VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 6th November, 2018

PAKISTAN
Alice Wells arrives in Pakistan to 'follow up on Qureshi, Pompeo meeting': Dawn
November 6, 2018

United States (US) diplomat Alice Wells arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday on a one-day visit and is expected to meet high-ranking Foreign Ministry officials in Islamabad. According to Government of Pakistan official Twitter account, Wells will discuss "Pakistan-US ties, regional situation and Afghan peace process". The purpose of the meetings between Wells and Pakistani officials will be to follow up on Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier this month "with a view to further strengthen bilateral relations", Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal had said yesterday. Click here to Read.. [2]

AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan-China Air Corridor Inaugurated: Tolo News
November 6, 2018

President Ashraf Ghani inaugurated Afghanistan-China air cargo corridor on Tuesday morning – an air corridor that will hopefully generate millions of dollars in revenue for Afghanistan a year. The Presidential Palace said in a statement that the new air corridor will be used to export between $700 and $800 million worth of Afghanistan’s pine nuts to China annually. During the inauguration Ghani said that pine nuts, pistachio nuts and cumin are hidden treasures of Afghanistan, and government is committed to bringing out its full potential via trade corridors. He also added that farmers are determined to protect pine nut trees and work to increase their productivity. The statement further said that 20 tons of pine nuts per day will be exported to China until the end of the season this year. Click here to Read.. [3]

SRI LANKA
Thousands rally in support of Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo: Al Jazeera
November 6, 2018

Tens of thousands of people have rallied in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, in support of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's controversial appointment as prime minister. Monday's rally, near the parliament house, came amid a deepening constitutional crisis triggered by President Maithripala Sirisena's decision to replace Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with Rajapaksa on October 26. Despite the heavy rain, Rajapaksa's supporters gathered in Colombo chanting: "Whose power is this? Mahinda's power?" and "Whose people are these? Mahinda's people." Click here to Read.. [4]

CHINA
Xi unveils opening-up measures: China Daily
November 6, 2018

President Xi Jinping announced a number of measures on Monday, including lowered tariffs and eased market access, intended to promote common growth and build an open global economy. In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the first China International Import Expo, in Shanghai, Xi introduced China's plan to boost economic openness and called on the world to promote free trade and facilitate investment. Click here to Read.. [5]

President holds talks with dignitaries: China Daily
November 6, 2018

China and Russia should continue to deepen cooperation in areas including energy, agriculture, finance, science and innovation, President Xi Jinping said while meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Xi noted that both China and Russia are at critical stages of national development and rejuvenation. Faced with an unprecedented and complicated international environment, it is even more important to maintain high-level Sino-Russian relations and consolidate bilateral strategic coordination. Click here to Read.. [6]