Leaders attending the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit pose for a group photo in Milan Authentic Marcus Johansson Jersey , Italy, Oct. 16, 2014. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (4th L, front) attended the opening of the ASEM Summit on Thursday. (XinhuaXie Huanchi) MILAN, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The tenth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) opened in Milan, Italy on Thursday under the theme of "Responsible Partnership for Growth and Security."
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said at the meeting that Asia and Europe need each other both economically and politically, and security is also inter-linked, "or one could even consider it a single, united Eurasian continent."
"In the 21st century, no country can remain in isolation. We need to effectively connect our regions -- in physical, digital, institutional and human terms -- to make our partnership truly beneficial," he said.
Countries brought together by the ASEM represent more than 60 percent of the world's population, half of the world's gross domestic product and 60 percent of global trade, according to Van Rompuy.
Van Rompuy also welcomed that the ASEM accepted Kazakhstan and Croatia as its members, making it a 53-member forum. He stressed that the ASEM will continue to enlarge and attract new members.
The summit, running from October Oct. 16-17, will focus on enhancement of financial and economic cooperation between Asia and Europe as trade and investments are key for further growth and jobs.
Moreover, matters of global concern will be discussed at the summit such as climate change, natural disasters, health, epidemics, international crime and terrorism, issues that affect all and require national efforts and broad international cooperation.
The ASEM leaders will convene in a retreat session for the first time on the second day of the summit to discuss current international and regional affairs, according to Van Rompuy.
The summit will also steer the future direction of the ASEM in view of the ASEM 20th anniversary in 2016. The ASEM, founded in 1996, is a high-level and large-scale inter-governmental platform of dialogues and cooperation between the two continents.
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XUZHOU, Jiangsu, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the army to restructure and enhance its combat capability.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R, front), also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with senior officers of the 71st Group Army of the People's Liberation Army in Xuzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 13, 2017. Xi inspected the 71st Group Army of the People's Liberation Army in Xuzhou on Dec. 13. (XinhuaLi Gang)
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks Wednesday when inspecting the 71st Group Army of the People's Liberation Army.
Xi told officers of the group army that they should grasp the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and incorporate the principles into military practice.
The army was urged to strengthen Party organizations at all levels and ensure service men and women follow the command of the CPC Central Committee and CMC.
Xi stressed political discipline and rules in the military, efforts to fight corruption, and improving work style.
He also instructed the army to enhance its capability to win wars, implement restructuring plans, and improve army management and combat mobility.
""The army should innovate its training theories and methods, conduct more combat drills and build soldiers' morale,"" he said, urging commanding officers to take responsibility and demonstrate leadership.
During the inspection, Xi first visited a company where the hero soldier Wang Jie served in the 1960s. He died while trying to save 12 others.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (C, rear), also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, poses for photos with soldiers of a squad named after the hero soldier Wang Jie, in Xuzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 13, 2017. Xi inspected the 71st Group Army of the People's Liberation Army in Xuzhou on Dec. 13. (XinhuaLi Gang)
He visited the company's room of honor, where Wang's photos and diaries are displayed. He then talked with soldiers of the squad named after Wang.
At the end of his visit, Xi took a photo with all the soldiers and officers of the company.
Xi also visited the headquarters of the group army, where he met with senior officers and delivered a speech.
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WUHAN, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed cinjured when a scaffold collapsed Wednesday afternoon in a construction site in central China's Hubei Province, local authorities said Thursday.
5 killed, 3 injured in central China scaffold collapse
The accident happened in Jianshi when workers were dismantling the old office building of the county's branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), according to the county government.
As of 6:40 a.m. Thursday, rescuers found the trapped persons, three men and two women, who were confirmed dead, according to the local government.
Six people in connection with the accident were held in police custody. Further investigation is under way.
5 killed, 3 injured in central China scaffold collapse