Briefly

CHINA

Micronesian president to pay state visit

President of the Federated States of Micronesia Wesley W. Simina will kick off his first state visit to China from Friday since he took office last year. Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that during his eight-day visit to China, the leaders of the two countries will have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern. China stands ready to work with Micronesia to take this visit as an opportunity to enhance political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, and expand people-to-people exchanges to further advance bilateral ties, Wang said.

Thai princess to tour Beijing and Sichuan

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand will visit China from Thursday to April 10 at the invitation of the Chinese government, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin announced at a regular news briefing in Beijing on Wednesday. Aside from Beijing, she will also visit Sichuan province. As an old and good friend of the Chinese people, Princess Sirindhorn paid her 50th visit to China in June last year.

DPRK

Intermediate-range ballistic missile tested

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Tuesday successfully test-fired an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile with its top leader in attendance, the official Korean Central News Agency reported on Wednesday. The test-fire marked the first time the country launched the new-type intermediate-range solid-fueled ballistic missile, called Hwasongpho-16B, which was loaded with a newly developed hypersonic gliding warhead. The missile was launched toward the northeast at an army unit's training field on the outskirts of Pyongyang.

China Daily - Xinhua