K J M Varma

Stories by K J M Varma

China wants 'all parties to guide Taliban actively'

China wants 'all parties to guide Taliban actively'

Rediff.com   30 Aug 2021

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during his telephonic conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday, discussed the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan amidst chaotic airlifts of Afghan civilians and diplomats by the US and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries before the August 31 deadline.

China, US hold military-level talks over Afghanistan

China, US hold military-level talks over Afghanistan

Rediff.com   28 Aug 2021

Deputy director for the People's Liberation Army Office for International Military Cooperation Major General Huang Xueping held a video conference with his US counterpart Michael Chase last week.

China, Taliban hold their 1st diplomatic dialogue in Kabul

China, Taliban hold their 1st diplomatic dialogue in Kabul

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2021

"China and the Afghan Taliban have unimpeded and effective communication and consultation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing in Beijing.

China has big role to play in Af's rebuilding, reconstruction: Taliban

China has big role to play in Af's rebuilding, reconstruction: Taliban

Rediff.com   20 Aug 2021

China is a big country with a huge economy and capacity. They can play a big role in rebuilding, reconstruction of Afghanistan," Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said.

China approves 3-child policy with sops

China approves 3-child policy with sops

Rediff.com   20 Aug 2021

The decision to permit the third child came after this month's once-in-a-decade census showed that China's population grew at the slowest pace to 1.412 billion amid official projections that the decline may begin as early as next year.

Taliban 2.0 is 'clear-eyed and rational': China in 2nd endorsement in two days

Taliban 2.0 is 'clear-eyed and rational': China in 2nd endorsement in two days

Rediff.com   19 Aug 2021

China on Thursday said it is in talks with the Taliban and called for an "objective judgement" on their actions after it seized power in Afghanistan, saying the militant group appears to be more "cleareyed and rational" and hoped that it will deliver on its promises, including protection of women's rights.

Diplomatic recognition for Taliban only after government formation: China

Diplomatic recognition for Taliban only after government formation: China

Rediff.com   18 Aug 2021

"If we have to recognise a government, the first thing is that we will need to wait until the government is formed," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.

Hope for 'open, inclusive' Islamic govt in Afghanistan: China

Hope for 'open, inclusive' Islamic govt in Afghanistan: China

Rediff.com   16 Aug 2021

China on Monday expressed the hope that the Taliban will stand by its commitment of establishing an "open and inclusive" Islamic government in Afghanistan and will ensure a peaceful transition of power without violence and terrorism.

China seizes maps showing Arunachal in India

China seizes maps showing Arunachal in India

Rediff.com   30 Jul 2021

China claims the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of South Tibet, which is firmly rejected by India.

Blinken's meeting with Dalai Lama representatives irks China

Blinken's meeting with Dalai Lama representatives irks China

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2021

China firmly opposes all forms of contacts between foreign officials and the Dalai Lama, he said.

China pledges support to Taliban, asks them not to back Uyghur fighters

China pledges support to Taliban, asks them not to back Uyghur fighters

Rediff.com   28 Jul 2021

Amid deepening concerns in China over the regrouping of the ETIM, blamed by Beijing for all the violent attacks in its volatile Xinjiang province and elsewhere in the country, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Mullah Baradar at Tianjin and sought to prevail on him to build a 'positive image and establish a broad and inclusive political structure that suits Afghanistan's national realities'.

China, Pak agree to launch 'joint actions' in Afghanistan

China, Pak agree to launch 'joint actions' in Afghanistan

Rediff.com   26 Jul 2021

The decision was taken during a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Pakistan counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the southwestern the Chinese city of Chengdu on Saturday.

China goes on offensive against US at bilateral talks

China goes on offensive against US at bilateral talks

Rediff.com   26 Jul 2021

Talks between Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman to improve the relations got off on a rough note at the northeastern Chinese port city of Tianjin, with Xie launching a blistering attack on Washington, accusing it of being the "owner of coercive diplomacy".

Xi makes first visit to Tibetan town bordering Arunachal Pradesh

Xi makes first visit to Tibetan town bordering Arunachal Pradesh

Rediff.com   23 Jul 2021

Xi arrived at the Nyingchi Mainling Airport on Wednesday and was warmly welcomed by local people and officials of various ethnic groups, Xinhua news agency reported.

China's economic growth slows to 7.9% in Q2

China's economic growth slows to 7.9% in Q2

Rediff.com   15 Jul 2021

China's post COVID-19 pandemic economic rebound showed signs of slowdown as the economy grew at 7.9 per cent in the second quarter compared to a record 18.3 per cent in Q1, while the GDP expanded 12.7 per cent year on year in the first half amid the continued global spread of the coronavirus and unbalanced domestic recovery. In the second quarter, the GDP of the second largest economy in the world grew 7.9 per cent year on year, the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS) on Thursday showed. On a quarterly basis, the economy expanded 1.3 per cent in Q2.

Ladakh row: China 'ready to seek mutually acceptable solution'

Ladakh row: China 'ready to seek mutually acceptable solution'

Rediff.com   15 Jul 2021

During their hour-long in-person meeting on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conclave in Dushanbe on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also told his Chinese counterpart and State Councilor Wang Yi that any unilateral change in the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was 'not acceptable' to India and that the overall ties can only develop after full restoration of peace and tranquillity in eastern Ladakh.

Make 'clean break' from all terrorist forces, China tells Taliban

Make 'clean break' from all terrorist forces, China tells Taliban

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2021

In a significant policy statement on the Taliban which is making big gains in its offensive in Afghanistan, China has asked it to make a "clean break" from all terrorist forces, especially the Al Qaida-backed Uyghur Muslim militant group ETIM fighting for the volatile Xinjiang province's independence.

Man in China reunites with son 24 years after abduction

Man in China reunites with son 24 years after abduction

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2021

Guo Xinzhen went missing in September 1997, at age two-and-a-half years abducted by human traffickers while he was playing near the family home in Liaocheng.

India, China trade crosses $57 billion in H1

India, China trade crosses $57 billion in H1

Rediff.com   13 Jul 2021

The China-India bilateral trade in the first half of the year totalled $57.48 billion, up 62.7 per cent year on year, perhaps the highest in recent years amid the Ladakh impasse and the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data released by China's Customs. Though Indian exports to China picked up with 69.6 per cent year on year increase, the trade deficit, a structural problem for India for long, climbed to 55.6 per cent. According to data released by China's Customs, India's exports to China reached $14.724 billion, up 69.6 per cent year on year in the first six months and India's imports from China amounted to $42.755 billion, up 60.4 per cent.

Taliban calls China as a 'friend', welcomes investment

Taliban calls China as a 'friend', welcomes investment

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2021

'China is a friendly country and we welcome it for reconstruction and developing Afghanistan'