Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in China today for talks with leaders, amid growing energy co-operation between the neighbours.

One of Tibet’s richest businessmen has been sentenced to life in prison for helping exile groups, a human rights organisation said today, the latest case in a surprising crackdown on well-known Tibetans once praised by Chinese authorities.

There is still “a lot of work to be done” to secure any international deal on climate change, Britain's Gordon Brown said tonight as talks between world leaders in Copenhagen remained deadlocked.

CHINA, the biggest producer of greenhouse gases, set its first numerical target to slow their growth a day after the US offered its own goal, giving impetus to next month’s global climate-protection talks.

Rescuers blasted through mud and debris today to try and reach 27 miners trapped after a massive landslide buried an iron ore plant and several homes in south-western China, leaving 26 people dead and dozens missing.

China’s Premier Wen Jiabao today said Beijing is willing to hold future talks with the Dalai Lama as long as Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader gives up his “separatist stance”.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chinese officials today pledged to expand high-level talks on economic issues to include troubling security matters.

The world’s foremost gathering of the best and brightest in government and business failed to come up with any new plan to stem, much less reverse, the global financial meltdown today.

CHINESE people welcomed the arrival of the Year of the Ox with raucous celebrations yesterday despite gloom about the economy, setting off firecrackers in the streets and sending fireworks into the sky.

Premier Wen Jiabao says China’s efforts to break out of an economic slump amid global turmoil are starting to show results, with the economy performing better than expected in December.

CHINESE cash could soon be flooding through the International Financial Services Centre after a landmark financial deal was unveiled yesterday.

A QUARTER of humanity held its collective breath and hoped the Taoiseach would change his mind.

China is facing new questions about the safety of its food products today amid the growing scandal of contaminated milk formula that has killed three babies and poisoned thousands.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised China’s post-earthquake recovery efforts during a visit to the disaster zone today, saying it contrasted with Burma’s reluctance to allow in aid after a devastating cyclone.

Rebuilding in two of China’s provinces hit by last month’s massive earthquake should be complete by 2010, Premier Wen Jiabao said today.

China’s earthquake death toll has passed 60,000 and could rise to 80,000 or more, Premier Wen Jiabao said today as he and UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon visited the disaster area.

Premier Wen Jiabao was appointed to a second five-year term as China’s top economic official today, leading efforts to cool soaring inflation and showcase the country to the world at the Beijing Olympics.

China put nearly half a million soldiers to work clearing roads today as the country struggled to cope with winter storms that have brought it to a virtual standstill.

INDIAN prime minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Beijing yesterday for a three-day visit aimed at boosting sometimes strained relations between the Asian giants whose massive populations and sizzling economies are increasingly driving world trade.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il told China’s president he is committed to a peaceful resolution of the stand-off over the North’s nuclear ambitions as he wrapped up a week-long, secrecy-shrouded trip to his last major ally.

The death toll from a massive coal mine explosion in northeast China rose to 134 late today with 15 miners still missing, state media reported, as the country’s leadership called for tighter work safety measures.

Coal dust caught fire in a mine in northeast China, sparking an explosion that killed at least 68 people and left 79 missing, the government said today, as the country’s leadership called for tighter work safety measures.

China exulted at its second manned space flight today after the government eased its secrecy and showed the launch of two astronauts on live television, scoring a success in a costly programme that communist leaders hope will win them respect abroad and public support at home.

China and the US moved into a third day of high-level meetings today in talks that could help defuse brewing trade and military tensions.

After days of violent protests, China hinted strongly that it will block Japan’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council with Premier Wen Jiabao saying that Tokyo had to face up to its wartime atrocities before aspiring to a bigger global role.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern held talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing today to promote closer trade ties between the two countries.

China has called on the European Union to end a 15-year-old arms embargo in the interest of better relations as Premier Wen Jiabao prepared to attend an EU-China meeting in the Netherlands.

China is finally having the economic impact its backers have long predicted.

Police have arrested the builder of a bamboo temple where a fire killed 40 worshippers – one of two deadly weekend blazes that prompted China’s Cabinet to call for public help in improving safety.

THE 10 Asian countries hit by the rapid spread of bird flu that has killed at least eight people and threatens to develop into a large-scale epidemic vowed yesterday to fight it together.

After assuring the Chinese public for weeks that a deadly outbreak of disease was under control, Premier Wen Jiabao today admitted the “overall situation remains grave” as four new deaths and dozens of new cases were reported.