Briefly

CHINA

Vice-Premier to address WEF Annual Meeting

Vice-Premier He Lifeng will attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos and visit Switzerland from Jan 19 to 22, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun announced on Friday. He will deliver a speech at the opening plenary of the forum's annual meeting, Guo said. China stands ready to work with all parties to inject greater stability and positive momentum into the world economy, he said. He will also meet with the President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research Guy Parmelin, Guo said.

Trade deal firmly rejected by Beijing

Beijing always firmly opposes countries that have diplomatic relations with China negotiating and signing any agreement with China's Taiwan region that carries sovereign implications and is of an official nature, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday. He made the remarks in response to a so-called trade agreement between the United States and the Taiwan region to build chips and chip factories on US soil. Washington should earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three joint communiques between China and the US, he said.

Japan-Philippines defense pact slammed

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday that state-to-state cooperation should not target or harm the interests of a third party, nor should it undermine regional peace and stability after Japan and the Philippines signed a military logistics support agreement to deepen their defense ties. Guo noted that Japan has fabricated excuses to expand its military capabilities, which reveal the intentions of Japan's right-wing forces to push for remilitarization. He called on all peace-loving countries and peoples to resolutely oppose the resurgence of Japanese militarism and safeguard regional peace and stability.

EUROPE

Europeans send troops to Greenland

European countries sent small numbers of military personnel to Greenland on Thursday as Denmark said it was pressing on with plans for a "larger and more permanent" NATO presence to secure the island coveted by US President Donald Trump. The modest European deployments, meant to help Denmark prepare for military exercises, sent a strong message of support a day after a meeting of officials from the US, Denmark and Greenland failed to break the impasse.

China Daily - Xinhua