General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith arrived in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, on Tuesday for a five-day state visit.

Authorities in Luzhi township of Suzhou, East China’s Jiangsu Province, said a fire broke out at a scrap recycling warehouse around noon on Wednesday. The blaze was extinguished without causing environmental pollution, and two people who suffered burns were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, per the authorities. 

Prior to the statement, videos circulating online show a white mushroom cloud rising above the facility, with explosions heard by witnesses before the white mushroom cloud, according to media including Dahe Daily affiliated with Henan Daily. 

The local emergency management bureau confirmed with Dahe Daily that relevant departments were handling the incident after the explosions.

According to media reports, there were two explosions heard. A witness surnamed Jiang said the fire started at 10 am. The first explosions occurred between 1:30-2:00 pm and the second at around 3:20 pm. A white mushroom cloud could be seen rising from the site, Xiaoxiang Morning Post reported. 

Jiang’s workplace was only a few dozen meters from the affected factory. The blast wave shattered nearby windows and brought down parts of the company's aging ceiling. The witness experienced ringing in the ears from the shock wave generated by the explosion, but did not smell any unusual odors because of the wind direction at the workplace, according to Xiaoxiang Morning Post.

Former abbot of the renowned Shaolin Temple Shi Yongxin, originally named Liu Yingcheng, was sentenced on Friday to 24 years in prison and fined 3.5 million yuan ($488,050) for committing the crimes of occupational embezzlement, fund misappropriation, bribery as a non-state employee, and offering bribes, China Central Television (CCTV) News reported.

This case was publicly pronounced by the Intermediate People's Court of Xinxiang City in Central China's Henan Province. The Procuratorate found through trial that the defendant Liu, while serving as the abbot of Shaolin Temple and president of the Shaolin charity and welfare foundation, abused his official authority. 

Between 2003 and 2025, Liu illegally embezzled over 131 million yuan of institutional assets either alone or in complicity with others. From 2012 to 2022, he misappropriated more than 151 million yuan of institutional funds for personal use and failed to repay the money within the statutory three-month period.

Starting in July 2006, Liu rendered assistance to others in undertaking construction projects and related business operations for Shaolin Temple, in return for which he illicitly accepted assets worth a total of over 11.63 million yuan.

From 1995 to 2022, to seek improper gains, Liu also offered bribes totaling more than 5.67 million yuan to state officials.

The Procuratorate ruled that Liu's conduct constituted the crimes of occupational embezzlement, fund misappropriation, bribery committed by non-state functionaries, and bribery of state functionaries.

Given the exceptionally huge sums implicated in Liu's crimes, as well as the especially aggravated circumstances surrounding his bribery offences, the protracted duration of his criminal acts, grave consequences and damaging social fallout, the Procuratorate sentenced him in accordance with the law to 24 years in jail and a fine of 3.5 million yuan, per CCTV News.

Upon the pronouncement of the verdict, Liu pleaded guilty in court and stated he would not lodge an appeal.

The Buddhist Association of China on Friday evening issued a statement on its official website stating that it believes Liu's sentencing was entirely self‑inflicted. This ruling embodies the principle that all are equal before the law and serves as a stern warning for members in Buddhist circles, read the statement.

The Procuratorate announced on March 20, 2026 that it has filed public charges against Liu, the Xinhua News Agency reported, citing sources at the procuratorate. Earlier on July 27, 2025, the Shaolin temple management office announced in a statement that Liu is under a joint investigation by several departments.

During an unannounced visit on December 14, 2025, to Shaolin Temple, Liu Ning, secretary of the Communist Party of China Henan Provincial Committee, called on religious figures to take the lead in abiding by laws and regulations and strictly observing religious discipline, continuously enhance their spiritual cultivation, properly handle the relationship between Shaolin Temple and Shaolin culture, clarify the boundaries between Shaolin Temple, the Songshan Mountain scenic area, and cultural and tourism development, return to the true essence of religion, and safeguard the reputation and image of Shaolin Temple, Henan Daily reported.

Shen Zhixiong, a senior colonel from the National Defense University and member of China's delegation to the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), raised a pointed question to Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday morning.

The fifth plenary session of the SLD was held on Friday morning, during which Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi delivered a speech and mentioned "neo-militarism." In the interactive session, Shen said he was pleased that Koizumi had mentioned "new militarism" in his remarks. Shen pointed out that recently, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited the Australian War Memorial and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. However, victimized countries in Asia have not received any apologies or expressions of remorse from Japanese government.

China believes that genuine legal reconciliation must be based on reflection on history that treats all victim nations equally, Shen said. 

"Whether the Japanese government is prepared to respond in an equally serious and unequivocal manner to the concerns of China, South Korea, and victimized nations of Southeast Asia regarding the history of the Second World War, thereby creating the conditions for mutual trust and regional security," Shen asked.

In response to Shen's question, Koizumi didn't answer immediately. Instead, he appeared uneasy, lowering his head to look at the printed materials in his hands for a few seconds. Then he said that responding to the Chinese representative's question was "the difficult part." Then, he did not answer the question head-on.

Koizumi argued that Japan's defense policy and the defense build-up are not based on the idea of identifying any specific country or region as a threat or having a military confrontation. He then shifted the blame, claiming that China continues to increase its defense spending at the higher level and is rapidly expanding its military capabilities across a wide range of areas without sufficient transparency. China's external approach and military activities are matters of serious concern for Japan and the international community.

Later, he said that "Japan believes it is essential to have persistent, candid dialogue and communication without turning out, turning our eyes away from concrete and difficult issues precisely because challenges exist."

"Japan's refusal to apologize and its lack of profound reflection have angered people in Asian countries that suffered under Japanese militarism, as Japan's Asian neighbors were among those most severely affected," Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Sunday. 

Moreover, Japan has been vigorously developing offensive military capabilities, once again causing neighboring countries to feel the threat of a resurgence of Japanese militarism in recent years, Zhang added.

Zhang noted that Japan fundamentally lacks the sincerity to engage in dialogue with China and also lacks the political foundation for holding talks with China's defense minister. 

Koizumi's remarks are insincere and amount to nothing more than wishful thinking, he added.

US, Iran reach deal to extend ceasefire by 60 days, but need Trump's final approval: Axios

Rescuers early Sunday deployed mine inspection robots underground to assist search efforts, as rescue efforts continued on Sunday, after a gas explosion trapped 247 workers at the Liushenyu coal mine operated by Shanxi Tongzhou Group in Qinyuan County, North China's Shanxi Province on Friday, leaving 82 people dead, two missing and 128 injured as of Saturday night press conference, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The robots are equipped with gas sensors and real-time cameras, enabling it to enter areas inaccessible to rescuers to collect data and information. Rescue personnel also descended into the mine to operate the robots underground, Xinhua reported.

The rescue command headquarters for the Liushenyu coal mine explosion in Shanxi said the priority on Sunday is to conduct repeated underground search operations, particularly re-searching areas that have already been covered, to ensure no location is missed. A total of 335 professional rescuers and 420 medical personnel have been deployed at the scene to continue all-out efforts to search for the missing, according to China Central Television.

Another report by China Central Television on Sunday showed that the public notice board recording underground personnel indicated that 124 people had entered the mine at the time of the explosion. However, after verification by multiple parties, the actual number of people underground was found to be 247, with 123 individuals lacking valid information in the system. 

Officials said at the press conference on Saturday that among the 128 injured, 124 sustained minor injuries, two were seriously injured and two remained in critical condition, all of whom are receiving treatment.

Latest updates showed that the two severely injured patients receiving treatment at Changzhi People's Hospital are currently in stable condition, and 124 patients with minor injuries had been transferred to tertiary hospitals for close observation and treatment,according to Xinhua's report.

So far, seven rescue and medical teams comprising 755 personnel have been mobilized overnight to carry out search-and-rescue operations and treat the injured, Xinhua reported.

The frontline rescue headquarters said five rescuers wearing waterproof suits had entered deeper sections of the tunnels, but collapses and flooding inside the mine were making rescue work extremely difficult.

Shanxi has activated its medical emergency response mechanism, coordinating local medical resources and dispatching provincial medical experts to assist frontline rescue and treatment efforts.

China's National Health Commission organized multidisciplinary remote consultations involving trauma and intensive care specialists from Peking University People's Hospital and respiratory experts to optimize treatment plans. Three specialists from Beijing were also dispatched to the scene to support rescue and treatment efforts.

Regarding the explosion, the State Council investigation team said it would conduct a thorough probe into the cause of the accident, including local management, industry supervision and corporate responsibility, and vowed to impose severe punishment in accordance with the law. The company's actual controller and relevant executives have already been placed under compulsory measures.

Post-accident handling work is also underway.

Under the current plan, local authorities will establish dedicated task forces to work one-on-one with affected families, verify household information and provide emotional support and psychological counseling. Authorities will also advance compensation-related work and focus on assisting elderly, and vulnerable and financially struggling family members with practical difficulties and daily care needs.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic lays a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes on Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, May 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Dai Tianfang)

The Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in China and the International Cooperation Center of China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) jointly hosted China-Vietnam green industry international cooperation and exchange session in Beijing on Monday. Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh said the Vietnamese Embassy in China will continue to play a bridging role, working closely with institutions, businesses, and partners from both countries to promote concrete, efficient, and mutually beneficial green cooperation projects and programs.

In his speech, Ambassador Pham said the world is facing severe environmental challenges, including climate change, resource depletion, air and water pollution, and energy security. 

"These challenges warn us that green development is no longer just a trend, but has become an essential path and an urgent task for all countries to achieve sustainable development," he said. 

The event aims to enhance policy exchanges, share experiences, and promote substantive cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

The ambassador said that Vietnam highly appreciates China's tremendous achievements, especially since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, in environmental protection and comprehensive green development. 

China has made remarkable progress in developing renewable energy, restoring ecosystems, and controlling environmental pollution, he said. 

Vietnam believes that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), China will achieve more breakthroughs in ecological civilization, development of a Beautiful China, high-quality development, and high-level ecological and environmental protection, providing the world with China's green development solutions, Pham added. 

He then said the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State have identified green and sustainable development as a consistent strategic direction. The 14th National Congress of the CPV elevated environmental policy to the same level as economic and social policy, opening up new policy space for the 2026-30 period, considering green development as a "lever" for restructuring the growth model, which is linked to the quality of growth and national competitiveness.

Pham said that both Vietnam and China are developing countries undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization. Both are facing numerous environmental challenges, and therefore have broad prospects for cooperation in green industries.

In Pham's outlook, the two countries will fully implement the contents of the joint statement issued by the leaders of the two countries, and strengthen practical cooperation in the areas including pollution control, renewable energy, smart grids, cross-border ecological protection and green industrial parks. Meanwhile, both countries also need to enhance coordination and cooperation at multilateral occasions such as COP (Conference of the Parties) and the Mekong-Lancang River dialogues.

"Vietnam welcomes more Chinese companies with high-tech, environmentally friendly, and green development experience to make long-term investments and cooperate in Vietnam, especially in areas such as air pollution control, green smart city infrastructure, green transportation, and sustainable agriculture," said the ambassador. 

Wu Hongliang, director general of the International Cooperation Center of the NDRC, said at the session that China-Vietnam cooperation in green development has a solid foundation and broad prospects. Based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between China and Vietnam to deepen cooperation in the green industry, clean technologies and sustainable development, the NDRC is facilitating the implementation. It is expected that the event will elevate China-Vietnam cooperation in green industries to a new level and contribute more green strength to building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Wu said. 

Wu suggested to implement the MOU through strengthening the alignment of policies and promote the joint development of green standards; deepening practical cooperation in green manufacturing, clean energy, and the circular economy; and improving the long-term technical and talent support mechanism.

The International Cooperation Center of the NDRC will continue to build an exchange platform for green industry cooperation between China and Vietnam, promote policy communication, industrial alignment and experience sharing, and drive more cooperation intentions to be transformed into tactical results, injecting green momentum into the high-quality economic and social development of both countries and the development of bilateral relations, said Wu. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin touched down in Beijing on Tuesday night, where he was greeted by senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, placing the Chinese capital back in the international spotlight just days after US President Donald Trump's visit.

"China welcomes President Putin's state visit to China," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun at a press conference on Tuesday, when Chinese and Russian national flags fluttered along several major streets across Beijing. 

The visit marks Putin's 25th trip to China - more than any other incumbent leader of a major country.

Observers said the frequency of such exchanges reflects the depth of China-Russia ties. In a complex and shifting global landscape, the relationship has demonstrated notable resilience, with both sides emphasizing non-alliance, non-confrontation and a commitment not to target third parties - an approach they say supports global stability and a more multipolar international order.

'Unprecedented level'

In a video address delivered before his state visit to China, Putin said Russia-China relations have reached "a truly unprecedented level," Xinhua News Agency reported. 

Putin also noted that 25 years ago, Russia and China signed the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, which laid a solid foundation for a genuinely strategic relationship and comprehensive partnership for the benefit of the two countries and two peoples.

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination.

The special nature of Russia-China relations is reflected in the atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust, a commitment to pursuing win-win and equitable cooperation, conducting respectful dialogue, and supporting each other on matters affecting the core interests of both countries, including protection of sovereignty and state unity, he said.

International media have drawn attention to the close and enduring ties between Beijing and Moscow.

In a report on Monday, The Guardian noticed that Putin's visit to Beijing came just "four days after Donald Trump left China after a high-stakes summit," adding that the two leaders have met on more than 40 occasions, far outstripping Chinese leaders' encounters with Western leaders. 

The AP reported that the last time Putin visited China, the two heads of state called each other "friend," and noted Putin is also scheduled to visit China for the APEC summit in the city of Shenzhen in November. 

German media DW said that Putin's visit "highlights China's influential position in a geopolitical landscape that is increasingly fractured and marked by great power rivalries." 

Some Western media outlets have revived the old narrative of an "alliance" between China and Russia. CNBC, for instance, reported that "Washington is likely to closely monitor what emerges," reflecting heightened attention from the US side.

On Monday, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said that Moscow and Beijing "are not allying against anyone," "we are working together in the name of peace and everyone's prosperity," per Tass. 

Li Yongquan, director of Eurasian Social Development Research at the Development Research Center of the State Council, said the principle of developing China and Russia ties based on non-alliances, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third country represents the historical wisdom of the experience gained in China-Russia relations. 

Guided by this principle, the two countries have forged a model of a new type of major-country relations, which has also exerted a very positive impact on regional security and the global order, the expert said. 

Practical cooperation, multipolar vision

On Tuesday, Ushakov told a press briefing that the Russian delegation accompanying the president on his visit to China will be "quite representative,'' Tass reported. It added that the delegation includes five deputy prime ministers and eight ministers, ranging from sectors like agriculture, culture, transport, economy, finance, construction, and education. 

Besides, Russia's Central Bank governor Elvira Nabiullina, heads of a number of Russian regions, CEOs of state corporations and Russia's largest, as well as top executives of Russia's largest companies will accompany the Russian leader.

Ushakov said that Russia and China will sign around 40 documents, per Tass. 

Citing an analyst, CNBC commented that the size and composition of the Russian delegation suggest Moscow hopes to expand bilateral cooperation across multiple areas. 

Li Yongquan said that China-Russia trade has grown rapidly in total volume in recent years. Moreover, the trade structure was changing from the previous heavy reliance on energy. For instance, China's exports of automobiles and electronic products to Russia have increased notably, and industrial and supply chains cooperation in science and technology is also expected to deepen further.

According to China's Ministry of Commerce, bilateral trade reached approximately $228 billion in 2025, exceeding the 200-billion-dollar threshold for a third consecutive year. China has remained Russia's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years.

Both China and Russia have well-established policy frameworks for aligning their respective development strategies, and are steadily elevating the status of emerging markets and developing countries in their foreign policies, said Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University. 

China-Russia relations have always been, are now and will always maintain a sound momentum for steady progress, marked by aligned development blueprints, all-round practical coordination and proactive diplomatic strategic interactions, he added. 

Beyond deepening bilateral cooperation, Beijing and Moscow, two major powers of pivotal importance in the world, have also drawn global attention for their coordination.

In a video address before his departure, Putin stressed that the close strategic relationship between Russia and China plays a major, stabilizing role globally. "Without allying against anyone, we seek peace and universal prosperity," according to Xinhua. 

"It is in this spirit that Moscow and Beijing act in a coordinated manner to defend international law and the provisions of the UN Charter in their entirety, completeness and interconnectedness," Putin said.

"We support active cooperation through the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, and other multilateral entities, making a substantial contribution to resolving pressing global and regional challenges," he added, per Xinhua. 

On the same day, Ushakov also told media that the two sides will adopt a Joint Declaration on the Emergence of a Multipolar World and a New Type of International Relations. 

Both China and Russia are staunch supporters of the UN-centered international system and firm advocates of multipolarity, said Li Haidong. 

Positioned as a partnership free of alignment and targeting no third party, China-Russia relations not only serve as a successful practice in advancing global peace, prosperity and stability, but also represent active efforts to steer the world away from outdated mindsets and paths, he said. 

Bilateral coordination between Beijing and Moscow proves that major powers can rise above bloc confrontation and zero-sum games, effectively advance multipolarity and foster greater stability and certainty amid global changes, the expert added. 

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to undertake a three-day visit to China, starting May 23, Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday, Pakistani media Dawn reported on Wednesday.

According to the Dawn, speaking at a ceremony, Ishaq Dar underscored that Pakistan and China were taking "another significant step towards innovation, digital connectivity and the economy of the future as our partnership enters a new phase in the digital age."

He remarked that Pakistan-China friendship was "not ordinary diplomacy," per the report.

"It is a relationship tested by time and strengthened by trust […] from the Karakoram Highway, carved through some of the most difficult terrain in the world, to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which transformed Pakistan's energy and connectivity landscape," he continued. Dawn reported.

Earlier, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to China, which ran from April 25 to May 1, included stops in Hunan and Hainan provinces, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Regarding the trip, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at the regular April 27 press briefing that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, with bilateral ties maintaining strong momentum at a high level of development, Lin said at a regular news briefing.

China stands ready to work with Pakistan to promote friendly exchanges and cooperation at all levels and in various regions, and jointly build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future, Lin added.