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[1/3] China's Premier Li Keqiang waves as he arrives for a news conference after the closing ceremony of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, March 15, 2017. Li was premier and head of China's cabinet under Xi for a decade until stepping down from all political positions in March. Adam Ni, an independent China political analyst, described Li as "a premier who stood powerless as China took a sharp turn away from reform and opening". A glowing 2014 state media profile of Li, praising him as "a calm and tough wall-breaker", went viral shortly after his death was announced. Li's frequent visits to disaster sites and his easy camaraderie when speaking to ordinary people were also highlighted on Chinese state media.

Persons: Li, Damir Sagolj, Li Keqiang, Xi Jinping, Xi, Deng Xiaoping, Alfred Wu, Lee, Zhu Rongji, Wen Jiabao, Wu, Adam Ni, Jiang Zemin, Deng, Li Yining, Hu Jintao, Cheng Hong, Laurie Chen, Tian, William Mallard Organizations: People's Congress, of, People, REUTERS, Rights, Communist Party, CCTV, Weibo, Australian National University, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public Policy, Peking University, Communist Party's Youth League, Youth League, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Shanghai, Singapore, Social, Anhui, Henan, Liaoning

[1/3] Tourists rest on the Bund ahead of the National Day holiday, in Shanghai, China September 26, 2023. China celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day from Friday to Oct. 6 in the longest public holiday this year. The China Tourism Academy, part of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, estimates people will make more than 100 million trips a day during "the most popular Golden Week in history". In 2019, mainland Chinese tourists spent $255 billion abroad, more than any other nationality, with group tours estimated to account for roughly 60% of that total. ($1 = 7.3030 Chinese yuan renminbi)Additional reporting by Wang Tao in Singapore; Editing by Marius Zaharia and Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aly, It's, Joe Zhang, I'm, haven't, Boon Sian Chai, Boon, Cao, Nancy Dai, Zhou Weihong, Wang Zheng, Wang Tao, Marius Zaharia Organizations: Bund, REUTERS, Rights, China Tourism Academy, Ministry of Culture, Trip.com, Spring, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Beijing, Japan, Tourism, Anqing, Anhui, South Korea, United States, ForwardKeys, Thailand, Singapore

☆ China leaves benchmark lending rates unchanged in September
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Photo taken on Aug 17, 2023 shows US dollars and Chinese yuan in Fuyang city, East China's Anhui province. China's banks kept their benchmark loan rates unchanged for September, after the slowdown in the world's second-largest economy showed signs of stabilization following recent policy support. The People's Bank of China kept its one-year loan prime rate — the peg for most household and corporate loans in China — unchanged at 3.45%. The five-year benchmark loan rate — the peg for most mortgages — was held at 4.2%, according to a statement Wednesday from the People's Bank of China. Wednesday's announcement is aligned with economists' expectations for September after the PBOC kept its medium-term policy rate steady last Friday, following a second cut in the reserve requirement ratio requirements this year for all banks announced last Thursday.

Organizations: People's Bank of China Locations: Fuyang city, East China's Anhui, China

CO2 storage tanks are seen at a cement plant and carbon capture facility in Wuhu, Anhui province, China September 11, 2019. China's cement sector discharged 853 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2021, according to the Global Carbon Atlas, nearly six times more than the next largest cement producer, India. The cement sector accounts for roughly 12% of China's total carbon emissions, according to Fidelity International, and along with steel is one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters. China’s cement output hits multi-year seasonal lowsSome cement producers will likely look to boost exports in an effort to offset lower domestic sales, and in July China's total cement exports hit their highest since late 2019. And if that's the case, the sector's emissions will come down too, yielding a rare climate benefit to the ongoing property market disruption.

Persons: David Stanway, Gavin Maguire, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, World Cement Association, Global Carbon Atlas, Fidelity International, China Evergrande Group, Shanghai, China National Bureau, Vietnam National Cement Association, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Wuhu, Anhui province, China, LITTLETON , Colorado, China's, India, Beijing, Vietnam, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia

☆ Europe has dodged Putin’s gas bullet. But it’s still thirsty for cheap energy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

For Europe, energy security has always been a trade-off: Cheap, imported energy comes with the risk of dependency on the countries from which it originates. Europe had an especially mild winter while governments and citizens made a concerted effort to use less gas. Despite these efforts, officials and analysts are fearful that however impressive these advancements have been, Europe’s energy is far from secure in the long term. And when it comes to energy security, dependency ultimately brings us back to that classic trade-off: economics versus risk. China is not the only threat when it comes to energy security in Europe.

Persons: guzzled, Vladimir Putin, –, Sean Gallup, Koen van Weel, ”, Milan Elkerbout, Kevin Frayer, Ursula von der Leyen, Von der, Adam Bell, it’s, Ursula von der, Yves Herman, Velina Tchakarova, ” Tchakarova Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, European Union, EU, Getty, Center for European Policy Studies, China . Workers, China Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Russia, Moscow, European, Lubmin, Germany, Port, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Qatar, Nigeria, China, Huainan, Anhui province, Brussels, Beijing, Belgium, Taiwan, cyberattacks . China, Saudi Arabia, Khazakstan, Libya

☆ Country Garden: China's biggest homebuilder dodges default but faces a rocky road ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Chinese property giant Country Garden has twice narrowly avoided defaulting on its debt in a matter of days. Here’s what to know about Country Garden, and the future it faces. That was down significantly from revenue of about 523 billion yuan ($71.6 billion) and net profit of approximately 41 billion yuan ($5.6 billion) in 2021. Investors have since been bracing for a potential default by Country Garden, which has openly admitted this could happen soon. Country Garden shares in Hong Kong have plunged 55% so far this year as investors dumped the stock.

Persons: it’s, —, Evergrande, Yang Huiyan, Yang, “, Fitch Organizations: CNN, Getty, Garden, Hong Kong Locations: China, Hong Kong, Foshan, Guangdong, Zhenjiang, China's, Jiangsu, United States, Evergrande, Beijing, Fuyang, Anhui

☆ China's factory activity likely extended declines in August - Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An employee works on the production line of Nio electric vehicles at a JAC-NIO manufacturing plant in Hefei, Anhui province, China August 28, 2022. China Daily via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Aug 29 (Reuters) - China's factory activity likely contracted for a fifth straight month in August, a Reuters poll showed on Tuesday, as weak demand threatens recovery prospects in the world's second-largest economy and pressures officials to prop up growth. An index reading above 50 indicates expansion in activity on a monthly basis while below that signals contraction. "ASEAN, China's top trading partner, has also decreased to a nearly two-year low of 50.8." The official manufacturing PMI, which largely focuses on big and state-owned firms, and its survey for the services sector, will be released on Thursday.

Persons: Taimur Baig, Joe Cash, Anant Chandak, Susobhan Sarkar, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Manufacturing, DBS, ASEAN, PMI, Thomson Locations: Hefei, Anhui province, China, Rights BEIJING, Bengaluru

☆ China's central bank steps up intervention after yuan hits 16-year low against greenback
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The yuan midpoint is a reference point for trading, and caps the range between +2% and -2%. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart iconFriday's move comes after the onshore yuan fell to a 16-year low against the greenback on Wednesday, trading at 7.2981. The onshore yuan strengthened 0.1% against the greenback at 7.2836 on Friday, and the offshore yuan weakened marginally to 7.3057. The onshore yuan is traded on the mainland and referred to as the CNY, while the offshore yuan — traded in markets like Hong Kong and Singapore — is referred to as the CNH. It vowed to "maintain the basic stability of the RMB exchange rate at a reasonable and balanced level, and resolutely prevent the risk of exchange rate overshoot."

Persons: Vishnu Varathan Organizations: Nurphoto, People's Bank of, U.S, Reuters, Mizuho Bank Locations: Fuyang city, East China's Anhui, People's Bank of China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Asia, Oceania

☆ Ukraine's offensive is bearing down on Russian forces, but Chinese artillery could still bail Moscow out
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Russian military relies on artillery to compensate for other battlefield shortcomings. But its heavy use of artillery in Ukraine could outstrip its ability to make new shells and cannons. The commander of Russia's 58th Army in Ukraine was recently relieved after complaining about the state of Russian artillery, including "the lack of counter-battery fire" and "lack of artillery reconnaissance stations." Chinese artillery troops during a live-fire test in Anhui Province in October 2021. Chinese support could mean the difference between victory and defeat for Russia, but salvation from Beijing may be a long time coming.

Persons: Mao, ANDREY KRONBERG, People's Liberation Army —, China's, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Dmitri Lovetsky, Xi, Beijing hasn't Organizations: Service, War, Artillery, Royal United Services Institute, Getty, Army, Russia, Publishing, People's Liberation Army, Foreign Ministry, Ukraine, Reuters, China's Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Kyiv, Iran, North Korea, China, British, Volgograd, AFP, Moscow, Anhui Province, St . Petersburg, Beijing, Western, Taiwan, Europe, cynically, Central Asia

BEIJING, July 29 (Reuters) - Rain soaked northern China on Saturday as Doksuri, one of the strongest storms to hit the country in years, prompted thousands to evacuate in Beijing after pummelling the Philippines and Taiwan, and lashing China's coast. The city's flood control department said it has mobilised 203,230 rescue personnel and 3,031 people had been evacuated, local media reported. Doksuri is the most powerful typhoon to hit China this year and the second-strongest to hit the southeastern province of Fujian since Typhoon Meranti in 2016. Provincial media reported rescue efforts in the storm's aftermath, of elderly trapped at home and a heavily pregnant woman, who was transferred to hospital on a stretcher in knee-deep waters. ($1 = 7.1488 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Liz Lee, Jenny Wang and Ryan Woo; Editing by William Mallard and Lincoln Feast.

Persons: Doksuri, Meranti, Liz Lee, Jenny Wang, Ryan Woo, William Mallard Organizations: China Meteorological Administration, Firefighters, cnsphoto, Provincial, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Beijing, Philippines, Taiwan, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Henan, Fujian, Anhui, Quanzhou, Fujian province, Shandong, Putian city, Fuzhou, Putian

BEIJING, July 29 (Reuters) - Rain began to soak northern China on Saturday as Doksuri, one of the strongest storms to hit the country in years, rolled toward Beijing after pummelling the Philippines and Taiwan, and lashing China's coast. A broad area encompassing the capital faces medium to high risk of rainstorm disasters over the coming three days, China's national forecaster said. Cumulative rainfall of 100mm (4 inches) or more is forecast over 220,000 square km (85,000 square miles), potentially affecting 130 million people. Doksuri was the most powerful typhoon to hit China this year and the second-strongest to hit the southeastern province of Fujian since Typhoon Meranti in 2016. Before hitting China, Doksuri roared through Taiwan and the northern Philippines, where rain and strong winds that led to the capsize of a ferry in which at least 25 people died.

Persons: Doksuri, Meranti, Liz Lee, Jenny Wang, William Mallard Organizations: China Meteorological Administration, Firefighters, cnsphoto, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Beijing, Philippines, Taiwan, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Henan, Fujian, Quanzhou, Fujian province, Anhui, Shandong, Putian city, Fuzhou, Putian

☆ Video of man driving over woman repeatedly reignites China's domestic violence debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The wife had reportedly suffered years of domestic violence and was planning on a divorce, her family told state media outlet The Paper. “Given its prevalence, domestic violence is an issue everyone knows about, even if they have not encountered it themselves.”Volunteers in Ma Anshan city, Anhui province sign their names on a banner against domestic violence on December 14, 2011. TopPhoto/AP‘Family affair’In China, domestic violence has traditionally been regarded as a private family matter. The law defines domestic violence for the first time, covering both physical and psychological violence – though it fails to address sexual abuse such as marital rape. “Domestic violence allegations, even when they’re supported by evidence, make no difference – like judges just don’t care at all,” he said.

Persons: –, ”, Feng Yuan, Feng, …, Ethan Michelson, Michelson, they’re, it’s, “, Xi Jinping Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Twitter, “, ” Volunteers, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Indiana University , Bloomington Locations: Hong Kong, China, Shandong, Dongying, Guangdong, Chengdu, –, Weibo, Beijing, Ma Anshan, Anhui, Michelson

☆ Investors are eyeing China's neighbors as the recovery from 'zero-Covid' slows
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesChina's lackluster economic recovery since emerging from strict "zero-Covid" lockdowns has caused weaker sentiment toward the country, prompting investors to look for alternative options — like its near neighbors. Higher targets for JapanForeign investors have undoubtedly been key in driving the Japanese market, maintaining the highest levels the Nikkei has seen since 1990. During the same period last year, foreign investors had sold a net 1.73 trillion yen approximately. Wall Street banks including Morgan Stanley and Societe Generale are among those that are optimistic on Japanese stocks, holding "overweight" positions. Upside for Korea tech stocksSouth Korea is another market closely watched as concerns over China's recovery linger.

Persons: Goldman, Andrew Tilton, Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett, India's, Goldman Sachs, Tilton, Morgan Stanley, ROE, Mike Wilson, we've, Price, Goldman's Tilton, Rhee Chang, Nomura, Chloe Andrieu, Pranjul Bhandari, Bhandari Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Asia, Pacific, Japan Foreign, Nikkei, Japan's Ministry of Finance, Societe Generale, Equity, U.S, UBS Global Wealth, U.S ., UBS, The Bank of, CNBC, Citi, AFP, Afp, Korea Financial Investment Association, South Korean, Fitch, Ben Advisors Locations: Macau, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Goldman Sachs, Berkshire, South, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Wall, Korea, Asia, The Bank of Korea, Fuyang, China's, Anhui, Indonesia

☆ China's temple visits skyrocket amid economic uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Economic uncertainty has driven temple visits and tourism to new heights, according to analysts and travel websites. Temple visits have surged this year more than fourfold from a year ago, according to recent data from Qunar and Trip.com, another travel site. Social media has also fueled the boom in temple tourism, as young people like to share their experiences on social networks, she added. Anhui Jiuhuashan Tourism Development, which runs the Jiuhua Mountain scenic area in central Anhui province, also shattered quarterly sales records. A small temple at Wudang Mountain in China's Hubei province pictured on October 27, 2004.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, ”, Qunar.com, Soeren, Yang Yan, Ryan Pyle, supplicants, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Nanjing Securities, Social, Communist Party, Caitong Securities Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Qunar, Nanjing, Sichuan, Shan, Anhui Jiuhuashan Tourism, Anhui, Jiangxi province, Wudang, China's Hubei, Hangzhou

The rains are also causing the kernels on his wheat crop to begin sprouting early, which, more crucially, means the grain will produce lower quality flour unsuitable for noodles or bread. "Look, all this wheat has sprouted," Chen told Reuters, pouring kernels into his hand while standing in his fields about 40 km (25 miles) north of the town of Zhumadian. About one-third of China's wheat is grown in Henan province, earning it the nickname the granary of China. A Xiping-based grain dealer surnamed Wang is paying growers 2,100 yuan ($295) per metric ton of germinated wheat, about 75% of the market price for food-grade wheat. "These (sprouted) wheat have a bad taste as they are sticky and doesn't mix well to make dough."

Persons: Chen, it's, Darin Friedrichs, Tang Renjian, Wang, Qin Ningwei, Josh Arslan, Dominique Patton, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Reuters, Sitonia Consulting, El, China's Agriculture, Thomson Locations: COUNTY, China, China's Henan, Zhumadian, Henan province, Henan, Anhui, Shanxi, Shandong, Shanghai, Australia, Ukraine

☆ Cargill to sell China poultry unit to private equity firm DCP Capital
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, May 31 (Reuters) - U.S. agribusiness giant Cargill has agreed to sell its poultry business in China to private equity firm DCP Capital, it said in a statement on Wednesday. The sale of the unit known as Cargill Protein China is subject to regulatory approvals but is expected to close this year, it added. The U.S. company started its China poultry operations in 2011, breeding, raising and processing the chickens. China's DCP Capital has invested in several other food and agriculture businesses including one of China's top poultry producers Fujian Sunner Development(002299.SZ), its website says. It also said the private equity firm was focused on Greater China and led by former members of the KKR and Morgan Stanley private equity businesses.

Persons: Cargill, Morgan Stanley, Dominique Patton, Christian Schmollinger, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Cargill, DCP, Cargill Protein China, Wellhope, Fujian Sunner, KKR, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, United States, Chuzhou, Anhui, U.S, Fujian

☆ Chinese EV maker Nio invests in nuclear fusion startup
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHANGHAI, May 19 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio (9866.HK) has invested in a startup firm that is developing fusion technologies, according to a source with direct knowledge and a company filing, placing more bets in other areas of the energy sector. The newly established company, Neo Fusion, will research and develop technologies that aim to bring controlled fusion for commercial uses globally in two decades, the source said. Nio invested 995 million yuan for a 19.9% stake while Nio Capital, the investment firm founded by Nio's chief executive William Li, invested 505 million yuan for a 10.1% share, it showed. The investment by Nio also underscored the loss-making EV maker's ambitions in the power and energy sector. It has also been developing battery technologies and is planning to build a battery plant with annual capacity of 40 gigawatt hours in Hefei city in Anhui province, Reuters reported previously.

☆ China's domestic travel recovery marred by anti-spending 'special forces'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Casey Hall | Thomson Reuters | Casey Has Reported On China'S Consumer Culture Her Base In Shanghai For More Than A Decade | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Passengers wait to board trains at Shanghai Hongqiao railway station ahead of the five-day Labour Day holiday, in Shanghai, China, April 28, 2023. To get to the ancient temples, pagodas and grottoes she wanted to visit, she walked roughly 30,000 steps a day. "I can control the expenses, to go to many places for the least amount of money, but it is really tiring." "Maybe I didn't wear the right shoes, but my feet started to hurt after walking more than 10,000 steps," she said, joking that she exemplified "the battle-scarred version of special forces travel." ($1 = 6.9121 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Casey Hall and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Marius Zaharia and Lincoln Feast.

☆ Chinese trapeze artist falls to her death during performance with husband
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A Chinese acrobat has fallen to her death during an aerial silks performance, sparking horror and outcry on social media over the lack of safety measures. She was taken to hospital but died of her injuries, the Tongqiao district government said in a statement Monday. How come there are no safety measures?”The acrobat couple are seen performing another set of aerial silks routine before the accident. The show was hosted by a local farm business owner, who contracted the Anhui Yaxi Performing Arts Media Company to run the performance, the statement said. The report added that the female acrobat had been married to her husband for more than a decade and left behind two children.

☆ As China's birth rate slumps, political advisor urges egg freezing for single women
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lu, a fertility doctor in China's southern Hainan province, said giving single women access to freezing their eggs enables them "to preserve the eggs before they pass their peak reproductive years. Currently fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and egg freezing in China are banned for unmarried women. Lu's recommendations come as authorities try to bolster a faltering birth rate with incentives including expanding maternity leave, financial and tax benefits for having children as well as housing subsidies. Last year, China recorded its lowest ever birth rate, of 6.77 births per 1,000 people. While nine of the 10 most populous nations in the world are experiencing declines in fertility, China's 2022 fertility rate of 1.18 was the lowest and well below the 2.1 OECD standard for a stable population.

☆ The 4-day workweek: Science explains why it could improve our minds, bodies, and companies' bottom lines
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Science explains why the four-day workweek could be good for employees and employers alike. There's no control group — a company or companies that maintained a five-day workweek, to compare against the four-day workweek companies. There's also a risk of "selection bias" — a particular type of company may be far more likely to volunteer for a four-day workweek trial. Here's what science has to say about the UK four-day workweek trial results. Cortisol, too, can affect sleep quality, so having fewer high-cortisol days (ahem, work days) may mean fewer days of meager sleep.

☆ Exclusive: EV maker Nio plans new 40 GWh battery plant in China- sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Nio's ES7 electric vehicle is displayed at the Chinese EV maker's showroom in Shanghai, China, February 3, 2023. REUTERS/Aly SongSHANGHAI, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Nio (9866.HK) plans to build its first battery plant to produce big cylindrical cells similar to those used by Tesla, two people familiar with the matter said, as the Chinese EV maker seeks to cut its reliance on suppliers like CATL (300750.SZ). It will be located next to its main manufacturing hub in Hefei city, in eastern China's Anhui province, they said. Reuters is reporting the details of Nio's plan for the first time. Reporting by Zhang Yan, Zhuzhu Cui and Brenda Goh; Editing by Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

After three years of strict and suffocating anti-virus controls, China in early December abruptly abandoned its "zero COVID" policy, letting the virus run freely through its 1.4 billion population. Several experts forecast more than one million people in China will die from the disease this year. TRAVEL RUSHBeijing's main rail station has been packed with passengers leaving the capital in recent days, according to Reuters witnesses. Meanwhile, daily arrivals in the gambling hub of Macau exceeded 55,000 on Saturday, the highest daily arrivals since the pandemic began. China's transport ministry has said it expects more than 2 billion trips in the weeks around the holidays.

☆ U.S. talks with Japanese, Dutch to yield no immediate China chip export curbs -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Alexandra Alper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Employees work at a production line manufacturing chips inside a factory of an electronics company in Chizhou, Anhui province, China March 21, 2018. Upcoming meetings between U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the White House on Friday and next Tuesday, respectively, will provide forums to discuss the issue, said a person briefed on U.S. officials' thinking. But, "these visits will not result in immediate announcements and (are) part of our ongoing consultations on these issues," the person cautioned. A key commerce department official said in October that such agreements were coming "in the near term." Reporting by Alexandra Alper; Editing by Leslie Adler and Lincoln Feast.

China has said it only counts deaths of COVID patients caused by pneumonia and respiratory failure as COVID-related. The holiday travel rush is expected to last for 40 days, from Jan. 7 to Feb. 15, the Ministry of Transport said this week. China's official death toll of 5,246 since the pandemic began compares with more than 1 million deaths in the United States. The United States, India, Italy, Japan and Taiwan said they would require COVID tests for travellers from China. Omicron was still the dominant strain in China, Chinese health officials said this week.

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