Briefly

CHINA

Wang Yi to chair foreign ministers' meeting

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the fifth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers' Meeting from Saturday to Sunday in Chengdu, Sichuan province, Beijing announced on Thursday. The meeting will further carry out the outcomes of last year's China-Central Asia Summit and launch preparations for the second summit to be held in Kazakhstan next year, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. In Chengdu, the foreign ministers of the six countries will exchange views on promoting China-Central Asia cooperation on various fronts, the buildup of the China-Central Asia mechanism as well as international and regional issues of common concerns, she added.

MEXICO

President warns against Trump tariffs

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday Mexico would retaliate if US President-elect Donald Trump followed through with his proposed 25 percent across-the-board tariff, a move her government warned could kill 400,000 US jobs and drive up prices for US consumers. Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, speaking alongside Sheinbaum, called for more regional cooperation and integration instead of a war of retaliatory import taxes. Trump had said the tariffs would remain in effect until the flow of drugs and migrants into the US was controlled.

UGANDA

13 killed, 40 houses buried in landslides

At least 13 people have died in eastern Uganda after landslides buried 40 homes in six villages, relief officials said on Thursday. The Uganda Red Cross Society said 13 bodies had been recovered and the rescue efforts were continuing. Local media reported that authorities expect the death toll to rise to 30.The landslides happened after heavy rains on Wednesday night in the mountainous district of Bulambuli. The prime minister's office issued a disaster alert on Wednesday.

Agencies - Xinhua - China Daily