Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Tashkent for a state visit to Uzbekistan.

In a written speech delivered upon his arrival, the Chinese President hailed the time-honored friendship between China and Uzbekistan, saying the Silk Road has linked the two peoples together for more than 2,000 years. 

The president adds that history has proved it is the correct strategic choice for them to pursue everlasting friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation. 

After Uzbekistan, the Chinese president is to pay a state visit to Kyrgyzstan, where he will also attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

 

White House Chief of Staff on talk shows to make "strike Syria" case

US Secretary of State John Kerry says he has gained support from Arab League allies for a planned strike on Syria. 

Kerry says that nations in support of a strike are now in double figures.

So far support includes America's key gulf allies Saudi Arabia, Qartar and the UAE.

Meanwhile, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough is due to appear on all major morning talks shows to convince congress and the American public, that military action in Syria for its alledged chemical weapons attack is the right move. 

It comes ahead of a planned speech by President Barack Obama on Tuesday. 

Earlier, European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, said on behalf of EU ministers that they are convinced the Syrian government is responsible for the August attack.

Also on Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that the Syria issue should be dealt with under the framework of the UN security Council.

Wang added that China remains opposed to the use of force in international relations.

 

Egypt refers Muslim Brotherhood chief to criminal court for violence

The Egyptian prosecution is now refering the Muslim Brotherhood's General Guide Mohamed Badie to the criminal court for inciting violence and murder in recent clashes in Giza.

Another fourteen members of the brotherhood are also accused of the same charges.

The date for the trial has not yet been decided. 

This is the second time Badie has been referred to the criminal court. 

The first hearing was scheduled for August 25th but Badie failed to appear in court for security reasons. 

The trial has now been postponed to October 29th. 

More than 3,500 members of the brotherhood have been arrested since the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi on July 3rd.

 

Israel allocates 5,000 work permits for Palestinians from the West Bank

The Israeli cabinet has approved the allocation of 5,000 work permits to Palestinians from the West Bank.

The proposal has been submitted by Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon.

Israel says the work opportunities are aimed at assisting the Palestinian economy. 

It comes as part of a slew of Israeli good-will gestures to the Palestinian Authority following the recent resumption of Israeli- Palestinian peace talks.

Israel and Palestine restarted their peace negotiations on July 30th in Washington after a three-year halt.

Currently, there are 50-thousand Palestinians authorized to work in Israel, 39-thousand of which are permanent.

 

China's exports rise 7.2 pct in August

China's exports rose 7.2 percent year on year to more than 190 billion U.S. dollars in August, according to customs figures released today.

The growth rate was 2.1 percentage points higher than July. 

Imports also rose in August, gaining 7 percent to more than 162 billion U.S. dollars.

International investment, trade fair opens in Xiamen

More than 670 delegations from 100 countries and regions have gathered in China's southeastern coastal city of Xiamen to attend the 17th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT).

Among the participating groups are 250 from developed countries of Europe and North America and over 70 from emerging economies. 

The fair, sponsored by China's Ministry of Commerce, aims to facilitate global investment flows through the hosting of bilateral and multilateral economic promotion activities.

 

Delegates to elect leaders of Chinese Christian groups

The ninth National Chinese Christian Congress, or the top Christian authority in China, has opened in Beijing over the weekend.

Held every five years and set to conclude on Wednesday, the congress will review the past five years' work of the National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China and the China Christian Council . 

Also on the agenda will be an election of both organizations' new leadership. 

A total of 315 delegates from 30 provincial-level regions across the country attended the congress.

 

Official responds after confusion on imported medicine pricing

A Chinese official has cited tax, additional pricing by hospitals and bloated circulation fees as the cause of high-end imported medicine to be sold at higher prices on the mainland than in Hong Kong.

Guo Jianying, a senior official with the pricing division of the National Development and Reform Commission, made the remarks while attending a health-themed forum in Beijing. 

The comments came amid heated public debate over Hong Kong's lower prices for high-end imported pharmaceuticals than the mainland, which reportedly have lured many mainland buyers.