Page 3 of 63 FirstFirst 12345678910111353 ... LastLast
Results 51 to 75 of 1574

Thread: Eurasia Topics

  1. #51
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    Pakistan shoots down 2 Indian aircraft inside its airspace – military


    "Pakistan shot down two Indian Air Force aircraft after they crossed into its airspace, the army said. One aircraft fell on the Pakistani-controlled area, and two pilots were arrested on the ground.

    The Pakistani Air Force downed “two Indian aircrafts inside Pakistani airspace” after they crossed the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, the army’s spokesperson, Major General Asif Ghafoor, tweeted.

    Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor @OfficialDGISPR

    In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts inside Pakistani airspace. One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while other fell inside IOK. One Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground while two in the area.

    76.5K

    1:19 PM - Feb 27, 2019
    Twitter Ads info and privacy
    58.7K people are talking about this

    “One Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground while two in the area,” he wrote.

    According to the spokesperson, one aircraft fell inside the Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir, while the other went down inside the territory controlled by India.

    Ghafoor later stated in a press briefing that two pilots were “recovered and provided all necessary medical treatment.”

    A video, released by Radio Pakistan, shows what appears to be an arrested pilot blindfolded and with his hands tied behind his back.

    Pakistan also claimed it conducted airstrikes into Indian-held Kashmir.
    At the same time, media had reported on an Indian Mi-17 military helicopter crashing inside the Indian-controlled area of Kashmir. It is not clear if it was one of the aircraft downed by Pakistan.

    Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated dramatically on Wednesday with reports of cross-border shelling along the Line of Control in Kashmir. Pakistani officials said that at least four civilians were killed from mortar fire. The Indian Army said that five of its soldiers were wounded during the shelling from Pakistan."


    https://www.rt.com/news/452520-india-pakistan-aircraft-shot-down/

    One can only hope this does not escalate further.
    A tray full of GOLD is not worth a moment in time.

  2. #52
    last farang standing
    Hugh Cow's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Last Online
    15-03-2024 @ 01:44 PM
    Location
    Qld/Bangkok
    Posts
    4,110
    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    utilising the star posters evasive posts as standard:



    and

    Eurasia Topics-deflection-gif

    I refer you back to my previous posts on this topic .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .......................

    (DOS Error Message: Too many to list, BULLSHIT overflow warning, re-booting)
    (DOS Error Message: Too many to list, BULLSHIT overflow warning, re-booting)
    (DOS Error Message: Too many to list, BULLSHIT overflow warning, re-booting)
    (DOS Error Message: Too many to list, BULLSHIT overflow warning, re-booting)
    (DOS Error Message: Too many to list, BULLSHIT overflow warning, re-booting)
    Fixed the DOS error for you

  3. #53
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    Thanks, I nearly let aThai technician have a go.

  4. #54
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    A link to a video of the Indian pilot shot down yesterday talking to his captors. Apparently enjoying Pakistani tea.

    The coroner's report will be provided by 'arry shortly.

    https://twitter.com/JeremyMcLellan/status/1100740945606266880



  5. #55
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    Somebody tell the Ents no twigs, leaves, bows or trunks were hurt in the bombings.


  6. #56
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    If you hear this on the wind run for your lives.


  7. #57
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    Do not barter away national security interests


    "There has been an avalanche of reports in the international media quoting western diplomats and security officials to the effect that India’s “intelligence-led… non-military preemptive strike” on a big terrorist camp in Pakistan on February 26 was all baloney. Apparently, these reports say, there was so such terrorist camp in existence in Balakot.

    Incredibly enough, no one on the government cares to set the record straight. The Foreign Secretary had claimed earlier that the strike killed “a very large number of Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, trainers, senior commanders, and groups of jihadis who were being trained for Fidayeen action were eliminated.”

    But surprisingly, the day after the FS spoke, Air Vice Marshal R.G.K. Kapoor said it was “premature” to provide details about casualties. He would only say that the Indian armed forces had “fairly credible evidence” of the damage inflicted on the camp by the air strikes.

    It is important for the government to clarify, because what happened was a defining moment in India-Pakistan relations and in India’s fight against terrorism. The nation has a right to know. No doubt, crossing another country’s borders and attacking its territory is a major escalation. What is the rationale behind such escalation?

    Prime Minister Modi says he’s given a “free hand” to the armed forces. Are we to assume that the IAF suo moto acted on February 26? That is inconceivable.
    This calls for deep introspection: What is it that the government achieved through the 60-odd hours between the early hours of Tuesday and the evening of Thursday? There is no shred of evidence that Pakistani side is cowed down in fear.

    On the contrary, Pakistan insists that it will retaliate against any act of Indian aggression. Prime Minister Imran Khan disclosed in the National Assembly in Islamabad yesterday that in the night of Wednesday-Thursday, Pakistani military was in a state of readiness to fire missiles into India.

    Some of our self0styled experts say we’ve “sent a message” to Pakistan that we’ll hit them hard if terrorism continued. How can they be so sure? The Pakistani retaliation with an attack on India the very next day — an act of war by targeting our military installations — discredits their thesis.

    The most unfortunate part is that after precipitating the crisis situation on Tuesday, the government ducked and took help from Saudi Arabia and the UAE to “de-escalate” the situation.

    Make no mistake, this fateful move has grave implications. The whole world knows that these two petrodollar states are the principal sponsors of terrorist groups who destroyed Syria.

    Importantly, how can we possibly overlook that Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and other terrorist organisations in Pakistan have received direct support from these Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia? There is plentiful evidence of it.

    An action request cable archived by Wikileaks, documenting the illicit finance activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan, stated that “it has been an ongoing challenge to persuade Saudi officials to treat terrorist financing emanating from Saudi Arabia as a strategic priority.” The cable continues, “Still, donors in Saudi Arabia constitute the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide.” It describes Saudi Arabia as “a critical financial support base” for Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and other terrorist groups.”


    By the estimation of the US state department, LeT and JeM are all but synonymous! As far back as in 1993, the LeT became part of the United Jihad Council, an umbrella group for militant Islamists operating in J&K, and in doing so, it formed a direct alliance with the JeM (which claimed credit for the Pulwama attack recently.)

    In fact, another Wikileaks cable confirmed that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been funnelling money not just to LeT but to JeM directly. It says:

    “Locals believed that charitable activities being carried out by Deobandi and Ahl-e-Hadith organizations, including Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the Al-Khidmat Foundation, and Jaish-e-Mohammed were further strengthening reliance on extremist groups and minimizing the importance of traditionally moderate Sufi religious leaders in these communities. Government and non-governmental sources claimed that financial support estimated at nearly 100 million USD annually was making its way to Deobandi and Ahl-e-Hadith clerics in the region from ‘missionary’ and ‘Islamic charitable’ organizations in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates ostensibly with the direct support of those governments.”

    Saudi Arabia has quite openly held out assurances to Pakistan that it need not go after JeM directly.

    Indeed, the most dangerous part of the gambit by the Modi government to let in Saudi Arabia and the UAE into its matrix over Pakistan and Kashmir is that this policy shift is completely of sync with the wider geopolitical struggle unfolding in the region.

    Quite obviously, Saudi Arabia wants to win Pakistan over in a tug-of-war game with Iran and is doling out to Islamabad generous financial help and a $10 billion investment plan to to build an oil refinery in the Gwadar port project (which actually puts a major Saudi project on Iran’s border.) The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s (MBS) recent visit to Pakistan has essentially cemented Pakistan’s inclusion in anti-Iran Arab NATO.

    Against this backdrop, how could the Indian policymakers blithely overlook the far-reaching, dangerous implications of consorting with Saudi Arabia and the UAE as partners in its fight against terrorism in J&K fomented by Pakistan?

    The most intriguing part is the newfound bonhomie between the Indian elite and the sheikhs. Put differently, you don’t take help from the wolf to guard the sheep, right? What explains the Faustian deal to allow them to enter the sanctum sanctorum of India’s foreign policy — Kashmir and the matrix of India-Pakistan relations?

    Beware of the lure of green money. The Saudis and Emiratis are great operators in Washington, DC. Their fierce lobbying and charm offensives are legion. If they could manipulate the American political class so brilliantly, our oligarchy must be chicken feed. "

    https://indianpunchline.com/do-not-b...ity-interests/

  8. #58
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    US kept ‘cool’ during India-Pak crisis. This is why





    (Indian soldiers patrol along the fence at the India-Pakistan border)

    "With the India-Pakistan standoff somewhat waning, the time is ripe to put under the scanner the stance taken by the Trump administration through the crisis situation developing since the February 14 terrorist attack in Pulwama.

    On the face of it, Washington was strongly supportive of India. The US national security advisor John Bolton reportedly rushed to contact his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval twice in the immediate aftermath of the Pulwama attack. The US also made its oft-repeated call to Pakistan to shut down terrorist camps.

    But a highlight was that Bolton publicly upheld India’s right to “self-defence” following Pulwama. This is a standard US formulation that Washington routinely reserves for its ally Israel in anticipation of the inevitable Israeli military reaction to any provocation by the Palestinians or Hezbollah — and, more recently, in the situation surrounding the Syrian conflict.

    However, Bolton’s exuberance remains an enigma. Bolton has been accused of being a maverick, an inveterate hawk and as Israel’s sidekick. But he’s an intelligent man. Didn’t he know that Israel exercises its “right to self-defence” selectively against hapless weak targets, whereas India’s adversary is a nuclear weapon state with proven capability to retaliate?

    Did Bolton have any inkling that an Indian escalation was in the making days or weeks ahead? Or, did he make that intriguing remark by way of winking at India and prodding it to go for some sort of action against Pakistan?

    Importantly, did he have Israeli inputs? After all, Bolton is wired into the Israeli political establishment — and vice versa. He secured his White House job with Israeli help and he’s mindful of that at all times.

    This is important because the Indian security establishment and ruling elite too has close links with Israel. The well-known Middle East analyst and author Robert Fisk, who is immensely experienced in Islamist insurgency, wrote recently that the Indian security operations in J&K lately bear striking similarity to the methods practised by the Israeli forces in Gaza and the West Bank to bludgeon the Palestinians into abject submission. He estimated that India is virtually copying Israeli methods to quell mass unrest.

    At any rate, Bolton’s reaction was exceptional insofar as traditionally, US tried to tamp down tensions whenever a crisis situation arose and even used to depute officials from Washington to travel to Delhi to counsel restraint. This time around, however, no US envoy flew down to Delhi — not even when tensions spiked and a flashpoint was reached last week.

    Of course, US knows Pakistan cared two hoots for any exhortations /demands by Washington in the past to clamp down on terrorist groups operating from its soil and there is no likelihood of Pakistan listening today. If anything, today the US’ capacity to leverage Pakistan is at an all-time low.

    Yet, Washington made loud noises in that direction at various levels, including by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. What did the US hope to achieve? One possibility is that it suited Washington if India increased its pressure on Pakistan at a juncture when the US-Taliban negotiations are at a critical stage and Islamabad’s cooperation becomes vital.
    On the other hand, it is known now that the US CENTCOM chief Gen. Joseph Votel was in touch with the Pakistani army chief Gen. Qamar Bajwa. (Other western military leaders also contacted Bajwa.) In sum, Washington kept a sharp eye on the India-Pakistan tensions and probably assessed that the chance of tensions cascading uncontrollably was remote.
    In fact, President Trump was the first person to give the good news that the tensions were coming under check when he made a suo moto statement to that effect right at his famous press conference in Hanoi on February 28. Trump said, according to the White House transcript:

    “We have, I think, reasonably attractive news from Pakistan and India. They’ve been going at it, and we’ve been involved in trying to have them stop. And we have some reasonably decent news. I think, hopefully, that’s going to be coming to an end. It’s been going on for a long time — decades and decades. There’s a lot of dislike, unfortunately. So we’ve been in the middle, trying to help them both out and see if we can get some organization and some peace. And I think, probably, that’s going to be happening.”

    It was extraordinary that Trump began the press conference with the above “breaking news”. In all likelihood, he wanted to distract attention from the dismal failure of his summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un by flagging a success story and, typically, to claim personal credit for it.

    Of course, his remarks must have caused some disquiet in Delhi — namely,
    by virtually boasting about US mediation (“we’ve been in the middle, trying to help them both out”);

    1. by eschewing any of the previous criticism of Pakistan and on the contrary adopting a strictly neutral position without attributing blame for tensions to either Delhi or Islamabad; and,
    2. by making India (and Pakistan) look small and lacking in maturity (“They’ve been going at it, and we’ve been involved in trying to have them stop.”)

    Having said that, the most important point made by Trump was that the present tensions went back in time to a distant past (“It’s been going on for a long time — decades and decades.”) This reference is extremely worrisome — especially, since Trump also touched on US mediation. True, Trump avoided using the “K” word outright but he all but implied that the present tensions are to be traced to the unresolved 7-decade old Kashmir problem.

    In retrospect, did the US really play an effective mediatory role in easing the tensions last week? It is hard to say because there was no overt diplomacy on its part (which is, by the way, very uncharacteristic of American diplomacy in such situations when an opportunity presents itself to project the US as the indispensable world leader.)

    One thing is for sure. Increasingly, through thick fog that still surrounds the dramatic happenings last week, it seems that there was something highly contrived about the India-Pakistan tensions. A well-informed correspondent of the Indian Express has quoted “top government sources” admitting that: The limitations of technical intelligence and lack of ground intelligence at this point make any assessment of terrorists killed in the attack on Balakot last Tuesday “purely speculative”


    1. The IAF was keen on crossing the LoC to bomb the target last Tuesday, but it was decided that it should only fire the PGM “from Indian side of LoC” and, therefore, no IAF aircraft crossed the LoC and as per radar data reviewed by the IAF, the closest Pakistani aircraft was at a distance of about 120 km.

    Simply put, while the US tried to milk propaganda mileage out of the crisis, the highly sophisticated American spy satellites in place over the subcontinent would have given the White House an accurate account of what really was happening on the ground — a brawl between two noisy street dogs, as it were, who simply needed to be separated.

    The crux of the matter is that the US patently “outsourced” the denouement to this street brawl to its allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It could only have been Bolton’s brainwave (at Israeli suggestion) to bring in the sheikhs who are the US’ key allies in his pet project to encircle and destroy Iran.

    The US calculation is that with the Saudi and Emirati crown princes having virtually cemented Pakistan’s induction into the “Arab NATO” in the recent months, a golden opportunity was at hand to co-opt India as well.

    In the final analysis, if Delhi can be progressively weaned away from its relationship with Tehran, that will make the encirclement of Iran complete and Bolton’s Iran project takes a great leap forward."

    https://indianpunchline.com/us-kept-...s-this-is-why/

  9. #59
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    Watch out on the slopes, the Chinese are a coming.

    Eurasia Topics-5c8b2477a3106c65ffff5580-jpeg

    Eurasia Topics-5c8b2477a3106c65ffff5582-jpeg

    Eurasia Topics-5c8b2477a3106c65ffff5584-jpeg

    Eurasia Topics-5c8b2477a3106c65ffff5586-jpg

    Eurasia Topics-5c8b2477a3106c65ffff558a-jpeg

    Eurasia Topics-5c8b2477a3106c65ffff558e-jpeg

    Xinjiang organizes various events to boost winter tourism industry - Chinadaily.com.cn
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Eurasia Topics-5c8b2477a3106c65ffff5580-jpeg   Eurasia Topics-5c8b2477a3106c65ffff5582-jpeg   Eurasia Topics-5c8b2477a3106c65ffff5584-jpeg   Eurasia Topics-5c8b2477a3106c65ffff5586-jpg   Eurasia Topics-5c8b2477a3106c65ffff558a-jpeg  

    Eurasia Topics-5c8b2477a3106c65ffff558e-jpeg  

  10. #60
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    China committed to win-win ties with EU

    Eurasia Topics-5c943295a3104842e4a48a16-jpeg


    Editor's Note: The European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy put forward a 10-point policy package on China on March 11, which the European Union heads of state or government are reviewing at the European Council on Thursday and Friday, in order to chart the future course of EU-China relations. What does this mean for future China-EU relations?

    Two experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Pan Yixuan. Excerpts follow:

    Future Sino-EU ties likely to be stronger

    The 10 action points put forward by the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini suggest the EU remains, in general, ambivalent on China despite being willing to expand its trade with China. The Commission has also urged the EU member states to reach a consensus on trade and economic cooperation with a rising China.

    The Commission and its High Representative aim to start a discussion on how to make the EU's approach more realistic, assertive and multifaceted in regard to not only China but also sharpen its global competitiveness and strengthen its security.

    That the Commission sees China as a "cooperation partner", "negotiating partner", "economic competitor" as well as a "systemic rival" indicates, contrary to the general understanding, its readiness to build on the partnership of strategic cooperation with China. Indeed, trade and economic competition between China and the EU is intensifying, but such a competition is good for the two sides as well as the rest of the world.

    Yet competition alone will not define future Sino-EU relations, because Brussels attaches great importance to its partnership with Beijing when it comes to improving the global governance mechanism.

    China remains committed to peaceful development and cooperation. So if the EU continues to accord the same importance to economic cooperation with China as it has done until now, Chinese investment in Europe will grow, creating more European jobs and helping boost the EU economy. But if the EU prioritizes politics and believes China could pose a threat to its security-although China will never be a threat to any economy-Chinese investment in Europe could slow down.

    The challenge for both sides therefore will be how to achieve competitive cooperation. But since Sino-EU ties have enjoyed sound momentum of growth over the years, it is expected that Beijing and Brussels will resolve their disputes in due time to not only expand two-way trade but also fight unilateralism and trade protectionism in order to further promote globalization and strengthen free trade.

    Cui Hongjian, director of the department for European studies at the China Institute of International Studies

    EU wants its concerns to be addressed

    The 10-point policy package represents the EU's urgent concerns, which includes a rising China as well as a self-centric United States. The EU has not taken sides in the Sino-US trade disputes. Instead, it has sought to be heard and respected.

    The fact that the European Commission has put forward the 10-point policy package despite China and the EU holding regular talks suggests it wants its requirements to be discussed at the China-EU Summit to be held in less than three weeks.

    The US and China are the EU's two largest trade partners, while the US is also a strong security partner of the EU. And now that the US-China trade talks have entered what many consider their final stage, the EU wants to settle many of its trade issues with China so it can chart the direction for its future.

    It is also likely that the European Commission put forward the policy package to prompt the EU member states to reach an agreement on China-EU relations before President Xi Jinping's visit to three European countries-Italy, France and Monaco-from Thursday to Tuesday, especially because Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has said Rome may join the Beijing-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

    The Commission might have put forward the package also to show it can make more political achievements before the European Parliament election in May, and impress the European voters with its governance prowess.

    China respects the EU's reasonable concerns. But while it is up to the EU to decide what it will do in the future, China would like to convey the message that as a "cooperation partner", it is dedicated to mutual benefits and as an "economic competitor", it brings endless opportunities for the EU.

    Ding Chun, director of the Centre for European Studies, Fudan University"

    China committed to win-win ties with EU - Opinion - Chinadaily.com.cn

    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Eurasia Topics-5c943295a3104842e4a48a16-jpeg  

  11. #61
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    96,552
    Yes, like you can trust the chinkies.


  12. #62
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    Yes, like you can trust the chinkies.
    Both sides talking, agreeing and willing to risk it.

    Industry groups from China, Houston ink energy pact


    By MAY ZHOU in Houston | China Daily | Updated: 2019-03-23 07:15

    "China's leading industrial organization and the largest chamber of commerce in the US city of Houston, Texas, signed a memorandum of understanding to forge a strategic cooperative relationship in the energy sector on Thursday.
    About 30 high-level government and business leaders, led by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, were welcomed by the Greater Houston Partnership.

    "I think this is a good start for the relationship. This is the first MOU we ever signed with a city," said Pang Guanglian, a member of the federation's executive board.

    The federation has more than 1,700 member companies, including about 70 percent of the operations of China's petroleum and chemical industries.
    "China imports a lot of energy products, including crude oil, gas, ethane and such. I believe China and US will soon reach a trade agreement. When that happens, China will definitely import a lot of crude oil, gas, ethane and other refined petrochemical products. The United States will find a big market in China for their energy products," Pang said.

    Pang said executives from more than 20 member companies were part of the delegation.

    "A lot of Chinese companies are willing to come to the US to invest. Some already have decided to make a long-term investment in the US."
    Bob Harvey, CEO and president at the Houston partnership, said that despite trade frictions, Houston's trade with China grew to about $20 billion in 2018.

    "GHP is proud to work with CPCIF and secure the future for the dynamic region by forging an alliance with an important China trade center," Harvey said.

    China, the No 1 crude oil importer in the past two years, also became the top liquefied natural gas importer in 2018, according to federation Vice-Chairman Fu Xiangsheng.

    "The US has become the largest energy producer in the world. We hope to have wider cooperation with the GHP by signing the strategic cooperation MOU," Fu said."


    Industry groups from China, Houston ink energy pact - World - Chinadaily.com.cn

  13. #63
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    96,552
    I'm guessing the GHP have been reading Sun Tzu very carefully.


  14. #64
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    Those southern states aren't bothered, a profit's a profit. Join the winning team as always.

  15. #65
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    Italy joins the BRI.

    China, Italy sign BRI MoU to advance connectivity

    Eurasia Topics-5c96298aa3104842e4a51f4a-jpeg

    Chinese President Xi Jinping (L, front) and his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella (R, front) hold talks in Rome, Italy, March 22, 2019

    "ROME - China and Italy signed Saturday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly advance the construction of the Belt and Road during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the country.

    The two sides welcome the signing of the intergovernmental MoU on jointly advancing the Belt and Road construction, said a joint communique issued by the two countries.

    The two sides realize the huge potential of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in promoting connectivity, and stand ready to strengthen the alignment of the BRI and Trans-European Transport Networks and deepen the cooperation in ports, logistics, marine transportation and other areas, the communique said."

    China, Italy sign BRI MoU to advance connectivity - World - Chinadaily.com.cn
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Eurasia Topics-5c96298aa3104842e4a51f4a-jpeg  

  16. #66
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    China, Italy agree to expand legislative exchanges



    President Xi Jinping (L) meets with Italian Senate Speaker Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati in Rome, Italy, March 22, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

    "ROME, March 22 — Visiting President Xi Jinping met with Italian Senate Speaker Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati here Friday on expanding exchanges and cooperation between the two countries' legislative institutions.

    China and Italy have enjoyed a traditional friendship, with the ancient Silk Road closely linking the two peoples, Xi said.

    Since they established diplomatic relations nearly 50 years ago, the China-Italy ties have seen healthy and stable development, and the two countries have become important partners who trust each other and work together, Xi said.

    The visit is meant to consolidate the stability and strategic nature of the China-Italy relations in the long term, and comprehensively elevate the level of their mutually beneficial cooperation, Xi said.

    China is willing to enhance high-level guidance with the Italian side, respect each other's major concerns, jointly build the Belt and Road, explore cooperation with third parties, boost cultural exchanges and local-level cooperation, and strengthen popular support for bilateral relations, Xi said.

    The Chinese president stressed that in recent years, China's National People's Congress and the Italian Senate have established a regular exchange mechanism.
    China supports the two countries' legislative bodies to carry out multi-level, wide-ranging and multi-channel exchanges and cooperation, and share successful experience on major issues such as legislative supervision, state governing, national economy and the people's livelihood, on the basis of mutual respect and mutual learning, Xi said.

    He said he hopes that the Italian Senate will continue to play an active facilitating role, and create better conditions for and inject greater momentum into the development of bilateral relations.

    The Italian Senate warmly welcomes Xi for his visit, Casellati said, noting that the Italian and Chinese peoples have always trusted each other and maintained profound friendship, with close ties in such fields as economy and trade, and culture.

    The Senate speaker said she agrees with Xi on his remarks about the traditional friendly exchanges between the two countries dating back over 2,000 years, published in leading Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera ahead of his visit.

    China and Italy are major countries that boast a rich culture, she said, adding that Italy is willing to boost communication and cooperation with the Chinese side in such fields as culture, art, language, heritage protection, tourism, science and technology, and innovation, and encourage their youths to increase exchanges and mutual understanding.

    The Italian side looks forward to enhancing cooperation with China on jointly building the Belt and Road, She said.

    Noting that the history of Italy-China exchanges for the past 50 years has been a history of dialogue and friendship, the speaker said the Italian Senate is willing to facilitate exchanges between the two countries' legislative institutions, and continue to make contributions to deepening Italy-China friendly cooperation.

    Xi arrived in Rome Thursday for a state visit to Italy, the first stop of his three-nation Europe tour, which will also take him to Monaco and France."

    China, Italy agree to expand legislative exchanges - World - Chinadaily.com.cn

  17. #67
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    96,552
    Italy have a very right wing government at the moment. They must see China the same way that freak in NZ does.

  18. #68
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    Italy signs deals worth 2.5 billion euros with China

    (Reuters) - Italy signed a preliminary accord with China on Saturday that makes it the first country of the Group of Seven industrialized nation to join the Chinese Belt and Road infrastructure project.
    Around 30 parallel deals were signed on the sidelines of the visit to Rome by Chinese President Xi Jinping, including 10 with Italian companies and others with ministries and public bodies.

    Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said the deals were worth an initial 2.5 billion euros ($2.8 billion) but had a potential value of 20 billion.


    Here are details of some of the accords.

    CDP, BANK OF CHINA

    Italy’s state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) signed an agreement with Bank of China to let it sell “Panda” bonds - debt sold by foreign entities to investors in mainland China.

    CDP said it will issue bonds worth 5 billion renminbi ($744.5 million). CDP and Bank of China will also co-finance Italian companies for 4 billion renminbi. A CDP official told Reuters on Friday that the first tranche of Panda bonds will be issued in the coming weeks.

    CDP, SNAM

    CDP and Italian gas company Snam have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese Silk Road fund (SRF) for cooperation on international investments in China and in the about 120 countries that have already signed up for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

    Snam and SRF said they will consider possible cooperation in the natural gas sector — pipelines, storage facilities, LNG infrastructure and biomethane plants.

    DANIELI

    Italian metals company Danieli has signed a deal to build part of a steel plant in China that will then be transferred to Azerbaijan.

    TRIESTE AND GENOA PORTS China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has signed two cooperation agreements with the authorities of Trieste’s port and with the commissioner supervising the reconstruction of the bridge of Genoa that collapsed last year.

    ANSALDO ENERGIA

    Ansaldo Energia said it signed a deal with China United Gas Turbine Company (UGTC) for technology cooperation in the field of heavy duty gas turbines.

    Ansaldo Energia has also been awarded a contract worth approximately 25 million euros to supply a AE94.2K gas turbine and syngas compressor train for Bengang combined cycle power plant, located in Benxi in the northeast China.

    SUNING

    China’s e-commerce group Suning, top shareholder of Italian Serie A soccer team Inter Milan, announced a deal with the Italian Trade Agency to boost Made-in-Italy exports to China.

    INTESA SANPAOLO

    Intesa Sanpaolo has signed a MoU with the Chinese city of Qingdao to develop wealth management services for local clients through a wholly-owned company called Yi Tsai. Intesa aimed to sell its own financial products in Qingdao in the near future, Intesa CEO Carlo Messina said.

    ENI

    Italian energy giant Eni has signed a MoU with Bank of China to secure a credit line.

    FERROVIE DELLO STATO, AEROPORTI DI ROMA

    Italy’s railways group Ferrovie dello Stato, Atlantia’s airport operator Aeroporti di Roma and the museums of sports car maker Ferrari have signed a commercial deal with China’s biggest online travel agency Ctrip to develop Chinese tourism in Italy.

    (This story fixes spelling error for the Chinese city of Qingdao for item on Intesa Sanpaolo.) "

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-china-deals-factbox/italy-signs-deals-worth-2-5-billion-euros-with-china-idUSKCN1R40KN?il=0


    I presume all the weapons and intelligence gathering agreements are in the "other" deals not made public, at this time.


  19. #69
    R.I.P.
    DrB0b's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD
    Posts
    17,118
    Eurasia topics, eh? Awesome, I'm off to start some new threads for Gondwanaland, Pangaea, and Laurasia topics. Apparently the decent working people of Pangaea have had enough of their unelected overlords in proto-Brussels and are campaigning for some kind of break-up.

  20. #70
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    96,552
    Quote Originally Posted by DrB0b View Post
    Eurasia topics, eh? Awesome, I'm off to start some new threads for Gondwanaland, Pangaea, and Laurasia topics. Apparently the decent working people of Pangaea have had enough of their unelected overlords in proto-Brussels and are campaigning for some kind of break-up.
    I think HoHo wants to live in an Orwellian world. It makes him feel safe. That's why he sucks up to Putin and Winnie the Pooh so much.

  21. #71
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    Just a general thread to be used by all.

    It's not a mandatory part of the login script to read it, yet.

    Currently the TD forumhas an "ignore" button. This may change in the future to a "read this thread, agree and 5 points won. Disagree and immediate opening of Bsnubs threads become mandatory.

    Capitalism at is most forceful.


  22. #72
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    wants to live in an Orwellian world
    One wonders how choosing to live in Thailand was a choice of Orwellianism.

    ""Orwellian" is an adjective describing a situation, idea, or societal condition that George Orwell identified as being destructive to the welfare of a free and open society. It denotes an attitude and a brutal policy of draconian control by propaganda, surveillance, misinformation, denial of truth (doublethink), and manipulation of the past, including the "unperson"—a person whose past existence is expunged from the public record and memory, practised by modern repressive governments."

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orwellian

    Pray tell of what is similar.

  23. #73
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    Germany wants Europe to join China's new Silk Road after criticizing Italy for doing the same

    Eurasia Topics-5c9a21ffdda4c8572f8b459b-jpg

    "The Chinese “Belt and Road” initiative is an important project, which European states would be glad to join, according to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who stressed that cooperation should be based on reciprocity from Beijing.

    “We, as Europeans, want to play an active part and that must lead to certain reciprocity and we are still wrangling over that a bit,” Merkel said, as quoted by Reuters.

    The comment comes shortly after talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is currently paying a state visit to France.

    The Chinese president came to France after his three-day visit to Italy. On Saturday, Rome and Beijing signed the memorandum of understanding on Italy’s joining of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The move had not been received well by European nations, particularly France and Germany. French President Emmanuel Macron had called for a more consolidated approach toward China among European allies, at the same time as Paris was signing multi-billion-euro contracts with Beijing.


    The Belt and Road Initiative is expected to provide effective connectivity and boost China’s cooperation with more than 152 countries in Southeast and Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America and Africa via various infrastructure projects, along the lines of the old Silk Road.

    The project, proposed by Xi in 2013, promises to significantly boost global trade, cutting trading costs by half for the countries involved. China has heavily invested into the ambitious enterprise with a reported $900 billion having been spent on projects in partner countries. Most of the investment projects of the Belt and Road initiative have reportedly benefitted China’s state-owned corporations."

    https://www.rt.com/business/454792-c...oad-eu-merkel/
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Eurasia Topics-5c9a21ffdda4c8572f8b459b-jpg  

  24. #74
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    Royal Dutch Shell to expand upstream presence in China

    Eurasia Topics-5c9d7665a3104842e4a613db-jpeg

    "With the living standards rising and new sectors of the economy opening up in China, oil giant Royal Dutch Shell aims to expand its presence in the country in both upstream and petrochemical manufacturing sectors. "While we have a quite profitable business in China, it's yet small in relation to the size of the country, and China can play a bigger role in our ambition to be a world-class investment case," said Ben van Beurden, CEO of Royal Dutch Shell PLC, during an interview with China Daily.

    "Shell, as an importer of gas, as well as a very strong domestic producer of gas, will continue to work with the country's State-owned enterprises to understand how we can participate in other projects, either directly through investment or technical services, to help domestic players develop domestic resources."

    The company aims to expand the capacity of natural gas in the Changbei project in Shaanxi province to better support the country's growing energy needs, in cooperation with China National Petroleum Corp.

    The annual gas production from the Changbei project equals to 20 percent of Beijing's gas demand, according to Van Beurden.
    "China is already our largest customer when it comes to natural gas, and with the economy taking greater strides and tremendous growth seen in petrochemicals, Shell will continue having a strong focus on investing in petrochemical manufacturing inside the country," he said.
    Van Beurden said the country's business environment for foreign companies has improved over the past few years, and the government has been very true to its word when it talks about the new era of opening up and attracting foreign direct investment.

    In recent years, China has been gradually loosening its restrictions on the business operations of wholly-owned foreign oil companies in the country, including lifting the 30-site limit for international fuel retailers.

    Li Li, energy research director at ICIS China, say the latest license will increase the competitiveness of the wholesale market in China.
    The company was recently awarded a license to trade commercial fuels in China's domestic wholesale market. It is the country's first such license for a wholly-owned foreign company.

    "For as long as I've been dealing with China, we have been working to get better access to products, so we are now able to do wholesale and it gives us again more opportunities to participate in the market," he said.

    "Liberalization of infrastructure is another very important step that will help us have greater market access, to serve more customers and even make investments ourselves in areas that were not possible," he added."

    Royal Dutch Shell to expand upstream presence in China - Chinadaily.com.cn
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Eurasia Topics-5c9d7665a3104842e4a613db-jpeg  

  25. #75
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    Where troubles melt like lemon drops
    Posts
    25,222
    It appears that Reuters, as usual, continues to publish selectively labelled and presented news.

    Note the rag updated it, probably changed the article title, but not the link title. Sloppy in content and sloppy in application.

    Southeast Asia should be aware of Iran's tactics to evade oil sanctions: U.S

    World News

    March 29, 2019 / 9:59 AM / Updated 36 minutes ago



    "SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The United States is keen to see that Malaysia, Singapore and others are fully aware of illicit Iranian oil shipments and the tactics Iran uses to evade sanctions, a top U.S. sanctions official said on Friday
    .

    Sigal Mandelker, under-secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, told reporters in Singapore the United States had placed additional “intense pressure” on Iran this week.


    “It’s very important that these countries have important visibility into the different ways the Iranian regime uses to deceive the international community in connection with shipment of oil,” she said, referring to her talks in Singapore and Malaysia.


    She said would stress the inherent risks in dealing with Iran in meetings over coming days with government officials in Malaysia, Singapore and India.


    “This trip follows on the heels of additional intense pressure we have placed on Iran. In just the last week, we took action against nuclear scientists and agencies and other key personnel involved with the Iranian regime’s past nuclear weapons entities,” Mandelker said.


    “We are making them radioactive to the international community.”


    Action had been taken this week against a network involved in an Iranian sanctions evasion scheme - a network that includes Iran-, UAE- and Turkey-based front companies, she said.


    Mandelker said she was due to meet Singapore’s home, finance and trade ministries on Friday. She met officials at its central bank on Thursday.

    She said the United States was also bringing “maximum pressure” on the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro.


    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran/u-s-has-placed-additional-intense-pressure-on-iran-official-idUSKCN1RA08V?il=0


    Illicit in one unexceptional countries eyes.

    Illegally sanctions imposed, by one unexceptional country.

    Illegal intense pressure, by one unexceptional country.

    Illegal action has been taken, by one unexceptional country.



    One doesn't need to name this dying, unexceptional country.
    Last edited by OhOh; 29-03-2019 at 11:48 AM.

Page 3 of 63 FirstFirst 12345678910111353 ... LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •