Xi and Hollande celebrate 50 years of friendship

President Xi Jinping and his French counterpart, Francois Hollande, vowed on Monday to lift the China-France relationship to a new high.

Marceau's appearance on Chinese TV highlights ties

Chinese audience will have the chance to savor the charm of French beauty at the 2014 Spring Festival Gala on Thursday, given that renowned actress and former "Bond girl" Sophie Marceau will sing on the show for the first time.

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US nervous about Japan's ambitions

Washington's demand that Tokyo return 331 kg of weapons-grade plutonium demonstrates that, in addition to concerns over nuclear terrorism, the United States is monitoring Japan's capacity to develop nuclear weapons, observers said.

Beijing criticizes NHK chief

China responded angrily to a comment by the new head of Japanese public broadcaster NHK that military brothels with sex slaves are "common" worldwide during war.

Abe blasts Chinese defense spending

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has criticized China over what he called its rapid military expansion and its double-digit annual growth on defense spending.

British diplomat warns of looming disaster for Japan

Tokyo's efforts to amend Japan's postwar Constitution are a serious mistake and run contrary to Japan's national interests, a veteran British diplomat warned in an op-ed article on Friday.

Hollande, first lady Trierweiler break up

French President Francois Hollande announced his separation from first lady Valerie Trierweiler on Saturday, following a media storm over allegations he is having an affair with an actress.

Military bands of China, France stage joint music performance

The Orchestra of the Republican Guard and the Military Band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army gave a joint performance in Beijing on Sunday, one day before the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-French diplomatic relations.

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Abe floats hawkish plan

Japan's top leader makes first public statement aiming at lifting nation's military restriction

Japanese group seeks to sue PM over shrine visit

A civic group in Osaka, Japan, is expected to file a lawsuit against Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for visiting the Yasukuni Shrine on Dec 26, claiming the visit has brought trauma to the group. They are seeking financial compensation from the state, the prime minister and the Yasukuni Shrine, according to Japan's Kyodo News agency.