Russia said on Tuesday it had seized two more settlements in Ukraine over the past 24 hours, while Ukraine said the situation on the frontline remained tense.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a briefing that its forces launched strikes on energy facilities of Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises, military airfield infrastructure, and manpower and equipment concentration areas.
Russia's air defense systems shot down dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles of the Ukrainian air force in the past day, the ministry said.
In addition, Russian troops continued to strike Ukrainian manpower and equipment in the western region of Kursk.
On the same day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that as of Tuesday afternoon, Ukrainian forces had engaged in over 100 fights with Russian forces, most on the axes of Kurakhove and Pokrovsk.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media that the overall situation on the frontline remained tense.
The Russian Navy and Aerospace Forces launched high-precision sea- and air-based missiles in the eastern Mediterranean Sea as part of a joint military drill, the country's Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
The exercise took place from Sunday to Tuesday. It involved over 1,000 military troops, 10 ships and support vessels, and 24 aircraft, including MiG-31I fighters with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles from the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Bastion coastal missile system, it added.
Also on Tuesday, Zelensky chaired a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff to discuss the national missile program.
The Ukrainian president said he had received a report on the testing of new types of missiles, and the country is accelerating their production.
Russia claims control of two more settlements, Ukraine reports tense situation
Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday highlighted the importance of stronger business ties with China at the Nepal-China Business Forum in Beijing, calling for joint efforts of the business community from both sides to achieve mutual benefit.
Oli is in China for a four-day official visit, during which he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday.
On Wednesday afternoon, he delivered a keynote speech at the forum, in which he spoke highly of the close relationship between the two nations.
"We are not only linked by mountains and rivers, but we are also connected by culture and situation on economic relations, respect for sovereign equality, territory integrity, political independence as well as mutual trust," said the prime minister.
Oli also encouraged businesses from both countries to deepen cooperation.
"I encourage the business community from both countries to work together for mutual benefit. Your increased collaboration and partnership will contribute to further enhancing our economic cooperation. I believe the private sector is the real engine of economic growth and prosperity," he said.
India, as Nepal's largest trading partner, accounts for two-thirds of Nepal's international trade, whereas China, as the second largest, now accounts for about 14 percent. Nine agreements have been signed between China and Nepal, with some of them focusing on enhancing business ties.
According to some participants in the forum, there is still much room for the two countries to expand cooperation in trade and investment.
"Our export is very much low, if we compare with the lot of import from China. So we need to export more items to China. Border connectivity also needs to be improved [more] than what we already have," said Chandra Prasad Dhakal, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
"From January to September this year, the trade volume between China and Nepal reached 1.58 billion U.S. dollars, marking an 8.7-percent year-on-year increase, showcasing the great potential of bilateral economic and trade cooperation," said Zhang Shaogang, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
Nepali prime minister stresses importance of stronger business ties with China
