POLITICAL ISSUES
ALGERIA
1) China welcomes release of two Algerian diplomats kidnapped in Mali
Beijing, Thursday, 11 September 2014
China welcomed the release of two Algerian diplomats kidnapped in April 2012 in northern Mali, and expressed condolences to the families of another two diplomats who were killed earlier.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

EGYPT
2) Egypt cabinet forms committees to enhance ties with China, Russia
Cairo, Wednesday, 17 September 2014
Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab decided to form two ministerial committees under his supervision to enhance the country's ties with China and Russia.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

IRAN
3) China calls for comprehensive settlement of Iranian nuclear issue
United Nations, Monday, 15 September 2014
Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN called on all relevant parties to adopt a flexible and pragmatic approach so as to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue in the next phase of negotiations.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

4) China calls for creativity in Iranian nuclear talks
Beijing, Monday, 29 September 2014
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said that Iranian nuclear talks have reached a final crucial stage and China hopes all parties could creatively seek a solution to difficult issues.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

IRAQ
5) China calls for respect of sovereignty as U.S. widens airstrikes in Iraq, Syria
Beijing, Thursday, 11 September 2014
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying called for respect of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the countries concerned as U.S. President Barack Obama vowed to stage an air campaign against Iraq and Syria.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

6) China urges int'l support for Iraq's fight against terrorism
United Nations, Friday, 19 September 2014
Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN said that China called on the international community to provide support for Iraq in its efforts to combat terrorism.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

7) China hopes for Iraq's early return to security, stability: FM
United Nations, Saturday, 27 September 2014
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China hoped that security and order can be restored in Iraq as soon as possible.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

SAUDI ARABIA
8) Chinese, Saudi FMs agree to enhance bilateral cooperation
New York, Friday, 26 September 2014
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud Al-Faisal on the sidelines of the UNGA and pledged that China would work with Saudi Arabia to keep their strategic relationship at a high level.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

SYRIA
9) China welcomes Mistura's efforts on Syria issue
Beijing, Tuesday, 9 September 2014
China welcomed the efforts by former Italian deputy foreign minister De Mistura to resolve the Syrian crisis following his appointment as the new UN envoy.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

TUNISIA
10) Senior CPC official meets Tunisian Ennahda delegation
Beijing, Wednesday, 17 September 2014
Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Zhao Leji met with a delegation of Tunisian Ennahda led by its leader Rached Ghannouchi and discussed ways to improve bilateral relations.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

TURKEY
11) China, Turkey vow to boost strategic cooperative ties
United Nations, Saturday, 27 September 2014
China always viewed and developed its relations with Turkey from a strategic height, and is willing to make concerted efforts to lift their strategic cooperative relationship to a higher level, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, on the sidelines of the UNGA.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

UAE
12) Minister hails UAE-China relations
Dubai, Monday, 8 September 2014
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the UAE minister of culture, youth and community development, said that the Emirati-Chinese relations are strong, deep and robust.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

YEMEN
13) China backs Yemeni peace deal
Beijing, Monday, 22 September 2014
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying hoped that Yemen's political parties seriously carry out their new peace agreement.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
14) China appoints new Middle East special envoy
Beijing, Wednesday, 3 September 2014
Senior diplomat Gong Xiaosheng was appointed as China's new special envoy on Middle East affairs, replacing Wu Sike.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

15) Chinese Muslims start annual Mecca pilgrimage
Yinchuan, Friday, 5 September 2014
A charter flight with 297 Chinese Muslims left Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, for the annual hajj pilgrimage.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

16) Xi offers congratulations on China-Arab friendship years
Beijing, Wednesday, 10 September 2014
Chinese President Xi Jinping extended congratulations on the opening of China-Arab friendship years. China and Arab states have designated 2014 and 2015 as the years of China-Arab friendship during which a series of exchange events would be held.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

17) Chinese Vice Premier unveils China-Arab friendship year
Beijing, Wednesday, 10 September 2014
During the opening of China-Arab Friendship Year and the Third Arabic Arts Festival, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong called for stronger collaboration between China and Arab countries in all fields.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

18) Chinese firm to build fertilizer factory in Jordan
Amman, Monday, 15 September 2014
Jordan Phosphate Mines Co. signed a memorandum of understanding with China's Chongqing Minmetal and Machinery Import and Export Co. Ltd. to build a factory for producing fertilizers in Aqaba in southern Jordan.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

19) Over 14,000 Chinese Muslims set for Mecca pilgrimage
Beijing, Wednesday, 17 September 2014
A total of over 14,000 Chinese Muslims have embarked on the annual pilgrimage held in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

20) China deeply concerned about situation in Middle East: envoy
Beijing, Friday, 19 September 2014
China's Special Envoy on the Middle East Gong Xiaosheng said that China is very much concerned about the "complicated situation in the region."
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

21) Chinese worker dead in northern Turkey mine collapse
Ankara, Friday, 19 September 2014
One Chinese worker was killed and another injured in a coal mine collapse in the Black Sea region of northern Turkey.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

22) Chinese carrier to launch Lanzhou-Urumqi-Dubai flights
Beijing, Saturday, 20 September 2014
China Southern Airlines, the country's largest airline by fleet size, would launch flights from Lanzhou to Dubai via Urumqi on 29 September.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing; See also: Xinhua, Beijing

23) Middle East issues should be resolved by its own people: China's envoy
Cairo, Tuesday, 23 September 2014
Visiting China's Special Envoy on Middle East Gong Xiaosheng said that Middle East issues should be resolved by its own people.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

24) Chinese National Day celebrated in Dubai
Dubai, Sunday, 28 September 2014
More than 700 guests and Chinese compatriots celebrated the 65th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

COMPILED BY DIPANWITA CHAKRAVORTTY

Dipanwita Chakravortty is a doctoral candidate in School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.  Email

As part of its editorial policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spelling and date formats to make the text uniformly accessible and stylistically consistent. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/positions of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND: P R Kumaraswamy