BEIJING/OSLO: China’s Foreign Ministry expressed anger yesterday at plans by the Dalai Lama to visit Norway, a country with which China already has strained ties following the awarding of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize to prominent Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. “China resolutely opposes any country receiving the Dalai Lama. China resolutely opposes any form of official meetings with the Dalai Lama by government officials of other countries,” ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing.
Japan, China to fix frosty ties
TOKYO: Japan’s foreign minister and the Chinese envoy to Tokyo met yesterday in a rare courtesy call described as “friendly”, with the two Asian giants looking to mend frosty ties. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, whose department has repeatedly summoned Ambassador Cheng Yonghua in recent months, declined to detail what the two discussed beyond saying they had “meaningful exchanges” based on their “mutually beneficial relationship.”
53 workers deported
SINGAPORE: Singapore said it had deported 53 South Asian workers allegedly involved in the city-state’s first riot in four decades, while four awaited repatriation yesterday. Officials on Tuesday had said they were deporting 52 Indians and one Bangladeshi and pursuing criminal charges against 28 for their role in the December 8 rampage. The rare riot left 39 persons, including police officers, injured and 25 vehicles damaged or burnt.
Agencies
