POLITICAL ISSUES
EGYPT
1. Chinese special envoy to visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt: FM spokesman
Beijing, Friday, 9 March 2012
Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Ming, as a special envoy of the Chinese government, will pay a visit to Saudi Arabia and Egypt from March 10 to 14, according to a Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

2. China, Egypt call for political resolution to Syria issue
Beijing, Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Chinese and Egyptian foreign ministers called for adherence to a political solution to the Syria issue during their talks here Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

3. Chinese vice president vows closer ties with Egypt
Beijing, Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Vice President Xi Jinping met with visiting Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohammed Amr in Beijing on Wednesday, vowing to boost bilateral ties.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

IRAN
4. China welcomes progress on Iran nuclear issue
Beijing, Wednesday, 7 March 2012
China welcomes the positive progress made by the international community in resolving Iran's nuclear issue, Foreign Ministry representative Liu Weimin said Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

5. China supports sustained dialogue between major countries and Iran
Vienna, Friday, 9 March 2012
China hopes to see the six major countries (P5+1) that used to engage in Iran nuclear talks start "sustained dialogues" at an early date, said the Chinese envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

6. China legally imports Iranian oil: FM
Beijing, Wednesday, 21 March 2012
A Foreign Ministry representative said that China legally imports oil from Iran through normal channels in a reasonable and fair manner.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

7. China reaffirms willingness to seek proper resolution to Iranian nuclear issue
Beijing, Thursday, 22 March 2012
China reaffirmed its willingness to actively participate in dialogues with Iran regarding its nuclear program.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

8. China to participate in P5+1 talks with Iran
Beijing, Thursday, 29 March 2012
A Chinese Foreign Ministry representative said that China would actively participate in the dialogue process between Iran and the P5+1 countries.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

ISRAEL
9. Chinese, Israeli FMs meet in Beijing
Beijing, Friday, 16 March 2012
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Lieberman in Beijing. Yang said bilateral relations have developed consistently since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 20 years ago, bringing substantial benefits for both nations and their people.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

10. Chinese vice president calls for closer ties with Israel, peace in Mid-East
Beijing, Friday, 16 March 2012
Vice President Xi Jinping called for closer exchanges and cooperation with Israel, as well as "comprehensive and long-term" peace between Israel and Arabic countries.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

11. Senior CPC official vows to improve ties with Israeli parties
Beijing, Sunday, 18 March 2012
A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has vowed to strengthen ties with Israeli political parties, including the Israel Is Our Home party.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

JORDAN
12. Chinese, Jordanian FMs discuss political resolution to Syrian issue
Beijing, Thursday, 15 March 2012
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh discussed a political resolution to the unrest in Syria in a phone conversation.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

LIBYA
13. China supports further investigation into NATO airstrike in Libya
United Nations, Thursday, 8 March 2012
China said that the UN Security Council should draw lessons from the handling of the Libyan issue, calling for further investigation on the airstrike by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Libya last year.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

SOUTH SUDAN
14. China promotes dialogue between Sudan, South Sudan
Beijing, Tuesday, 13 March 2012
China said that its special envoy's visits to Sudan and South Sudan were aimed at promoting amity between the two countries, in an effort to safeguard regional peace and stability.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

15. China urges restraint between Sudan, South Sudan
Beijing, Tuesday, 27 March 2012
China on Tuesday urged Sudan and South Sudan to maintain calm and exercise restraint to prevent current tensions from escalating.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

SYRIA
16. China's new Syria statement explained
Beijing, Monday, 5 March 2012
China explained its recent six-point statement for the political resolution of Syria's problems, saying it fully revealed China's responsible and constructive attitude in addressing the crisis.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

17. Middle East problems should be solved by local people themselves: FM
Beijing, Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said that the problems in Middle East should be solved by the local people themselves, and the future and destiny of Middle East should be in the hands of its people, too.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

18. Syria welcomes China's six-point statement for political resolution on the Syrian issue: Chinese envoy
Damascus, Wednesday, 7 March 2012
China's envoy to Syria Li Huaxin said that Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem welcomed China's six-point statement for the political resolution on the Syrian issue.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

19. China urges all Syrian parties to halt violence, embark on dialogue
Damascus, Thursday, 8 March 2012
China's envoy to Syria Li Huaxin has, during his two-day visit, met with officials from the Syrian Foreign Ministry and the country's opposition figures, exchanging views on the current Syrian situation as well as ways to figure out a solution for the ongoing political crisis.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

20. Chinese envoy says China, Arab countries share consensus on solving Syrian crisis
Cairo, Wednesday, 14 March 2012
Special envoy of the Chinese government Zhang Ming said that China and Arab countries share wide consensus on the political settlement of the Syrian crisis.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

21. China hopes for joint efforts to promote early resolution of Syria issue
Beijing, Friday, 16 March 2012
China said that it would make joint efforts with the international community to promote the fair, peaceful and proper resolution of the Syria issue.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

22. China condemns attacks in Syrian capital
Beijing, Monday. 19 March 2012
China declared its strong opposition to two suicide car bombings in Damascus on Saturday morning, which left 29 civilians and security personnel dead and 140 others injured.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

TURKEY
23. Turkey, China celebrate diplomatic ties anniversary with photo exhibition
Ankara, Friday, 23 March 2012
Turkey and China held a photo exhibition in the Turkish capital of Ankara to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

UAE
24. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi to visit China
Beijing, Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will pay an official visit to China from March 27 to 29 at the invitation of Vice President Xi Jinping.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

25. China eyes closer strategic partnership with UAE
Beijing, Thursday, 29 March 2012
Vice President Xi Jinping vowed to cement energy and trade cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and boost closer bilateral strategic partnership.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

ECONOMIC ISSUES
EGYPT
26. Chinese, Egyptian firms mark launch of joint maritime drilling rig
Cairo, Friday, 16 March 2012
Leading Chinese and Egyptian oil companies celebrated the official opening of a joint maritime drilling rig on Thursday, pledging to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

LIBYA
27. China asks Libya to compensate for companies' losses
Beijing, Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said China has requested Libya to compensate Chinese firms that suffered losses during the country's civil war.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

UAE
28. China and UAE schedule business summit
Beijing, Friday, 9 March 2012
China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have scheduled a business summit for May 3, during the second Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) trade conference, according to the China-Arab Exchange Association (CAEA).
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

MULTILATERAL
ARAB LEAGUE
29. Chinese FM discusses Syria issue with AL chief
Beijing, Sunday, 4 March 2012
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi introduced China's latest six-point statement on Syria during a telephone conversation with Nabil al-Arabi, secretary-general of the Arab League (AL).
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

30. China special envoy holds talks with AL chief on Syrian and regional issues
Cairo, Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Visiting Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Ming who is also a special envoy of the Chinese government, held talks with the Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi on Syria and other regional issues.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

GCC
31. China willing to work together with GCC on Syria: envoy
Riyadh, Monday, 12 March 2012
Visiting Chinese special envoy Zhang Ming said that China is ready to step up communication and cooperation on Syria with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

UNITED NATIONS
32. China, Russia vote against rights council resolution on Syria
Geneva, Thursday, 1 March 2012
China and Russia voted against a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution on Syria.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

33. China refutes "groundless" criticism regarding Syrian resolution veto
Beijing, Friday, 2 March 2012
China on Friday refuted "groundless" criticism of its veto against a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on Syria.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

34. China backs mediation efforts, visits by joint special envoy, UN relief chief to Syria
Beijing, Wednesday, 7 March 2012
China on Tuesday voiced its support to the mediation efforts by Kofi Annan, the joint UN and Arab League special envoy on the Syrian crisis, and the upcoming respective visits to the Middle East country by Annan and Valerie Amos, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

35. No Chinese self-interests in Syria issue: China's UN envoy
United Nations, Monday, 12 March2012
Chinese UN Ambassador Li Baodong said that China has no self- interests in the Syria issue and does not shield any party or intentionally oppose any party.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

36. China supports Annan's Syria mediation efforts
United Nations, Friday, 16 March 2012
Chinese ambassador to the UN Li Baodong said that China supports Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan's mediation efforts concerning the Syrian crisis, calling upon the international community to support Annan's efforts and create conditions for his mediation.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

37. China hopes Security Council unites to back Annan's efforts in Syria
Beijing, Wednesday, 21 March 2012
China expressed the hope that the UN Security Council will unite in backing the mediation efforts in Syria made by UN-Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

38. Consultations yield consensus within UN Security Council on Syria, says Chinese FM spokesman
Beijing, Thursday, 22 March 2012
China said that equal, patient, and adequate consultations could yield consensus within the United Nations (UN) Security Council to address the Syria issue.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

39. Wen Jiabao: China fully supports Annan's mediation efforts
Beijing, Wednesday, 28 March 2012
The UN-Arab League envoy to Syria Kofi Annan is in Beijing to discuss a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria. After meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao, Annan said his diplomacy in Syria will take time and he needs support. Premier Wen Jiabao responded by saying that China fully supports Annan's mediation efforts.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

40. China applauds Syrian government's acceptance of Annan's plan
Beijing, Wednesday, 28 March 2012
China applauds the Syrian government's acceptance of the six-point plan put forward by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

41. China urges response to Annan's peace plan
Beijing, Friday, 30 March 2012
China called on Syria's opposition to respond to the six-point peace plan proposed by UN-Arab League joint envoy Kofi Annan as soon as possible.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

MISCELLANEOUS
OMAN
42. Oman newspaper lauds Chinese, Russian proposals on settlement of Syrian crisis
Muscat, Tuesday, 20 March 2012
The Al-Watan newspaper in Oman has praised proposals brought forward by China and Russia on the settlement of the Syrian crisis.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

QATAR
43. Qatar Airways links SW China to Middle East
Chongqing, Friday, 23 March 2012
Gulf carrier Qatar Airways has set up an office in Chongqing and has started offering Doha-Chongqing flights, the first direct air link between southwest China and the Middle East, the Chongqing government reported.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

UAE
44. UAE-sponsored Arabic studies centre reopens in Beijing
Beijing, Wednesday, 28 March 2012
A centre for Arabic language and Islamic culture studies, which is sponsored by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), reopened after renovations at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and was inaugurated by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

Compiled by Dipanwita Chakravortty

Dipanwita Chakravortty is pursuing her M Phil degree in School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.  Email

As part of the policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spellings and date format to make the text uniformly accessible and stylistically consistent. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/positions of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND P R Kumaraswamy