Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang
China and Pakistan on Sunday dismissed the growing propaganda against the multi-billion-dollar economic corridor project and vowed to safeguard it from all threats.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a joint statement following meetings of the country’s Prime Minister Imran Khan with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the $64 billion project, which is the part of Beijing’s most ambitious foreign economic initiative -- One Belt One Road -- aims to connect northwest China to Pakistan's southwestern Gwadar port through a network of roads, railways and pipelines to transport cargo, oil and gas.
Thousands on Saturday attended the funeral of renowned religious scholar and parliamentarian Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, who was stabbed to death on Friday at his residence in garrison city of Rawalpindi, local media reported.The funeral was held in Akora Khattak, Haq’s native town located some 123 kilometers (76 miles) from capital Islamabad, which was attended by thousands of his students, party activists, politicians and parliamentarians.He was laid to rest in the courtyard of Jamia Haqqania, for which he served as principal for decades.Haq, 82, was stabbed to death by two unknown guests who came to see him at his residence, according to initial investigations.Life back to normal after protests end in PakistanHis guard and servant who were taken into custody by the police for questioning told investigators that the two guests came and desired to see Haq who was resting in his bedroom.Haq, according to the two, sent them to a nearby market to buy some refreshment for the guests. When they returned home, they found Haq lying in a pool of blood, the guard and the servant claimed.The police, according to English daily Dawn, have released the two employees so that they could attend Haq’s funeral indicating that the two could be detained for further questioning.China says more talks needed on economic aid for PakistanHaq, a former senator, was head of a famous religious seminary at Akora Khattak town in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where several Afghan Taliban leaders, including their slain founding leader Mullah Omer, studied. For this reason, he was often referred to as the "Father of Taliban".He was member of the Senate from 1985 to 1991 and again from 1991 to 1997.In the July general election, he aligned with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.
Pakistan's slain religious scholar laid to rest
Education institutions, roads and markets reopened on Saturday across the country after the government reached an agreement with religious groups last night, an official said."The protest has been called off after government accepted our demands and signed an agreement with our party" Peer Muhammad Afzal Qadri, Patron in Chief of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan told reporters.The religious groups agreed to call off the protest following government assurances of placing a travel ban on Aasia Bibi and no objection to a review petition against the verdict in the top court.On Wednesday, the Supreme Court acquitted Aasia Bibi, a christian women, who had been sentenced to death by a district court in November 2010 for blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.Angry protesters, mainly the newly-emerged Sunni group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), blocked roads in the capital Islamabad, and other cities and towns, including Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Sialkot, suspending commercial and business activities and paralyzing traffic.Pakistan: Acquittal of Christian woman protestedPakistani premier to pay official visit to ChinaThe government also closed all education institutions across the country due to blocking of roads and violent protests.Intermittent incidents of violence, including burning of vehicles and pelting of security troops with stones were reported in some cities on social media, however, there was no confirmation of the reported violence. News channels did not cover the protests following government orders in an attempt to cool down mounting tensions.However, the agreement signed by government ministers and TLP leaders read that the government has assured the religious groups to released all the people who were arrested by law enforcement agencies during the violent protest in different parts of the country.Bibi has been kept at an undisclosed location for her safety.Her brother James Masih told local English daily Dawn that his sister had no other option but to leave the country soon. France and Spain have already offered asylum to Bibi and her family.Making up 3 percent of a total 210 million population, Christians are one of the two largest minorities in Muslim Pakistan.In Pakistan, blasphemy against Islam or Prophet Muhammad is a criminal offense that can carry the death penalty. While the state has never executed anyone under the law, mere allegations have stirred mass protests and violence.Pakistan's army denies role in Aasia Bibi acquittalChina promises Pakistan support as Khan tells of 'very difficult' economyPakistan: Talks falter, more Aasia Bibi protests loom
Life back to normal after protests end in Pakistan
China will provide Pakistan with economic aid but more talks will take place to fix the details, a senior Chinese diplomat said, after new Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday.Pakistan's foreign reserves have plunged 42 percent since the start of the year and now stand at about $8 billion, or less than two months of import cover.Last month, Pakistan received a $6 billion rescue package from Saudi Arabia, but officials say it is not enough and the country still plans to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to avert a balance of payments crisis.It would be Pakistan's 13th rescue package from the multilateral lender since the late 1980s.Pakistan's army denies role in Aasia Bibi acquittalSpeaking to reporters in Beijing's Great Hall of the People following Khan's talks with Li, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said his country would help."During the visit the two sides have made it clear in principle that the Chinese government will provide necessary support and assistance to Pakistan in tiding over the current economic difficulties," Kong said."As for specific measures to be taken, the relevant authorities of the two sides will have detailed discussions," he added, without giving details.Khan told Chinese President Xi Jinping the previous day that he had inherited "a very difficult economic situation" at home.China promises Pakistan support as Khan tells of 'very difficult' economyThough China is Pakistan's closest ally, Khan's newly elected government has sought to re-think the two countries' signature project, the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which Beijing touts as the flagship infrastructure programme in its vast Belt and Road Initiative.Pakistan has looked to amend CPEC to put greater emphasis on projects that focus on social development, rather than purely on infrastructure.Kong said there would be no change in the number of projects under CPEC."There is no change at all. If there were, it would only be to increase, not decrease" the number of projects, he added.However the scope of the project would increase and will tilt in favour of people's livelihoods, Kong said, also without elaborating.After visiting Beijing, Khan is set to be a key note speaker at a major import fair in Shanghai, an event that China hopes will show the world the country welcomes foreign companies and their products. 
China says more talks needed on economic aid for Pakistan
Chinese reiterated its full support to Pakistan's commitments and counter-terrorism efforts and commended the sacrifices made by the Pakistani nation in fight against terrorism, the statement said.
“The Chinese side recognized Pakistan's efforts in actively strengthening financial regulations to combat terrorism financing and called on all relevant parties to view Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts in an objective and fair manner,” it added.
Meanwhile, Pakistan also reaffirmed its “unwavering support” for one-China policy and reiterated its opposition to any attempt to undermine China's sovereignty.
Chinese leadership noted the growing volume of bilateral trade and agreed to take concrete measure to address trade imbalance with Pakistan.
To resolve the imbalance and trade deficit issue, the two sides agreed to conclude the second phase of the China-Pakistan free trade agreement “as early as possible” and continue discussion on the Pakistan-China agreement on trade in Service.
Chinese chipmaker Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co Ltd said on Saturday it has not stolen any technology, after the U.S. Justice Department indicted the state-back firm for stealing trade secrets.The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday indicted Fujian Jinhua, Taiwan's United Microelectronics Corp and three individuals for conspiring to steal trade secrets from U.S. semiconductor company Micron Technology Inc relating to its research and development of memory storage devices.Earlier in the week, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration took action to cut Fujian Jinhua off from U.S. suppliers.Trump says 'I think we'll make a deal with China' on tradeChina says more talks needed on economic aid for Pakistan"Behaviour to steal another firm's technology does not exist," Fujian Jinhua said in a statement posted on its official website."Micron regards the development of Fujian Jinhua as a threat and adopts various means to hamper and destroy the development of Fujian Jinhua," the statement said.The company "always attaches great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights," Fujian Jinhua added.The move to block Fujian Jinhua escalated what until now had been a business dispute into the realm of an international trade conflict between the United States and China.The world's top two economies are already waging a tariff war over their trade disputes, with U.S. duties in place on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods and Chinese duties on $110 billion of U.S. goods.The U.S. moves could seriously damage the ambitions of Fujian Jinhua, a firm of strategic importance to China.US official denies report of possible China trade dealTesla seeks to reduce tariff impact for Model 3 by making cars in ChinaChina promises Pakistan support as Khan tells of 'very difficult' economy
Chinese chip firm Fujian Jinhua denies stealing IP from Micron
Australia's trade minister will travel to China on Sunday, in a sign that political tensions between the two countries may be easing.Simon Birmingham, the first senior Australian government official to visit China in a year, will attend the China International Import Expo, or CIIE, seen as an attempt by Beijing to allay foreign concern about its trade practices.Relations between Australia and the world's No.2 economy have been at low ebb over accusations of China's influence in Australia's media, universities and politics and its use of loans to build leverage over poorer South Pacific island nations.Australia to help PNG build a navy base to fend-off ChinaIn August, Australia banned Huawei Technologies Co Ltd from supplying equipment for a 5G mobile network citing national security risks, a move the Chinese telecoms gear maker criticised as being "politically motivated".China, however, remains Australia's top goods and services trading partner, accounting for 24 percent, or A$183.4 billion ($132 billion), of total trade in 2017, according to data from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.Birmingham said in a statement on Saturday that Australia's "high-level" delegation, which includes representation from state and territory governments, "reflects our ongoing commitment to our relationship with China".TPP to take effect following Australia’s ratificationThe minister's press office said the hope is that Birmingham will meet with his Chinese counterpart, Commerce Minister Zhong Shan while in Shanghai.Later in the week, Birmingham will visit Hong Kong where he is expected to meet with Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau, "to move forward negotiations on the Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement".Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to open the CIIE with a speech on Monday. No officials from the United States, China's top trading partner, will attend, although leaders from 18 countries and thousands of foreign companies will be present.Australia must assess security threats in 5G network: spy chief
Australia trade minister to visit China in sign of thaw
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he will likely make a deal with China on trade, adding that a lot of progress had been made to resolve the two countries' differences but warning that he still may impose more tariffs on Chinese goods."China very much wants to make a deal," Trump told reporters in Washington just hours after his top economic adviser expressed caution about talk of a possible U.S.-China trade agreement."We've had a very good discussions with China, we're getting much closer to doing something," Trump said before departing the White House for a campaign event."I spoke with President Xi (Jinping) yesterday. They very much want to make a deal," Trump said.US official denies report of possible China trade deal"I think we'll make a deal with China, and I think it will be a very fair deal for everybody, but it will be a good deal for the United States."Trump said he will discuss trade with Xi when the two meet for dinner on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit at the end of November in Buenos Aires, Argentina.His administration has demanded that Beijing make sweeping changes to its policies on intellectual property protections, technology transfers, industrial subsidies and domestic market access, along with steps to reduce a $375 billion U.S. goods trade deficit with China.Trump said a deal with China would also be good for Beijing.Russia and Cuba urge US to rethink exit from nuclear arms pact"If we can open up China and make it fair, for the first time ever -- this should have done years ago by other presidents but it wasn't -- I am very much willing to do it. But China very much wants to make a deal," he said.Trump's comments came a day after a phone call with Xi that he described as "very good.".The president's remarks helped U.S. stocks to trim their losses on a day that started with market optimism over a Bloomberg report quoting unnamed sources as saying that Trump had ordered his cabinet to draw up terms for a China trade deal.But by midday, shares had turned negative, weighed down by Apple Inc.'s disappointing earnings forecast and comments from White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow that he was less optimistic than previously about a deal between Washington and Beijing.Trump supporters’ election test: a movement or a momentKudlow, speaking on CNBC, contradicted the Bloomberg report and added: "There's no mass movement, there's no huge thing. We're not on the cusp of a deal."One of China's vice commerce ministers Wang Bingnan said on Saturday the country is willing to resolve trade issues with the United States through mutually respectful talks and on an equal footing, similar to past comments from Beijing.Trump administration officials have said U.S.-China trade talks cannot resume until Beijing outlines specific actions it would take to meet U.S. demands for sweeping changes to policies on technology transfers, industrial subsidies and market access.Trump said that if a deal is not made with China, he could impose tariffs on another $267 billion in Chinese imports into the United States, adding that China's economy had "been hit very hard" by previous U.S. tariffs.The United States has imposed tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods so far, while China has retaliated with $110 billion worth of tariffs on U.S. goods.The Trump administration also has taken action to hit the Chinese semiconductor industry, indicting two companies accused of stealing trade secrets and banning U.S. software and equipment exports to one of them. 
Trump says 'I think we'll make a deal with China' on trade