Briefly

CHINA

Indonesian FM to pay 3-day visit

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will pay a three-day visit to China starting on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Wednesday. During the visit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will co-chair the fifth Meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation between China and Indonesia with Marsudi. China is Indonesia's largest trading partner and the second-largest source of foreign investment for Indonesia, and Indonesia is China's second-largest investment destination in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

AZERBAIJAN

Country applies for BRICS membership

Azerbaijan has formally applied to join the BRICS group, its Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. The bid follows Azerbaijan's expression of interest at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, last month. During the summit, a Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership was signed between Azerbaijan and China, with one of its provisions outlining Azerbaijan's intention to join BRICS. China has endorsed Azerbaijan's application and pledged to support its entry into the group.

China Daily - Xinhua