Briefly

SOLOMON ISLANDS

PM invited to China for official visit

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare will come to China for an official visit from Sunday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Sogavare will visit Beijing, Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces during the weeklong trip. Noting that this will be Sogavare's second China visit in four years, Wang said China sees this as an opportunity to deepen political mutual trust, expand pragmatic cooperation and strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

SOUTH AFRICA

Gas leak kills at least 17 as probe underway

At least 17 people in a settlement in South Africa have been killed after being poisoned in a gas leak, the head of the provincial government said. Investigations were underway to determine what type of gas was involved in the Wednesday accident, Gauteng Province Premier Panyaza Lesufi told reporters as he visited the scene near Boksburg, just east of Johannesburg city. Neither Lesufi nor the media had made clear how the leak happened. Media reported that the gas could have been linked to illegal mining. Forensic workers in hazmat suits were seen combing the area with the help of police.

China Daily - Agencies