Earlier this week, as the US returned President Barack Obama to the White House for another four-year term, China’s Communist Party gathered in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to orchestrate a once-in-a-decade leadership transition.

Asset disclosure for Chinese officials is likely to be slowly phased in over time, a senior Communist Party leader said as the government grapples with the fraught task of rooting out corruption.

It was an ominous start for the 2,268 Chinese delegates at a pivotal congress to initiate a power handover to new leaders.

China’s ruling communists have opened a pivotal congress to initiate a power handover to new leaders with a broad promise of cleaner government.

As Hu Jintao steps down as Communist Party leader, he is the subject of rare and sharp criticism, writes Charles Hutzler

IT MIGHT appear that Enda Kenny is better appreciated outside Ireland than within it, now that he is the first Taoiseach since Sean Lemass to appear on the cover of Time magazine, subject of a largely very favourable piece about the hard work he is doing to rescue the Irish economy and praising his personal qualities.

A successful Italian bond auction yesterday pointed to confidence among investors the ECB will keep its word and take strong enough measures to get a grip on the eurozone’s debt crisis.

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao called on Greece, Spain and Italy to embrace budget cuts and get their finances in order after meeting visiting German chancellor Angela Merkel today.

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has called for efforts to stabilise weakening exports amid signs the country’s economy is weakening despite stimulus efforts.

China's premier says the country should be able to meet its economic targets this year, despite a slowdown in July growth.

China’s trade growth decelerated sharply in June as a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy deepened despite stimulus efforts.

China’s premier called for additional efforts to support growth yesterday, signalling Beijing’s willingness to take action after a recent series of economic indicators suggested that the world’s second-biggest economy will slow further in the second quarter.

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has called for more priority to be given to boosting China’s slowing economic growth, a state news agency reported, after unusually weak industrial activity in April prompted alarm about the world’s second-largest economy.

Blind activist Chen Guangcheng said today the Chinese government has promised him it will investigate abuses he and his family suffered at the hands of local authorities.

A blind legal activist who fled house arrest in rural China is under the protection of American officials and top-level talks are taking place between the countries about his fate, a human rights group said today.

As China’s high-octane economy shifts to a lower gear, virtually everyone agrees the double- digit, super-charged boom years are drawing to an end.

The state banquet in his honour was more than lavish, but still Enda craved the Chinese takeaway of his dreams.

The Government has signed an agreement with China which it is hoped will see Beijing investing in Irish sovereign bonds.

Syria has accepted Kofi Annan’s plan to end the bloodshed in the country, the UN envoy said.

Chinese business leaders are aware of the “long and sorry saga” of corruption exposed by the Mahon Tribunal but that will not stop them investing in Ireland, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said in Shanghai yesterday.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has stressed the similarities between Ireland and China as he began a four-day visit to the country today.

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has warned the ruinous turmoil that engulfed the country in the past could re-emerge unless it tackles political reforms.

Asian stock markets slid today over worries about slower economic growth in China and a possible snag in the deal for Greece to get its bailout money.

China will continue to invest in eurozone government debt and it remains confident in the euro, the country’s central bank governor said yesterday, while calling on Europeans to produce more attractive investment products for China.

China is ready to help resolve Europe’s debt crisis, its premier said yesterday, but he gave no details a day after the nation’s sovereign wealth fund ducked calls by German Chancellor Angela Merkel for it to buy euro government bonds.

Syria yesterday flatly rejected UN charges of crimes against humanity, even as monitors said troops killed dozens of civilians in the heaviest shelling of the protest city of Homs for days.

Chinese and EU leaders will meet today for a major summit set to be dominated by Europe's debt crisis.

China has a stake in helping eurozone countries get through their debt crisis, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday, pointing to Europe’s importance as a market and hinting at more possible support for beleaguered exporters.

China is considering increasing its participation in the rescue funds aimed at resolving the European debt crisis.

World stocks rose today, assisted by an absence of bad financial news and signs that the US economy may be strengthening.

EURO-region inflation slowed for the first time in five months in December, giving the European Central Bank room to lower borrowing costs further as the economy edges toward a recession.

Although China has dismissed a proposed ‘G-2’ agreement, it has clearly indicated that it plans to work closely with both the US and Europe, writes Li Zhaoxing

A bus taking primary school pupils home has slipped off a country road into an irrigation ditch in eastern China, killing 15 children and highlighting continuing safety problems in the country’s school transport system.

President Barack Obama and Chinese premier Wen Jiabao conferred in a surprise meeting on the sidelines of a major Asian summit, likely focusing on the economic matters that have prompted disputes between the two major world powers.

Asian stock markets struggled but European shares advanced today as fears that Italy could become the next domino to fall in Europe’s debt crisis were muted by Greece edging back from the brink.

CHINA has launched an experimental module to lay the groundwork for a future space station.

MOODY’S has cut the credit ratings of two French banks because of their exposure to Greece’s debt, highlighting growing risks to Europe’s financial sector from a deepening eurozone sovereign debt crisis.

China’s inflation rose to a 37-month-high in July, adding to pressure on Chinese leaders to cool living costs while keeping economic growth on track as the US and European outlook worsens.

A Chinese report said design flaws in signal equipment caused last weekend’s high-speed train crash that killed at least 39 people.

ONE of China’s most prominent prisoners of conscience, Hu Jia, returned home yesterday after completing a jail term for subversion, but looked likely to be muzzled along with other top dissidents.

Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao has offered his country’s support for Europe and its common currency amid the eurozone’s debt crisis.

China’s premier has ruled out a faster rise in its tightly controlled currency to fight inflation, citing the possible impact on business and social stability.

China’s government vowed today to clamp down on inflation and urgently raise incomes as it pushes to spread the benefits of economic growth at a time when living standards are rising, but so are calls for greater change.