp; He said that Hangor-class submarines -- armed with state-of-the-art weapons, advanced sensors and air-independent propulsion -- will be key in preserving maritime order and stability in the region.&nbsp; These submarines will play a pivotal role in deterring aggression and ensuring the security of vital Sea Lines of Communication across the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean region. The naval chief reiterated that the name Hangor holds a significant place in our national history. In 1971, earlier Hangor became the first submarine since World War II to sink a warship.&nbsp; PNS/M Hangor will carry this illustrious legacy forward, as this is an important milestone for Pakistan Navy that will bolster our maritime defense and modernize our fleet with cutting-edge technology. The commissioning of the 1st Hangor-class submarine marks another chapter in the time-tested and enriching friendship between Pakistan and China.&nbsp; The ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Pakistan Navy and the PLA (Navy). Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, congratulated the nation and the Pakistan Navy on achieving this historic milestone.

Security

President Zardari describes the commissioning as a historic milestone in Pakistan Navy's modernization; affirms Islamabad's resolve to maintaining a robust, balanced and credible defense posture.

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