COUNTRY REVIEWS

East Asia

China

• Chinese delegation visits US to attend the defense consultations; Chinese military leadership receives host of foreign military leaders; The foreign contact work of the PLA applauded; The Chinese naval taskforces sailing in the Gulf of Aden attracts international attention; The taskforces have escorted 3,014 Chinese and foreign ships of 50 countries in the Gulf of Aden; The PLAN’s warships pay good-will visits to foreign ports; Chengdu Military Area Command (MAC) builds a massive transport infrastructure

Japan

• Japan-United States conduct joint military exercises; Japan decides not to relax the arms export ban; declassified reports highlight debates over nuclear future of Japan

Southeast Asia

• Singapore Official’s comments on neighbouring countries creates furore; Vietnam-China Friendship Festival in Hanoi; Indonesia holds terror suspect Abu Tholut; Indonesian cleric faces terrorism charges; Malaysia to reach 100 percent literacy rate by 2016

Central Asia & Russia

• President Medvedev visits Poland for Russia-Polish talks aimed at normalization in the relationship; President Medvedev hopeful of clearing up all of the difficulties between Russia and Poland; Russia-EU Summit held in Brussels; Russian-EU talks on the Russia’s joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) completed; European Union supports Russia’s bid to join WTO; Kazakhstan-Russia to work with a Joint Action Plan for 2011-2012

West Asia

Iran

• Iran and 5+1 powers met in Geneva to discuss nuclear issue of the Islamic Republic of Iran; Both sides agreed to cooperate on common ground