POLITICAL ISSUES
EGYPT
1) Logo Contest for 60th anniversary of China-Egypt diplomatic ties
Cairo, Tuesday, 26 April 2016
Chinese Embassy in Cairo announced a competition to design a logo, reflecting friendship and comprehensive strategic relation between China and Egypt. The competition is organized as a part of the celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

SYRIA
2) China urges balanced, sustainable settlement of Syria crisis
Geneva, Thursday, 14 April 2016
Ma Zhaoxu, China’s permanent representative to UN office at Geneva, met UN Special envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura and exchanged views on the on-going Syrian peace talk.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

3) China promises to help Syria to resolve conflict
Damascus, Thursday, 21April 2016
China’s envoy to Syria Xie Xiaoyan met Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem in Damascus and said that China would continue its effort to push all parties to reach a solution to the Syrian conflict.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

ECONOMIC ISSUES
UAE
4) China-UAE strengthens financial co-operation
Dubai, Wednesday, 13 April 2016
Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and Agricultural Bank of China.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

5) Port Operators in the UAE shows willingness to expand business in China
Dubai, Sunday, 17 April 2016
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairperson and Chief executive of Dubai Ports (World) said that they are ready to expand business with China under its ‘Belt and Road’ initiative.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

6) Dubai hosts highest number of Chinese Visitors in 2016
Dubai, Monday, 25 April 2016
Chinese tourists flocked to Dubai making a record of 4.1 million visitors in first three month of this year. This marks an increase of 5.1 per cent year-on-year basis.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

MULTILATERAL ISSUES
ISRAEL
7) Peace talk is the only way to resolve the Israel- Palestine conflict
United Nations, Monday, 18 April 2016
China’s permanent representative to UN Liu Jieyi said that the only way to resolve Israel- Palestine conflict is through peace talks and that use of force would not bring any solution.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

YEMEN
8) China supports recommencement of Yemen Peace Talk
Beijing, Friday, 22 April 2016
Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced China’s consent on the recommencement of Yemen peace talks between Yemen and its rival forces in Kuwait and has been sponsored by the UN.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
EGYPT
9) Egypt launches first phase of building new administrative capital
Cairo, Saturday, 2 April 2016
Housing Minister Moustafa Madbouly announced the launch of first phase construction of its new administrative capital project in East Cairo. Chinese companies would provide Egyptian contractors with long term loans to finance the construction. Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed China’s willingness to participate in Egypt’s construction project.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

10) Exhibition strengthens China Egypt cultural ties Chinese ink wash works presented in Cairo
Cairo, Wednesday, 20 April 2016
Cairo hosted a four-day exhibition showcasing abstract ink wash work of six Chinese contemporary female artists. It was a part of 2016 China-Egypt cultural year and would help to boost up cultural ties between the two countries.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

IRAN
11) Chinese researchers study Iranian climate
Lanzhou, Sunday, 24 April 2016
A team associated with Lanzhou University’s key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental System has studied dust samples from Golestan Province in north-eastern Iran. The study would help in controlling the spread and accumulation of dust.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

PALESTINE
12) China funds Palestinian students with scholarship
Ramallah, Thursday, 31 March 2016
Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong announced that China would provide 100 scholarships to the Palestinian students to study in China and invited 15 Palestinians to carry out joint research.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

UAE
13) China and Dubai signs Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Traditional Chinese medicine Research
Dubai, Sunday, 17 April 2016
Hamdan Bin Mohammad Smart University (HBMSU) of Dubai signed a MoU with China’s Shanghai International Cooperation Centre of Traditional Medicine (SICCTM).
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

COMPILED BY MINAKSHI SARDAR

Minakshi Sardar is pursuing M. Phil., degree at 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