Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit Kazakhstan, Tajikistan

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to visit Kazakhstan and Tajikistan to enhance diplomatic relations and cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin announced at a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

At the invitation of Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu, and Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will attend the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and pay official visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan from May 18 to 21.

"Kazakhstan and Tajikistan are China's friendly neighbors and important partners in the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative. Under the strategic leadership of President Xi Jinping, (Kazakh) President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and (Tajik) President Emomali Rahmon, China's bilateral relations with the two countries have maintained high-level development, and the bilateral efforts are under way to build a community with a shared future," Wang noted.

"During the visit, Wang will meet with leaders of the two countries, hold talks with their foreign ministers, and exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of common interest concerning international and regional matters," said the spokesman.

"China believes that this visit will fully implement the consensus reached by President Xi Jinping with the heads of state of the two countries, deepen cooperation in various fields, promote cooperation on the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and make new contributions to maintaining peace, stability, and development in the region," Wang said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit Kazakhstan, Tajikistan

China's e-commerce sector has maintained healthy growth from January to October, with total online retail sales rising by 8.8 percent during the period, according to the Ministry of Commerce on Friday.

In the first 10 months this year, the country's online retail sales totaled 12.4 trillion yuan (about 1.7 trillion U.S. dollars). Of this, online retail sales of physical goods reached 10.3 trillion yuan (about 1.4 trillion U.S. dollars), up 8.3 percent year on year, the ministry's data showed.

In October, boosted by the National Day holiday, the 'Double 11' shopping festival and trade-in program, online retail sales maintained steady growth, with rapid increases in the purchase of digital products and service consumption.

For example, online sales of smart home devices and mobile phones rose by 14.2 percent and 12.2 percent year on year, respectively, in October, while sales of range hoods and household stoves surged by 93 percent and 46.8 percent, respectively. Internet service consumption also increased by 15.5 percent.

In addition, the expansion of e-commerce has helped increase online sales of overseas fresh produce by making it easier to reach Chinese consumers.

From January to October, sales of Chilean cherries and Malaysian durians on Chinese e-commerce platforms increased by 107.8 percent and 23.6 percent year on year, respectively, according to the data.

China's online retail sales up 8.8 pct from January to October