POLITICAL ISSUES
ALGERIA
1. China congratulates Algeria on election
Beijing, Monday, 14 May 2012
The Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesman congratulated Algeria on its successful completion of its parliamentary election.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

2. China to boost cooperation with Algeria
Beijing, Thursday, 31 May 2012
A senior Chinese political advisor pledged to boost cooperation with Algeria, hailing bilateral ties as an example of South-South cooperation.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

EGYPT
3. China hopes for successful Egyptian presidential election
Beijing, Wednesday, 23 May 2012
China wished success for Egypt's first presidential election since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak last year.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

4. China applauds "smooth" voting of Egypt's presidential election
Beijing, Monday, 28 May 2012
China applauded Egypt for smoothly holding the first round presidential election.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

IRAN
5. Deputy Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council visits China
Beijing, Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Deputy Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Baqeri paid a working visit to China. Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu held talks with Baqeri, and the two sides exchanged views on Iranian nuclear issue and other international and regional issues of common concern.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

6. China expects dialogue, negotiation for Iran nuclear issue
Beijing, Thursday, 3 May 2012
China believes dialogue and negotiations are the proper way to handle the Iranian nuclear issue, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

7. Senior CPC official meets Iranian vice president
Beijing, Wednesday, 9 May 2012
He Guoqiang, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with visiting Iranian Vice President Mohammad-Javad Mohammadizadeh.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

8. Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister to attend meeting on Iran nuclear issue
Beijing, Monday, 21 May 2012
Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu will attend an upcoming meeting between Iran and the six world powers, namely Russia, China, the U.S., Britain, France and Germany, in Baghdad on May 23.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

9. China says Baghdad talks can help resolve nuke dispute
Beijing, Monday, 21 May 2012
China said that talks scheduled in Baghdad can help resolve the Iranian nuclear dispute as well as promote peace and stability in the region.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

10. Iranian nuclear talks gain new achievements: Chinese representative
Baghdad, Friday, 25 May 2012
The talks between six world powers and Iran over Tehran's nuclear issue gained new achievements, a Chinese government official said in Iraqi capital Baghdad at the conclusion of a two-day meeting between the parties.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

11. China encourages enhanced cooperation between IAEA, Iran
Beijing, Monday, 28 May 2012
China encourages the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran to improve dialogue and cooperation, so as to accommodate international concerns over Iran's nuclear programme, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

ISRAEL
12. China urges Israel to improve conditions for detained Palestinians
Beijing, Wednesday, 9 May 2012
China urges Israel to consider humanitarian principles and improve living conditions and medical treatment for Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

13. China, Israel pledge closer military ties
Beijing, Monday, 21 May 2012
China and Israel pledged to boost ties between their armed forces as their chiefs of staff held talks in Beijing.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

14. Chinese VP meets Israeli army chief
Beijing, Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Vice President Xi Jinping met with visiting Israeli Defence Force Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, calling on the militaries of both countries to boost cooperation and promote bilateral relations.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

JORDAN
15. CPC delegation leaves for visits to Myanmar, Namibia, Jordan, Ireland
Beijing, Sunday, 13 May 2012
A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) left Beijing for friendly visits to a number of countries including Jordan.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

16. Jordan's king wishes to boost ties with China
Amman, Tuesday. 22 May 2012
Jordan's King Abdullah II underlined the country's keenness to develop ties between Jordan and China at all levels, the state-run Petra news agency reported.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

LIBYA
17. China urges international community to support Libya's national reconstruction
United Nations, Wednesday, 16 May 2012
A Chinese diplomat said that the international community should continue to provide support and assistance for Libya's national reconstruction.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

SYRIA
18. China hopes Syria's parliamentary election promotes reform
Beijing, Monday, 7 May 2012
China has taken note of parliamentary election proceedings in Syria, and hopes the election will help promote the reform process.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

19. Chinese FM meets Syrian National Council delegation
Beijing, Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with the Syrian National Council delegation led by Burhan Ghalioun, head of Syrian leading opposition political group. Yang elaborated China's position and principle on Syrian issue during the meeting, pointing out that UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's efforts had provided a practical solution and an important opportunity for the current crisis.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

20. FM Spokesman: China strongly condemns bombings in Syria
Beijing, Friday, 11 May 2012
China strongly condemns the two recent terrorist bombings in the Syrian capital of Damascus, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

21. China dispatches six more UN military observers to Syria
Beijing, Monday, 14 May 2012
Six Chinese United Nations (UN) military observers left Beijing for Syria on Monday to monitor a ceasefire, upon the request from the UN.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

22. China strongly condemns Syria attacks: FM Spokesman
Beijing, Monday, 28 May 2012
China strongly condemns the attacks in Syria which have wounded and killed a large number of civilians, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Weimin said.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

23. China calls for thorough investigation into Houla massacre
Beijing, Wednesday, 30 May 2012
China called for a thorough investigation into the mass murder of civilians in the Houla region of west Syria.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

SUDAN
24. China calls for balanced position on Sudan-South Sudan issue
United Nations, Wednesday, 2 May 2012
China has always maintained that the international community should take an "objective, impartial and balanced" stand in handling the issue concerning Sudan and South Sudan, said Chinese UN Ambassador Li Baodong.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

25. Sudan, China express great concern with enhancing agricultural cooperation
Al-Fao (Eastern Sudan), Tuesday,15 May 2012
Sudan and China have expressed their desire to enhance agricultural cooperation similar to the pioneering experience between Khartoum and Beijing in the oil field.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

26. China welcomes Sudan, S. Sudan's positive attitudes on resuming talks
Beijing, Friday, 25 May 2012
China welcomed the announcement that Sudan and South Sudan will resume talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

TURKEY
27. China's top legislator makes stopover visit to Istanbul
Istanbul, Monday, 28 May 2012
Senior Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo arrived in Turkey's Istanbul for a two-day stopover visit after wrapping up his four-nation European tour.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

UAE
28. China-Arab relations have centuries to come: UAE minister
Dubai, Thursday, 3 May 2012
The three-day Annual Investment Summit ended with the China-Arab Leadership Forum, where United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Foreign Trade, Sheikha Lubna Bint Khaled Al Qassimi said that  strong trade and economic relations between both sides have just seen their debut.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

YEMEN
29. China condemns Yemen bombing
Beijing, Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei condemned a terrorist bombing that occurred the previous day in Yemen's capital of Sana'a.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

ECONOMIC ISSUES
KUWAIT
30. Dagong puts sovereign credit rating of Kuwait at AA
Beijing, Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Dagong Global Credit Rating Co., Ltd., China's leading credit rating agency assigned a local and foreign currency sovereign credit rating of AA to the state of Kuwait, each with a stable outlook.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

MULTILATERAL ISSUES
SINO- ARAB FORUM
31. Chinese-Arab Forum to strengthen ties with Arab states: envoy
Ramallah, Monday, 7 May 2012
The special envoy of China to the Middle East Wu Sike told reporters after his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah that the Chinese Arab forum, to be held in Tunisia will give a strong push to the Arab-Chinese ties.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

32. Upcoming forum to boost Sino-Arab relations: FM spokesman
Beijing, Friday, 25 May 2012
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will head a government delegation to attend the fifth Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum in Hammamet, Tunisia.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

33. Seventeen Arab countries to attend cooperation forum with China in Tunisia: ambassador
Tunis, Monday, 28 May 2012
Foreign ministers from 17 Arab countries are to attend the Fifth China-Arab States Cooperation Forum scheduled for May 29-31 in Tunisia, Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia Huo Zhengde said.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

34. Officials expect 5th China-Arab Cooperation Forum to lay new cornerstone for ties
Hammamet (Tunisia), Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Senior officials of China and the Arab League (AL) member states said that they hope the upcoming ministerial conference of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum will lay a new cornerstone for further developing their relations.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

35. Chinese, Arab FMs pledge to cement ties
Hammamet (Tunisia), Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and six of his Arab counterparts vowed to further ties between their countries.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

36. Chinese, Arab ministers kick off meeting in Tunisia to deepen cooperation
Hammamet (Tunisia), Thursday, 31 May 2012
The Fifth Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum opened under the theme of "deepen strategic cooperation, promote common development."
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

ARAB LEAGUE
37. Arab League Secretary-General to visit China
Beijing, Thursday, 3 May 2012
Nabil Elaraby, secretary-general of the League of Arab States, will visit China from May 4 to 9, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

38. China, Arab League pledge further strategic cooperation
Beijing, Tuesday, 8 May 2012
China and the League of Arab States (AL) pledged to further their strategic cooperation and expand cultural exchanges during to a meeting between Vice President Xi Jinping and AL Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

MISCELLANEOUS
39. Chinese-themed shopping mall to be built in Bahrain
Manama, Sunday, 13 May 2012
Bahrain and China signed an agreement on Sunday to build a Chinese-themed retail shopping mall that is expected to host 100 Chinese companies and businesses.
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