Russia's defense ministry said Saturday that 115 Russian servicemen captured in the Kursk region were returned from the territory controlled by Ukraine as part of an exchange deal.
"In exchange, 115 prisoners of war of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were transferred," the ministry said, adding that the United Arab Emirates provided mediation efforts during the swap.
All the exchanged Russian military personnel are currently in Belarus and will be sent to Russia for treatment and rehabilitation at the ministry's medical institutions, it said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Russia handed over 115 prisoners to Ukraine that day.
Russia, Ukraine each exchange 115 prisoners captured in conflict
Russia, Ukraine each exchange 115 prisoners captured in conflict
A major conference on grain and agricultural cooperation opened Thursday in Zhengzhou City of central China's Henan Province, aiming to enhance strategic partnership and deepen agricultural cooperation between Henan and ASEAN countries.
Government officials, ambassadors to China, business association representatives and entrepreneurs from ASEAN countries have gathered to participate in this two-day event, with the goal of enhancing agricultural investment, strengthening regional connectivity and promoting bilateral trade.
"This conference gathers the Asian member states together with China. We build our agriculture sector to get it stronger, to become a driving force for this food security, for the stability, the social stability and also sustainability," said Hong Narit, director of Planning and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Cambodia.
Henan is one of China's major grain-producing regions, accounting for a quarter of the country's wheat output. During the conference, participating companies from ASEAN countries engaged in targeted discussions with Henan's leading enterprises through "one-on-one" business matchmaking meetings to explore potential cooperation projects.
"My country is tropical season, so it's different fruits we need. So we can make some exchanges better about our products. We can come enter to China, and then from China to Indonesia," said Hotman Fajar Simanjuntak, director general of Horticulture branch under the Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia. Representatives from Henan and ASEAN countries also pledged to strengthen their commitment to international cooperation aimed at eradicating hunger and reducing poverty.
"China program on poverty eradication has been very impressive. It should be a model that should be followed by everyone around," said Pehin Dato Haji Abdu'r Rahmani bin Dato Haji Basir, Bruneian Ambassador to China.
The conference will include a series of high-profile events, such as grain and agricultural product exhibitions and industry cooperation promotions.
Grain, Agricultural Cooperation Conference kicks off in Henan
