China ready to launch new energy projects; China refutes Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's criticism claiming that Beijing has tried to "change the status quo" in maritime disputes; The 20th China-ASEAN Senior Officials' Consultation to be held in Thai
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    • (MARCH 14-APRIL 20)

    China will kick off a number of major energy projects to ensure stable economic growth and restructure its energy layout, Premier Li Keqiang has said. Li made the remarks at a meeting of the State Energy Commission held on Friday, according to a press release issued on April 20. China will embark on new nuclear power plants equipped with state-of-the-art safety measures on the eastern coast at a proper time, said Li. 1
    China has refuted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's criticism claiming that Beijing has tried to "change the status quo" in maritime disputes. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing on April 18 that Abe was trying to "divert attention and confuse the public", and that China has repeatedly expressed its position on the East China Sea and South China Sea. "The historic facts and the rights and wrongs in the disputes on the East China Sea and South China Sea are crystal clear," said Hua. "It is not China who is changing the status quo." "China's will and determination of safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity is unswerving," she said. 2
    The 20th China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Senior Officials' Consultation will be held in Thailand on April 21-22, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on April 17. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin will lead a delegation to attend the meeting in Pattaya, said spokeswoman Hua Chunying, adding the officials will also hold the seventh meetings on implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. 3
    Russian President Vladimir Putin said April 17 that his country will expand cooperation with China and the bilateral relations are expected to be a considerable factor in global politics. "We'll develop relations with China. We've never had such trusted relations," Putin said during a live chat with Russian citizens."Cooperation with China, including that in international issues, is at unprecedented level," he added. He said the two countries have common views on the international situation and global security issues.With joint exercises on land and at sea held within their borders, military mutual trust has also been strengthened, Putin said. 4
    Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao met on April 17 with Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti Minister of Amiri Diwan, on boosting economic ties. During their meeting in the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing, Li said China and Kuwait are good friends with mutual trust and sincere cooperation. China attaches great importance to friendly exchanges with the Kuwaiti royal family and the government, said Li. 5
    The Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired the first meeting of the National Security Commission on April 16. He met with the newly established State Security Commission. During the meeting Xi said, “China now faces the most complicated situation it ever has, internally and externally”. He called for a national security path with “Chinese characteristics”. 6

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