ISLAMABAD -- Pakiza Zainab, an 18-year-old art student from Islamabad Model College for Girls, was immersed in observing the delicate art pieces with curiosity and admiration at an exhibition held in Islamabad, Pakistan's federal capital, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations.
Hosted by the Islamabad Museum and the Department of Archaeology and Museums under the National Heritage and Culture Division, Government of Pakistan, together with the China Cultural Center in Pakistan, the exhibition showcased a remarkable array of Chinese porcelain treasures and contemporary artworks, highlighting a rich legacy of craftsmanship, artistic creativity and cultural exchange spanning centuries. (Pakistan-China-Porcelain, ASIA-PACIFIC COMMUNITY)
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BANGKOK -- Thai and Chinese business leaders met here Friday to discuss expanding trade, investment, and logistics ties during the Thailand-China Business Leaders Exchange, which brought together 25 companies and institutions from each country.
The event took place as Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Bangkok on Friday for an official visit to Thailand at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. (Thailand-China-Business Talks)
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KUALA LUMPUR -- The central banks of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday to promote the wider use of local currencies in cross-border transactions under the Local Currency Transaction (LCT) Framework.
The MoU establishes a framework for the four central banks to promote and facilitate the use of local currencies in settling bilateral transactions between the participating jurisdictions, including trade, investment and other eligible transactions, the central banks said in a joint statement. (Malaysia-ASEAN-Local Currency Transactions)
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TOKYO -- The 25th round of ocean discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was completed on Friday, bringing the cumulative volume released to about 196,000 tonnes.
According to Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), the plant's operator, the latest release, the seventh in fiscal 2026, began on Oct. 26 and saw 7,835 tonnes of nuclear-contaminated wastewater containing approximately 1.4 trillion becquerels of radioactive tritium discharged into the ocean. (Japan-Fukushima Nuclear-contaminated Wastewater)
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HONG KONG -- Hong Kong will launch its annual maritime week on Sunday, bringing together over 18,000 policymakers and industry leaders to explore sector trends and development opportunities.
Slated for Nov. 15 to 21, Hong Kong Maritime Week (HKMW) 2026 will feature over 60 events from more than 80 maritime organizations, including flagship forums, high-level seminars, industry exhibitions and business networking. (Hong Kong-Maritime Week) ■
