ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani President Arif Alvi said on Wednesday that Pakistan and China enjoy a unique friendship as all-weather strategic cooperative partners.
"The bilateral ties between Pakistan and China are of special importance ... Both countries are close, trusted friends and iron brothers," the president said during a meeting here. (Pakistan-China-CPEC)
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VIENTIANE -- The Lao government is keen to minimize importing products that can be produced domestically, especially agricultural produce, to help boost domestic production while also tackling inflation.
Southern Laos' Champasak province is placing some items that can be produced in Laos on a list of controlled imports, hoping to reduce the overall volume of imports and spur domestic production. (Laos-Imports-Reduction)
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MANILA -- The 17 Filipino seafarers taken hostage by Yemen's Houthi rebels in November "are safe," an official from the Philippines' Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Wednesday.
"The 17 seafarers have been allowed to contact their families and have said they are safe onboard the ship," DMW Undersecretary Hans Cacdac told a local television interview. (Philippines-Hostage)
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SEOUL -- South Korea signed a contract to buy 20 more F-35A stealth fighter jets, manufactured by the U.S. arms company Lockheed Martin, Yonhap news agency reported Wednesday, citing the arms procurement agency.
The letter of acceptance (LOA) for the purchase of the combat planes was signed with the U.S. government on Dec. 8, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) was quoted as saying. (South Korea-U.S.-Fighter Jets) ■
