Briefly

CHINA

Nepal prime minister to pay four-day visit

Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli will pay a four-day official visit to China starting from Monday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning has announced. Oli visited China twice as Nepalese prime minister, and has made important contributions to the development of China-Nepal relations, Mao said on Friday. China is willing to work with Nepal to strengthen strategic mutual trust, expand pragmatic cooperation, and deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation through the visit, she said.

German Foreign Minister Baerbock to kick off trip

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will visit China from Monday to Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning has announced. During the visit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Baerbock will co-chair the seventh round of China-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Security, Mao said on Friday. Germany has been China's largest trading partner in the EU for many years.

RUSSIA

Forces hit Ukrainian energy facilities

Russia unleashed on Thursday its second major attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure this month. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow had struck in response to Ukraine's strikes on Russian territory with US missiles. He said Russia's future targets could include "decision-making centers" in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of a "despicable escalation".

Agencies - Xinhua