The US will allow the resale of Venezuelan oil to Cuba

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

New York, February 25 (Xinhua) — The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) will authorize the resale of Venezuelan oil to Cuban non-governmental organizations (NGOs), OFAC announced on Wednesday.

The agency said it would pursue a "favorable licensing policy" for specific applications for permits to resell Venezuelan oil to Cuba.

According to OFAC, this “favorable licensing policy” applies to transactions including exports for commercial and humanitarian use in Cuba and other private sector transactions in that country.

Transactions involving or for the benefit of any persons or entities associated with the Cuban armed forces, intelligence services, or other government agencies will not be subject to this favorable licensing policy, OFAC stated.

The United States declared Cuba an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to national security, declaring it would halt Venezuelan oil supplies to Cuba following the January military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The United States subsequently took control of Venezuelan oil exports.

On January 29, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing duties on imports from countries supplying oil to Cuba. –0–

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During the Spring Festival, there was a sharp increase in cross-border passenger traffic on the China-Laos Railway.

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

KUNMING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) — The China-Laos Railway saw a surge in cross-border passenger traffic during the recently concluded Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) holiday, the Kunming branch of China Railways (CR) said Wednesday.

During the nine-day holiday (February 15-23), the China-Laos Railway carried 12,900 cross-border passengers, a 41.8 percent increase year-on-year. Specifically, the number of inbound and outbound passengers was over 6,300 and over 6,500, respectively, an increase of 52.7 percent and 32.5 percent year-on-year.

The 1,035-km China-Laos Railway, connecting Kunming in Southwest China's Yunnan Province and Vientiane, the capital of Laos, opened for operation on December 3, 2021. To meet growing demand for cross-border travel, international passenger rail service between Kunming and Vientiane was launched on April 13, 2023.

The China-Laos Railway, connecting more than 560 tourist destinations, serves as a major route for cross-border travel, facilitating travel for more than 700,000 tourists from 124 countries and regions.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

China-Germany bilateral trade volume to reach 1.51 trillion yuan in 2025

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, February 26 (Xinhua) — Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany more than 50 years ago, trade ties between the two countries have steadily expanded, with the latest evidence being that bilateral trade volume grew faster than China's total foreign trade in 2025, according to data from the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

The department reported that in 2025, the volume of trade in goods between China and Germany amounted to 1.51 trillion yuan (approximately 217.83 billion US dollars), an increase of 5.2 percent compared to 2024, which is 1.4 percentage points higher than the national average.

Last year, Germany remained China's largest trading partner in Europe. China, in turn, regained its position as Germany's largest trading partner after a year-long hiatus.

Machinery and electronics account for a significant share of Chinese-German trade. In 2025, imports and exports of this category of goods totaled 1.07 trillion yuan, an increase of 5.8 percent year-on-year. This represents over 70 percent of bilateral trade.

As the second and third largest economies in the world, China and Germany are comprehensive strategic partners that bring mutual benefits to each other.

On Wednesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Beijing, beginning a two-day official visit to China. He is accompanied by a business delegation consisting of the heads of approximately 30 major German companies from sectors such as the automotive, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries.

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A new stage of peace negotiations could take place in early March, according to Zelensky.

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Kyiv, February 26 (Xinhua) — The next stage of peace talks involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia could take place in early March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced, Ukrinform reported on Wednesday.

He noted that Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov and Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Oleksiy Sobolev plan to meet with US Presidential Special Envoys Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Thursday to prepare for the upcoming talks.

V. Zelenskyy added that the bilateral meeting will also discuss a package of measures to restore Ukraine and details of a prisoner exchange with the Russian side.

The previous stage of peace negotiations involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia took place on February 17-18 in Geneva, Switzerland. –0–

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A Retrospective Look at the 14th Five-Year Plan: Environmental Priority and Green Development

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

From 2021 to 2025, during the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Social and Economic Development, China achieved further innovative breakthroughs, transformative changes, and historic achievements in socio-economic development, and this successful experience has attracted the attention of the world.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan, China accelerated its green and low-carbon transformation, continued to improve its ecological environment, and steadily improved the quality of its ecosystems. Thus, the reform of the ecological civilization system has yielded significant results, helping to make a significant contribution to global environmental governance. This has injected green impetus into high-quality development, and the building of a beautiful China has taken a major step forward.

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Iran sees "good prospects" for upcoming indirect talks with the US – M. Pezeshkian

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

TEHRAN, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that his administration sees "good prospects" for upcoming talks with the United States.

He made the statement at a meeting in the northern province of Mazandaran, commenting on the third round of indirect talks on the Iranian nuclear program between the Iranian and US delegations, led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Presidential Special Envoy Steven Witkoff, which is scheduled to take place in Geneva on February 26.

M. Pezeshkian expressed hope that the diplomatic process will be organized in such a way as to lead the country out of a situation in which there is “no war, no peace,” adding that his administration is making efforts to achieve this goal under the leadership of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

He said that if the talks yielded favorable results, his administration would be able to more easily remove obstacles to the country's development.

A. Araghchi left Tehran for Geneva on Wednesday at the head of a political delegation to participate in a new round of indirect talks with the United States amid ongoing tensions between the two countries over the buildup of American military presence in the West Asian region.

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An evening of Chinese culture was held at the Georgian International University.

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Tbilisi, February 25 (Xinhua) — In honor of the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year, the traditional Chinese New Year according to the lunar calendar), an evening of Chinese culture was held at the Georgian International University (GMU) on Tuesday. The evening included presentations of the English-language undergraduate program in Sinology and a new Chinese language textbook for Georgian schoolchildren.

The evening was jointly organized by the State Medical University, the China Institute of International Education and the Confucius Institute at Alta University.

Students and teachers of Chinese language presented musical and cultural performances such as the dragon dance, traditional Chinese dances, songs, and playing traditional Chinese instruments.

The opening ceremony was attended by Dai Chunyun, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Georgia, Eli Elisashvili, Rector of the Georgian State Medical University, and Zhang Wengang, Director of the Confucius Institute at Alte University.

The event also included a presentation of the English-language bachelor's degree program in Sinology at the State Medical University.

"This is the first English-language undergraduate program in Sinology in Georgia, whose academic staff consists of highly qualified Georgian and Chinese Sinologists and provides students with the latest teaching methods, exchange programs, internships, and various employment opportunities," noted GMU Rector E. Elisashvili.

In addition, a presentation of the new Chinese language textbook for Georgian schoolchildren, "Funny Chinese," was also organized. This textbook has already been distributed to students who began studying Chinese in Georgian public schools this year.

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Xi Jinping met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing on Wednesday with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is in China on an official visit.

Xi Jinping noted that China and Germany are the second and third largest economies in the world, and their bilateral relations affect not only the interests of the two countries, but also have a significant impact on Europe and the entire world.

The international situation is currently undergoing its most profound transformation since the end of World War II, the Chinese leader emphasized, adding that the more chaotic and confusing the global situation becomes, the more important it is for the two countries to strengthen strategic communication, strengthen strategic mutual trust, and achieve new progress in the Sino-German comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Chinese President put forward three proposals for the further development of Chinese-German relations.

First, Xi Jinping pointed out, the two sides must be reliable partners who support each other.

China and Germany are self-reliant and developing rapidly, he emphasized, noting that both countries adhere to the principles of mutual respect, mutual trust, and open cooperation, writing a successful history of mutual benefit and win-win.

According to the Chinese President, China is pursuing a path of peaceful development and has the capacity and confidence to pursue Chinese-style modernization. He assured that China will continue to share its development opportunities with Germany and the world.

The Chinese President expressed hope that the German side will objectively and rationally assess China's development, pursue a positive and pragmatic policy towards it, and work together to ensure the sustainable and stable development of bilateral relations.

Secondly, Xi Jinping continued, the two countries should pursue an innovative partnership, adhering to openness and mutual benefit.

The German government has put forward new development strategies in areas such as technology, innovation and digital development, the Chinese President stated, pointing out that they are largely consistent with China's goals of achieving intelligent, green and integrated development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

Xi Jinping said the two sides should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, support the two-way circulation of talent, knowledge and technology, and promote dialogue and cooperation in artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies.

Both sides need to properly understand the relationship between competition and cooperation, explore ways to collaborate that lead to mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and jointly maintain the stability and smooth operation of production and supply chains, the Chinese leader added.

Thirdly, Xi Jinping emphasized, the two countries should be partners in cultural and humanitarian exchanges that understand each other and are close to each other.

As countries with deep cultural heritage, he noted, China and Germany should strengthen mutual cultural learning and intensify people-to-people exchanges to strengthen the social foundation of Sino-German friendship.

The Chinese leader stressed that in the face of accelerating global changes unseen in a century, all countries must work together to overcome difficulties and share a common destiny.

According to him, China and Germany should support the central position of the UN, revive its leading role and take the initiative in upholding multilateralism, implementing the rule of international law, protecting free trade, and promoting solidarity and coordination.

Xi Jinping emphasized that China supports Europe's aspirations for independence and self-reliance. He expressed hope that Europe will be able to meet China halfway, firmly uphold the concept of a strategic partnership, openness, inclusiveness, and mutually beneficial cooperation, striving for further progress in China-EU relations and making an even greater contribution to world peace and development.

The two leaders exchanged views on the Ukrainian crisis. Xi Jinping outlined China's principled position and emphasized that the key to resolving the issue is a firm commitment to dialogue and negotiations.

As the Chinese President pointed out, it is important to ensure equal participation of all parties and lay a solid foundation for peace, take into account the legitimate interests of all parties and strengthen the desire for peace, ensure universal security and build a solid peace architecture. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Armenia's foreign trade turnover decreased by 12 percent in January 2026.

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Yerevan, February 25 /Xinhua/ — Armenia's foreign trade turnover in January of this year decreased by 12 percent year-on-year, amounting to almost $1.27 billion, the Statistical Committee of Armenia reported on Wednesday.

Exports during the reporting period decreased by 13.5 percent to approximately $463 million, while imports decreased by 11.2 percent to approximately $811 million.

At the same time, the economic activity index in Armenia increased by 7.6 percent year-on-year in January. The highest growth rate was recorded in the construction sector.

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Breaking: Saudi Aramco reports damage at Ras al-Juaimah LPG plant, no leak detected

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

RIYADH, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) — Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil and gas company Saudi Aramco said on Wednesday that a small section of the propane and butane supply system at its Ras al-Juaimah liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) plant suffered structural damage on Feb. 23, but no leaks were detected.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.