BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao assured his Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani of China’s “all-weather friendship” on Wednesday, during a visit that sharply contrasted with anger between Washington and Islamabad.

“I wish to stress here that no matter what changes might take place in the international landscape, China and Pakistan will remain forever good neighbors, good friends, good partners and good brothers,” Wen told Gilani at the start of a meeting in central Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao assured his Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani of China’s “all-weather friendship” on Wednesday, at the start of a visit that sharply contrasts with the intense strain at present between Washington and Islamabad.

“I wish to stress here that no matter what changes might take place in the international landscape, China and Pakistan will remain forever good neighbours, good friends, good partners and good brothers,” Wen told Gilani, according to a pool report, during a meeting in central Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

BEIJING (Reuters) – Europe will not let the euro fail and European Union countries are committed to cutting deficits, the president of the European Council told Chinese officials on Tuesday, seeking to ease fears that the euro zone crisis could imperil China’s investments.

“All EU countries are bringing down public deficits. The most vulnerable countries are undertaking determined action to come out of the crisis,” President Herman Van Rompuy said in a speech at the Central Party School in northwest Beijing, which trains rising Chinese leaders.

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s state media on Wednesday sought to play down disagreements with the United States over human rights during their latest talks in Washington, signaling a more mature approach to tackling the thorny topic.

The official Xinhua news agency praised the frank nature of the talks, which mainly focused on trade and economic issues, and avoided the angry rhetoric which has come to characterize the Chinese response to rights criticism.

BEIJING (Reuters) – China pushed back against U.S. criticism of its human rights situation on Friday following talks on the issue, saying that the Chinese people were “most qualified” to talk on the topic and defending the detention of artist Ai Weiwei.

The U.S. official leading the talks said on Thursday that he was “deeply concerned” about a crackdown on dissidents and rights lawyers in China, and that the friction could impede the two powers’ ties.

BEIJING (Reuters) – For many young Beijing parents, debate about China’s restrictive “one-child” policy is far less pressing than the task at hand — how to afford the cost of bringing up even one child.

China’s census released on Thursday should make for stark reading for policymakers, showing more old people and fewer young people to pay for them, the result of three decades of policies aimed at slowing population growth.

TAIPEI/BEIJING (Reuters) – Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chose on Wednesday a one-time top China policymaker with moderate views as its candidate for presidential elections next year, as Beijing warned any hostile stance on China may spark conflict.

Tsai Ing-wen, a polished English speaker who holds a law doctorate from the London School of Economics, will run against current President Ma Ying-jeou, whose victory in 2008 has bought ties between China and Taiwan to their closest in six decades.

BEIJING, April 26 (Reuters) – China’s foreign aid programme
is selfless and about helping countries abandoned by a cruel
West in a hurry to dump their old colonies, a senior official
said on Tuesday, dismissing suggestions Beijing’s primary aim
was accessing raw materials.

China has provided 256.29 billion yuan ($39.26 billion) in
aid over the last six decades, with almost half going to Africa.
Government figures do not include a state-by-state or yearly
breakdown, though Beijing says aid has risen substantially since
2004.

BEIJING (Reuters) – Former President Jimmy Carter said on Monday he hopes to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and his son and presumed heir during a visit this week that will concentrate on Pyongyang’s nuclear program and foodaid needs.

The Nobel Peace prize winner is leading a delegation of former state leaders — The Elders — on a three-day visit to the secretive state, which is under wide-ranging international sanctions.

BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese police detained dozens of Christians on Sunday who were trying to converge at the site of a banned Easter service.

While Easter services for tens of millions of Christians across China mostly went ahead unhindered, police led away people trying to gather in northwest Beijing, where the Shouwang Church had called for outdoor services after it was evicted from its rented premises during a clampdown on dissent.