Separately, China is also processing requests of thousands of Indian students studying in Chinese universities who have conveyed their interest to re-join their colleges and universities.

Zhao said some US officials are trying to add fuel to the fire and pointing fingers.

Rajapaksa said China indicated that it would help Sri Lanka, while adding that "usually they don't like" lending out more money to cover earlier debt payments.

The US "Indo-Pacific Strategy" is bound to be a failed strategy, Wang said in the comments posted by the Chinese foreign ministry on its website.

Beijing reported 53 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total to over 500 cases as the capital continues enforcing strict anti-virus measures and postponed school reopening for a week as a precautionary measure.

Beijing's health officials on Monday announced 29 fresh cases taking the total cases to 70 in the city.

The Chinese mainland on Thursday reported 3,472 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, besides 20,782 asymptomatic cases, according to the National Health Commission.

Indian citizens in Eastern China Region may apply at the Embassy of India, Beijing for availing urgent consular services, the Consulate said in a notice issued on Tuesday.

China will host the third meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighbours in Tunxi, central China's Anhui province, on March 30-31, the spokesperson said.

The possibility that the data storage unit of the cockpit voice recorder was damaged cannot be ruled out at present.

Two days on, distressing videos have emerged showing the Boeing 737-800 on a domestic flight nose-dived into the mountains on Monday crashing with an explosion leaving its debris in a vast forested area making rescue efforts difficult.

China on Monday said it is planning to allow a small number of foreign students with 'actual needs' who are stuck in their countries for about two years due to its COVID visa bans to return to the country.

Much to the surprise of Beijing, Nepal's Parliament on Sunday ratified the contentious US-funded $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation compact along with an interpretive declaration a day ahead of the February 28 deadline set by Washington.

The Chinese foreign ministry has informed the Indian Embassy here "they are cognizant of the welfare of all foreign students, including Indian students".

China on Friday announced plans to boost space cooperation with Pakistan, including the development of a space centre and launching of more satellites for its all-weather ally.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday issued a new mobilisation order for the training of armed forces with a focus on developing an elite force capable of fighting and winning wars.

China is building the world's highest-altitude cloud computing data centre in Tibet that will meet the data storage needs of the country and South Asian nations like Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan, official media reported on Thursday.

Fan Bingbing, who has been ordered to pay $130 million (Rs 952 crore) for tax evasion, was reportedly kept at a "holiday resort" used by investigators in a suburb in the coastal province of Jiangsu.

Scandal-hit German carmaker Volkswagen on Monday said it will recall 1,950 diesel vehicles in China to rectify engine software that cheats on emissions tests.

Modi is scheduled to meet over 50 CEOs of Fortune 500 companies over dinner hosted in New York on September 24.