POLITICAL ISSUES
ALGERIA
1. Xi eyes more comprehensive relations with Algeria
Beijing, Sunday, 7 April 2013
On the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2013, Chinese President Xinping met Abdelkader Bensalah, present of the upper house of the Algerian parliament, and called for stronger and more comprehensive China-Algeria relations.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

IRAN
2. China hopes for consensus in Almaty nuclear talks
Beijing, Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said that the Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu would head the Chinese delegation to attend the Iran nuclear talks in Almaty, Kazakhstan and added that China urged all concerned parties to take practical action to build mutual trust during the upcoming talks.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

3. China calls for trust building steps in Iran nuclear talks
Almaty, Kazakhstan, Friday, 5 April 2013
Ma Zhaoxu, Assistant Foreign Minister of China, called for trust-building steps during the new rounds of talk on Tehran’s nuclear programme held in Almaty.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

4. China urges conditions for resolving Iran nuclear issue
Beijing, Wednesday, 10 April 2013
A Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said that China called on all relevant parties to create conditions for resolving the Iran nuclear issue and added that China hopes Iran can continue to maintain tangible talks with the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

5. China expresses condolence on those killed in Iran quake
Beijing, Friday, 12 April 2013
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei conveyed condolences of the Chinese government to those who were killed in an earthquake in Southwest Iran.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

ISRAEL
6. China's Middle East envoy to visit Palestine, Israel
Beijing, Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Chinese special envoy to the Middle East, Wu Sike left for Palestine and Israel for a brief trip from 25-30 April.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

7. China calls for action on lasting peace in Middle East
United Nations, Wednesday, 24 April 2013
China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Li Baodong urged all the parties concerned to address the Israeli-Palestinian dispute and share their inputs for lasting peace in Middle East.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

8. China willing to help Israel, Palestinians resume peace talks: envoy
Jerusalem, Monday, 29 April 2013
Chinese special envoy to the Middle East Wu Sike met Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and assured them that China is willing to exert efforts for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

MOROCCO
9. Chinese VP meets envoy of Moroccan king
Beijing, Friday, 19 April 2013
Vice President of China, Li Yuanchao met Taib Fassi Fihri, special envoy of Moroccan King Mohammed VI. During the meeting, Li said that China and Morocco have seen healthy and stable development in bilateral ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

10. Chinese FM holds talks with Moroccan king's envoy
Beijing, Friday, 19 April 2013
Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi held talks with Taib Fassi Fihri, special envoy of Moroccan King Mohammed VI. During the meeting Wang emphasized the traditional friendship and co-operation between the two.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

PALESTINE
11. China's Mideast envoy visits Palestinian territory over peace process
Ramallah, Saturday, 27 April 2013
Chinese special envoy to the Middle East Wu Sike held talks with several Palestinian officials including Palestinian Secretary-General El-Tayib Abdul Rahim in a bid to push forward the stalled peace talks between Israel and Palestine.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

MILITARY ISSUES
ALGERIA
12. China Navy kicks off visit to Algeria
Algiers, Tuesday, 2 April 2013
The 13th Escort Taskforce of the Chinese Navy arrived in Algiers for a four-day visit and the  Taskforce comprised of two frigates and one supply ship.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

MOROCCO
13. Chinese navy starts visit to Morocco
Casablanca, Wednesday, 10 April 2013
The 13th Escort Taskforce of the Chinese navy arrived in Casablanca for a four-day visit to Morocco.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

14. Chinese navy concludes visit to Morocco
Casablanca, Saturday, 13 April 2013
Li Xiaoyan, commander of the Escort Taskforce, said that the visit was successful and helped further boost the traditional friendly ties between China and Morocco.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

ECONOMIC ISSUES
EGYPT
15. China's investments in Egypt increases by 60 pct: ambassador
Cairo, Monday, 22 April 2013
During a tour in an industrial zone in Giza, Egypt, China’s ambassador to Egypt Song Aigua said that the Chinese investments in Egypt have increased by 60 per cent over the past two years to exceed half a billion U.S. dollars.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

16. Egyptian government, Chinese TEDA ink investment agreement near Suez Canal
Suez, Egypt, Saturday, 27 April 2013
The Egyptian Government signed an investment agreement with Chinese TEDA Corporation to develop part of a joint industrial zone near the Suez Canal. The investment projects would be established in an area of six square kilometres in the industrial zone.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

IRAQ
17. Iraq seeks to boost oil ties with China
Baghdad, Thursday, 4 April 2013
During an interview with a local radio station Energy Minister of Iraq Abdul Kareem al-Luaybi said that Iraq is seeking to bolster its ties with China in the field of oil industry.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

MISCELLANEOUS
18. Chinese to enjoy tailored Nile cruises
Beijing, Thursday, 11 April 2013
China’s biggest online travel agent, Ctrip started a new offer for tailored cruises in the Nile River for Chinese travellers.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

19. CISAR expresses concern about Iran quake
Beijing, Tuesday, 16 April 2013
China International Search and Rescue team has expressed its concern about a powerful earthquake that jolted Iran-Pakistan border.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

20. Morocco sends condolences to China over earthquake
Beijing, Saturday, 20 April 2013
In a message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Moroccan King Mohammed VI expressed deep condolences to the victims of the earthquake in southwest China’s Sichuan province which has killed over 150 people.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

21. China's top TV producer expanding UAE market
Dubai, Saturday, 20 April 2013
Changhong, one of China’s top consumer electronics producer, has appointed Al-Futtaim Electronics as its exclusive distributor for United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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 its editorial policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spelling and date formats 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