POLITICAL ISSUES
EGYPT
1) China is world model for peaceful big power with positive reforms: Egypt's Al-Ahram chief.
Cairo, Wednesday, 8 February 2017
Ahmed al-Sayyid al-Naggar, CEO of Al-Ahram Foundation, expressed his appreciation for China’s efforts in environmental improvement, anti-corruption crackdown and military upgrade as key measures in China's long-term reforms.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

IRAN
2) China opposes U.S. sanctions on Iran involving Chinese firms.
Beijing, Monday, 6 February 2017
China has lodged representations to the United Nations over the latest sanctions over Iran that involved Chinese Companies and individuals. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said, "China always opposes any unilateral sanctions, especially when they harm the interests of a third party" and stressed that such issues does not help in promoting mutual trust.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

SAUDI ARABIA
3) China, Saudi Arabia vows to enhance cooperation.
Munich, Saturday, 18 February 2017
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir on the side lines of the Munich Security Conference. Both the countries pledged to enhance cooperation and strengthen coordination.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

ECONOMIC ISSUES
EGYPT
4) Chinese visitors help drive rise in Egypt tourism.
Cairo, Monday, 20 February 2017
China's top public travel agency, China International Travel Service, reported a 58 per cent increase in tourists flying to Egypt compared to 2015.
Source: China Daily, Beijing

ISRAEL
5) Israel Consul General participates in Zhejiang business meeting.
Shanghai, Tuesday, 21 February 2017
Zhejiang entrepreneurs organized work meeting focusing on development of industries and enterprise management. Amikam Levy, Consul General of Israel in Shanghai participated and highlighted opportunities for cooperation between the entrepreneurs of both countries.
Source: Global Times, Beijing

MISCELLANEOUS
EGYPT
6) China displays feast of culture at Cairo International Book Fair
Cairo, Wednesday, 8 February 2017
Cairo hosts the region’s largest and oldest book fair under the slogan "Youth and Future Culture". It saw participation of 35 countries, including 16 from the Arab world, and about 670 publishing houses worldwide. Such event helped to boost cultural relations between the two countries.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

IRAN
7) China-made subway trains run in Iranian city Mashhad
Mashhad, Thursday, 23 February 2017
China-made subway trains would start operating in the city of Mashhad in Iran in May and the trains have been, manufactured by CRRC, China’s rail manufacturer and exporter.
Source: China Daily, Beijing

TURKEY
8) Chinese Lantern Festival celebrated in Istanbul University
Istanbul, Friday, 10 February 2017
Some Turkish students from Bogazici University in Istanbul celebrated the Chinese Lantern Festival. Both countries have appreciated the efforts of the institutions to promote exchanges between the people of both the countries.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

9) Chinese manufacturer helps Turkey better tap solar energy
Istanbul, Thursday, 23 February 2017
China has been helping Turkey to better tap solar power in its renewable energy development. China Sunergy Co., Ltd. (CSUN), a leading manufacturer of solar cells and modules, has been sharing its experience and business model with Turkey, enhancing cooperation.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

COMPILED BY MINAKSHI SARDAR

Minakshi Sardar is a Doctoral candidate 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