China supports Russia's proposal that Syria surrender its chemical weapons to international control for their eventual destruction.

Chinese President Xi Jinping made the statement while he addressed the 13th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Xi Jinping said Beijing supports the international community in seeking a ceasefire and an end to violence and in mediating dialogues and negotiations. 

President Xi Jinping returned to Beijing on Friday after state visits to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as attendance at G20 and SCO meetings.

 

SCO summit issues declaration, clarifies stand on key issues 

The leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members have issued a joint declaration in Bishkek, clarifying the bloc's stand on such key issues as Syria and combating terrorism.

The Bishkek Declaration called on SCO members to improve the legal basis of their cooperation in fighting international terrorism, separatism, extremism and organized cross-border crimes. 

On Syria, the member states expressed their grave concern and advocated that the region should achieve peace, stability, prosperity and progress without external interference, especially the interference of force, unauthorized by the UN Security Council.

 

China supports peace process in Syria

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei says that China supports a political and diplomatic resolution of the Syrian chemical weapon issue in order to give peace a chance.

Syria has formally applied to join the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, vowing to immediately fully abide with the treaty. 

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says Syria will provide an accounting of chemical weapons stocks in 30 days, standard practice under the treaty. 

Spokesman Hong Lei has urged parties concerned to convene a second international meeting on Syria in Geneva as soon as possible

He addes that only when Syria realizes complete reconciliation, safety and stability will Syrian people be fully safe.

 

French, British, U.S. top diplomats to meet Monday on Syrian issue 

Foreign ministers of France, Britain and the U.S. were scheduled to meet in Paris on Monday afternoon to discuss the Syrian crisis.

France's foreign ministry says France considers Syria's plan to sign up the global treaty banning chemical arms "insufficient" and that a U.N. resolution is necessary to end Syrian crisis.

 

China urges Japan to stop making excuses for boosting military power 

China has urged Japan to stop making excuses for boosting its military capacity after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his eagerness to advance national debate on lifting a self-imposed ban on collective self-defense.

Foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reportes that for historical reasons, Asian neighbors are highly concerned about Japan's development in terms of politics and security. China hopes Japan will follow a peaceful development path.

He said Japan should take history as a mirror, respect the concerns of countries in the region and do more to contribute to regional peace and stability.

 

4 rapists sentenced to death in Delhi gang rape

An Indian court has sentenced four men to death for fatally gang raping a young woman on a bus in New Delhi.

The verdict says the men were found guilty of rape, murder and destruction of evidence.

They will be hung to death.

5 men and a young offender gang-raped the medical student in a moving bus, then dumped her on the side of the road.

She died of her injuries two weeks later in hospital. 

The gang group leader committed suicide in prision soon after being put into custody.

 

Beijing forum on human rights concludes 

A deputy head of a leading Chinese human rights studies group has called for a sound legal and social environment in order to raise human rights awareness and promote international cooperation on human rights issues.

Ye Xiaowen, vice president of the China Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHRS), made the remarks at the closing ceremony of the sixth Beijing Forum on Human Rights, urging creation of a lasting peaceful environment for the popularization and sustainable development of human rights.

The two-day forum attracted more than 100 officials and human rights experts from the United Nations and 33 countries and regions, with topics covering rule of law, social management and regional stability in human rights issues.

 

China to raise retail fuel prices 

China raised its gasoline and diesel retail prices starting today.

The benchmark retail prices of gasoline and diesel rose by 0.07 yuan (1.1 U.S. cent) per liter.

The new price represents an increase of 90 yuan and 85 yuan per tonne for gasoline and diesel prices, respectively.

The NDRC recently raised gasoline and diesel prices on July 20 and August 31, making today's hike the third in two months.