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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in 2019. Mark Kauzlarich | ReutersBEIJING — China's top diplomat slammed the U.S. for worsening bilateral tensions, while reiterating Beijing's support for peaceful resolutions to the Israel-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine conflicts. Wang said the U.S. has been devising "new ways to suppress China," saying U.S. accusations against China had reached an "unbelievable degree." While he said he sees a way forward for both countries, Wang said communication between both countries may only continue by respecting and recognizing differences. After the unexplained dismissal of Qin Gang as foreign minister in July last year, Wang reassumed the role.

Persons: Wang Yi, Mark Kauzlarich, Joe Biden's, Biden, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Wang, Qin, Wang reassumed, hasn't, Xi's, Lai Ching Organizations: Reuters, Reuters BEIJING —, China -, CNBC, Communist Party of, Qin Gang, United Nations, Democratic Progressive Party Locations: Reuters BEIJING, Israel, Palestine, Russia, Ukraine, China, China - U.S, San Francisco, South China, U.S, Gaza, Beijing, Taiwan, South

☆ China's ex-Foreign Minister Qin Gang was ousted after alleged affair, WSJ reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends a press conference after talks with his Dutch counterpart Wopke Hoekstra in Beijing, China, May 23, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/Pool/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 19 (Reuters) - China's former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who was ousted from his position in July, had an extramarital affair while he was ambassador to the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with a briefing. The report said Qin was cooperating with the investigation, which was now focused on whether the affair or Qin's conduct had compromised China's national security. Senior Chinese officials were told that an internal Communist Party investigation found Qin engaged in the affair throughout his tenure as China's ambassador to the United States, the report said. Qin was replaced by veteran diplomat Wang Yi in July as the foreign minister after a mysterious one-month absence from duties barely half a year into the job.

Persons: Qin Gang, Wopke Hoekstra, Thomas Peter /, Qin, spokeperson Mao Ning, Wang Yi, Shubham, Neil Fullick, Michael Perry Organizations: Foreign, REUTERS, Wall Street, Senior, Communist Party, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, United States, U.S, Washington, Bengaluru

☆ China VCs have a big problem — and it’s not just a drop in U.S. investor appetite
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Among China-focused investment firms, only four U.S. dollar-denominated venture capital funds established between 2015 and 2020 have at least returned investors all the money they put in. Alternative assets include venture capital, but not publicly traded stocks and bonds. Preqin doesn't track every single China VC fund, and only included those with data as of the end of last year or more recently. In the world of early-stage investing, "limited partners" (typically institutions) give money to "general partners" (venture capital funds) to invest into startups. The outperforming funds were: Loyal Valley Capital Advantage Fund I, Hillhouse Fund II, Oceanpine USD Fund I and HighLight Capital USD Fund II.

Persons: Preqin, —, Reuben Lai, “, Reuben Lai Preqin, they'd, Alex Shum, Preqin's Lai, there's, Lai, Jinjian Zhang, Vitalbridge, Zhang Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, ., China VC, CNBC, Fengshion, Investment Fund, LYFE Capital, GGV, BioTrack, U.S, Capital, II, Sequoia, Sequoia Capital China Growth Fund, TPG NewQuest Locations: Shenzhen, China, BEIJING, That's, Preqin, Greater China, Beijing, IPOs, Vitalbridge, Shanghai

☆ Chinese defence minister under investigation for corrupt procurement
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The investigation into Li relates to procurement of military equipment, according to a regional security official and three people in direct contact with the Chinese military. Eight senior officials from the Chinese military's procurement unit, which Li led from 2017 to 2022, are also under investigation, according to two of the people in direct contact with the military. Reuters' detailed examination of the allegations against Li and the timing of the probe is based on interviews with sources who interact regularly with senior Chinese political and defence leaders, and regional officials with close knowledge of Chinese politics. The Financial Times reported on Friday, citing U.S. officials, that the U.S. government believes Li has been placed under investigation. Chinese officials initially said Qin's absence was also due to health reasons.

Persons: Li Shangfu, Li, U.S . State Department didn't, Japan Rahm Emanuel, Qin Gang, Qin, Xi Jinping, Lloyd Austin, Katerina Ang, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Reuters, Foreign Ministry, State Council, Defence Ministry, Financial Times, U.S, U.S . State Department, Beijing, Qin, Liberation, Rocket Force, Support Force, U.S . Defence, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: Beijing, Japan, U.S, Tokyo, Russia, Belarus, Vietnam, Hanoi, China, United States, Singapore

☆ China's defence minister, not seen in weeks, skipped Vietnam meet
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Yew Lun Tian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

China's State Council Information Office, as well as its defence and foreign ministries did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the Vietnam event. Asked about Emanuel's post this week, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman told reporters she was "not aware of the situation." China's defence minister is mainly responsible for defence diplomacy and does not command combat forces. Chinese officials have repeatedly said they want those sanctions dropped to facilitate better discussions between the two sides' militaries. He then headed the military's procurement unit from 2017 until he became defence minister.

Persons: Li Shangfu, Li, Beijing couldn't, Qin Gang, Xi Jinping, Qin, Washington, Li's, Joe Biden, Japan Rahm Emanuel, Li Shangfu hasn't, Alfred Wu, Lee, Xi, Lloyd Austin, Yew Lun Tian, Antoni Slodkowski, John Geddie, Katerina Ang Organizations: Reuters, China's, Information, Qin, Liberation, Rocket Force, Communist Party, U.S, . U.S, Foreign, Defense, Foreign Ministry, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public Policy, U.S . Defence, Support Force, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, HANOI, Vietnam, China, Beijing, Hanoi, Japan, Russia, Belarus, Singapore, U.S

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi poses as he meets Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (not seen) in Ankara, Turkey, July 26, 2023. Stringer/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - The United States has formally invited China's newly reappointed foreign minister, Wang Yi, to Washington, the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday, after Wang's predecessor was abruptly removed from his post by Beijing. "In the meeting yesterday, we extended the invitation that had previously been made to foreign minister Qin Gang and made clear that invitation did transfer over," Miller said. The U.S. State Department said then they held "candid, substantive, and constructive" talks, and Blinken invited Qin to Washington to continue discussions. Wang, 69, served as foreign minister from 2013-2022 as ties frayed with the United States to a point Beijing described as an all-time low.

Persons: Wang Yi, Hakan Fidan, Stringer, China's, Wang, Qin Gang, Qin, Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, Yang Tao, Matthew Miller, Miller, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk, David Brunnstrom, Sandra Maler, Alistair Bell Organizations: Turkish, United, U.S . State Department, State Department, U.S, East, Pacific Affairs, North, Oceania Affairs, China's Foreign Ministry, State, Washington, Thomson Locations: Ankara, Turkey, United States, Washington, Beijing, China, East Asia, North American, U.S, Jakarta, Qin's

☆ 'Not found': China's ex-foreign minister is gone but wait for explanation goes on
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Yew Lun Tian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

BEIJING, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Hours after China's top legislature convened a special meeting last week to remove foreign minister Qin Gang, photos and mentions of the 57-year-old started disappearing from his former ministry's website. China named veteran diplomat Wang Yi to replace Qin, but gave few further clues on the reason for the change. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Thursday said Beijing will release information in a timely matter regarding Qin and opposes "malicious hype". The foreign ministry removed all online traces to its former chief protocol officer Zhang Kunsheng who was found guilty of corruption and using his position of power to obtain sex in 2016. He then made a triple jump from director of protocol to U.S. ambassador and then to foreign minister and state councillor in five years, bullet-train speed by China standards.

Persons: Qin Gang, Qin, Gang, Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, Mao Ning, Ian Johnson, Wu Qiang, Wu, Xiao Yaqing, Zhang Kunsheng, Mao Zedong, Mao, Xi, Xi's, Alfred Wu, Lee Kwan, Yew Lun Tian, John Geddie Organizations: Foreign Ministry, State, Information Office, Council, Foreign Relations, Industry, Committee, Communist, Xinhua, Lee Kwan Yew, of Public Policy, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Beijing, Washington, Singapore, Lincoln

☆ China's Wang Yi makes first statement after reappointment as foreign minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, July 28 (Reuters) - China's Wang Yi has made his first comments on Friday since his reappointment as foreign minister, promising to deepen partnerships and safeguard sovereignty in a statement posted on his ministry's website. The veteran diplomat was named foreign minister again on Tuesday, replacing rising star Qin Gang after a mysterious one-month absence that raised questions about transparency after just seven months in the job. Wang said his ministry would deepen partnerships with other countries and actively participate in reform of global governance and "resolutely safeguard the sovereignty, security, development and interests" of China. Qin was appointed foreign minister in December but had not been seen in public since June 25 when he met visiting diplomats in Beijing. Wang, Qin's predecessor at the ministry, held the foreign minister's post from 2013-2022.

Persons: Wang Yi, Qin, Wang, Beijing . Wang, Ethan Wang, Kim Coghill Organizations: Central Foreign Affairs Commission, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Beijing .

☆ China VC slump is set to drag Asia-Pacific fundraising down to a decade low
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Jason Lee | ReutersBEIJING — China-focused venture capital and other private investment funds have had a slow start to the year and are set to drag down Asia-Pacific fundraising to the lowest in 10 years. Alternative assets include venture capital, but not publicly traded stocks and bonds. watch nowChina-focused venture capital funds raised $2.7 billion in the second quarter, a drop of more than 50% from the first quarter, Preqin said. That dragged down overall VC fundraising in Asia-Pacific to $4.5 billion in the second quarter, the lowest in at least five years, the report said. In China, new rules for private investment funds are set to take effect Sept. 1, with a stated goal of "guiding" venture capital investment for long-term investment in "innovative startups."

Persons: Jason Lee, Angela Lai, Preqin, Andrew J, Sherman, Brown Rudnick, Lai Organizations: Reuters, U.S, D.C, CNBC, Partners Locations: Reuters BEIJING — China, Asia, Pacific, Preqin, China, U.S, Sherman , Washington, India, Japan

☆ China's foreign minister has been removed from his post one month after disappearing from the public eye. Experts say we may never know why.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Eurasia Group's Jeremy Chan told Insider that "so much remains unknown about Qin's case." As of press time, references to Qin had been removed from the foreign ministry's website. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider. Because of the opacity of the Chinese government, few people will ever know what led to Qin's abrupt departure, experts say. Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore, told Insider that the lack of clarity "is part of the opacity and uncertainty" in China.

Persons: Qin Gang, Jeremy Chan, Qin, Wang Yi, Wang, Chong Ja Ian, Chong, Dylan Loh, Loh, Wang Wenbin, Wang's, Fu Xiaotian, Fu Organizations: Eurasia, Service, Qin, Eurasia Group, National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Twitter Locations: Wall, Silicon, China's, China, Beijing, Russia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Chinese, South China

☆ Japan says it hopes to communicate closely with China including with Wang Yi
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, July 26 (Reuters) - Japan hopes to communicate closely with China, including with its newly named foreign minister and veteran diplomat Wang Yi, the top government spokesperson said on Wednesday. "It is important to build a constructive and stable relationship with China through mutual efforts," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. China on Tuesday named Wang to replace Qin Gang, who had not been seen in public since June 25. Wang, who was Qin's predecessor, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi agreed to resume high-level trilateral talks with South Korea on the sidelines of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Indonesia earlier this month. Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Wang Yi, Hirokazu Matsuno, Wang, Gang, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Satoshi Sugiyama, Chang, Ran Kim Organizations: China, South, Association of South East Asian Nations, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, China, South Korea, Indonesia

☆ China's Qin Gang had meteoric rise and swift removal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Born in the northern city of Tianjin in 1966, Qin studied International Politics at one of China's most prestigious schools for aspiring diplomats, the University of International Relations in Beijing. After graduating, Qin entered the diplomatic service, working in several jobs at the foreign ministry as well as postings at the Chinese Embassy in Britain. Qin was twice foreign ministry spokesman, between 2006 and 2014, and chief protocol officer between 2014 and 2018, overseeing many of Xi's interactions with foreign leaders. After becoming foreign minister, Qin's comments on hot button issues such as Taiwan and China's relations with Russia did not diverge in any significant way from those of his predecessor. In his first comments as foreign minister, Qin said in solving challenges common to all mankind, China's diplomacy would offer "Chinese wisdom, Chinese initiatives and Chinese strength".

Persons: Qin Gang, Xi Jinping, Xi, Wang Yi, Qin, Britain . Qin, Antony Blinken, Wang, Yew Lun Tian, Martin Quin Pollard, Rob Birsel, Nick Macfie Organizations: Foreign, University of International Relations, Embassy, Washington, U.S, Chinese Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Tianjin, Beijing, Britain ., United States, Washington, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Russia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Africa, Europe, Ukraine, China, American, U.S

Washington-based analysts say Wang's return to the ministry should help China's foreign ministry resume normal operations after weeks of international speculation about Qin's fate. In the Chinese system, the top diplomat is not foreign minister but rather the director of the Chinese Communist Party's foreign affairs commission, a role Wang will continue to hold. Still, Wang's reappointment is a sign of problems in China's foreign policy establishment, said Blanchette. On Tuesday, content mentioning Qin was quickly removed from China's foreign ministry website after Wang's appointment. The tab on the website that typically holds the biography of the foreign minister simply read "Updating."

Persons: Wang Yi, Qin Gang, Xi Jinping's, Qin, Xi, Wang, Joseph Torigian, Vedant Patel, Blinken, Joe Biden, Rorry Daniels, Wang's, China's, Jude Blanchette, Craig Singleton, Michael Martina, David Brunnstrom, Don Durfee Organizations: Communist, American University, U.S . State Department, U.S, APEC, Asia Society Policy Institute, Communist Party, Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Thomson Locations: Washington, United States, Beijing, U.S, China, China's, Xi's, India, California, Taiwan, scold Washington, Lincoln

The planned recipient of the colorful batik top was Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang, who has not been seen in nearly a month and is set to miss at least one other important meeting, in South Africa, next week. It is not clear whether even then Borrell would meet Qin as initially planned, the official said. The former aide to President Xi Jinping was appointed foreign minister in December after serving less than two years as ambassador to the United States. Qin's absence has also been widely discussed in the diplomatic community, with some saying it is another example of China's lack of transparency. Some diplomats have even started to speculate on who may replace Qin, with three telling Reuters the ranking vice foreign minister, Ma Zhaoxu could be a candidate.

Persons: Qin Gang, Qin, Yun Sun, Mao Ning, Wang Yi, Josep Borrell, Wen, Xi Jinping, Antony Blinken, Ma Zhaoxu, Ma, Wang, Xie Feng, Xie, Laurie Chen, Martin Quin Pollard, Yew, Tian, Kate Lamb, Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew MacAskill, John Geddie, Robert Birsel Organizations: China Program, Stimson, Reuters, EU, Australian National University, Qin, Baidu, London School of Economics, United, Aspen Security Conference, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, JAKARTA, China, Indonesia, Jakarta, South Africa, Washington, Johannesburg, Britain, United States, Beijing, Sri Lankan, United Nations, Brussels, London

July 11 (Reuters) - China's foreign minister Qin Gang will not attend a diplomatic gathering in Indonesia this week for health reasons, a spokesman for his ministry said on Tuesday. Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China are scheduled to meet on Thursday, before Friday's East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum. "State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang cannot attend this ASEAN ministerial meeting because of health reasons," spokesman Wang Wenbin said. Qin, 57, took over from Wang as foreign minister in December and was last seen in public on June 25 in Beijing after meeting officials from Sri Lanka, Russia and Vietnam. Wang Yi, who is the foreign policy chief for the Chinese Communist Party, ranks above Qin, who as the foreign minister is the government's foreign policy chief.

Persons: Qin Gang, Wang Yi, Wang Wenbin, Wang, Qin, Josep Borrell, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Yew Lun Tian, Karen Lema, Stanley Widianto, Martin Petty, John Geddie, Robert Birsel Organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Friday's East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional, Politico, European Union, EU, U.S, Chinese Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Indonesia, China, Jakarta, Wang, Beijing, Sri Lanka, Russia, Vietnam, Washington, Manila

☆ China says Myanmar's sovereignty should be respected
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, May 2 (Reuters) - China supports Myanmar in finding its own path to development and urges the international community to respect its sovereignty and help it achieve peace and reconciliation, China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday. "China supports Myanmar in exploring a development path with Myanmar characteristics that suits to its national conditions," Qin's ministry cited him as saying in the talks. The international community should respect Myanmar's sovereignty and play a constructive role in helping it achieve peace and reconciliation, he said. On economic development, Qin said China would accelerate investment linked to a China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and implement projects on agriculture, education and health care. China also supported Myanmar on improving its relations with its western neighbour, Bangladesh, the Chinese foreign minister said.

☆ Pilgrims flock to ancient Holy Land church as Palestinian congregation shrinks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Mohamad Torokman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Christian worshipers pray during Mass inside St. George Church, also known as the Church of the Ten Lepers, in Burqin, near Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamad TorokmanBURQIN, West Bank, April 13 (Reuters) - One of the world's oldest churches, built on top of a cave in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and festooned with golden icons, attracts thousands of Christian pilgrims every year. But the Church of the Ten Lepers' own congregation of Palestinian Christians grows ever smaller. The first church on the site, in the northern West Bank town of Burqin, was built more than 1,600 years ago to commemorate a miracle. Today, only about 70 Palestinian Christians remain in the town of 8,500 people, said Moeen Jabbour, its administrative manager.

☆ China says Ukraine crisis driven by 'invisible hand'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, March 7 (Reuters) - The Ukraine crisis seems to be driven by an invisible hand pushing for the protraction and escalation of the conflict, China's foreign minister Qin Gang said on Tuesday. The "invisible hand" is "using the Ukraine crisis to serve certain geopolitical agendas", Qin said on the sidelines of an annual parliament meeting in Beijing, calling for dialogue to begin as soon as possible. Qin also said Beijing has not provided weapons to either side of the Ukraine conflict, amid loud warnings from U.S. officials on unspecified "consequences" for China, should it send lethal aid to Russia. "(China) is not a party to the crisis and has not provided weapons to either side of the conflict. So on what basis is this talk of blame, sanctions and threats against China?

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov 6 (Reuters) - Hedge funds have given up the ghost on a Fed pivot coming any time soon. A short position is essentially a wager that an asset's price will fall, and a long position is a bet it will rise. In bonds and rates, yields fall when prices rise, and move up when prices fall. The two-year yield on Friday hit a fresh 15-year high of 4.80%, up a staggering 80 basis points from a month earlier. They upped their end-2022 two-year Treasury yield forecast by 20 bps to 4.90%.

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