Russia talks about 'very bad news', China is ready to do this to Australia

NATO is optimistic about Ukraine's counter-offensive, the ASEAN Summit concludes, Gabon and Central Africa agree on a new roadmap... are some notable international news in the past 24 hours.

ASEAN-43: Laos takes over ASEAN Chairmanship from Indonesia. (Photo: Anh Son)

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.

* Russia criticizes the US for supplying depleted uranium shells to Ukraine : On September 6, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov affirmed: "This is very bad news. The use of this type of artillery shell has caused a spike in the number of cancer patients... A similar situation will certainly occur in the Ukrainian territories where this type of weapon will be used...".

Earlier, President Vladimir Putin warned that he would deploy depleted uranium munitions if Ukraine received these weapons from the West.

Washington has announced more than $1 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, including depleted uranium munitions.

Depleted uranium munitions are controversial because they have been linked to health problems such as cancer and birth defects in areas where they have been used in previous conflicts, although there is no clear evidence. (AFP/Reuters)

* Ukraine begins grain shipments via Croatian ports : “Ukrainian grain is being exported via Croatian ports. We are grateful for this. Although it was a niche trade route, it is now popular,” First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko said in a written statement on September 7.

However, the official did not disclose the amount of Ukrainian grain that had been transported through Croatian ports.

Ukraine's main grain export route used to be through deep Black Sea ports. After the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted and Moscow withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Kiev sought alternative routes.

During a visit to Zagreb in late July, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Ukraine and Croatia had agreed on the possibility of using Croatian ports on the Danube River and the Adriatic Sea to export Ukrainian grain. (Reuters)

* NATO is optimistic about Ukraine's counter-offensive campaign : On September 7, speaking to European Union (EU) lawmakers, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated: "Ukrainian forces are gradually making progress and that demonstrates the importance of our support policy, as well as our ability and willingness to continue to support...".

He also expressed hope that Türkiye would approve Sweden's NATO membership application "as soon as possible" after the country's parliament reconvenes.

In addition, the head of NATO also affirmed that the alliance did not see any signs that the drone debris found on Romanian territory came from a deliberate attack launched by Russia on the country, emphasizing that "we are waiting for the results of the investigation".

In recent days, Ukraine has claimed to have penetrated Russia's heavily fortified first line of defense in a counter-offensive. (AFP/Reuters)

* Russia will maintain contacts with the US on humanitarian issues : On September 7, speaking to reporters, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated: “There are contacts at the expert level covering various aspects, which is not so rare. Of course, we continue to consider all issues related to humanitarian cases, visas, the activities of foreign missions and consular services for citizens.

This is an issue that must certainly be resolved within the framework of state-government relations. Of course, there is no cooperation on major issues. There is no dialogue (on major issues).”

The diplomat also said that there are Russian-American contacts on international platforms, in a multilateral format. “I think this is also quite a common practice. At least, we never refuse these contacts, we do not avoid them,” Ryabkov said.

Russian officials assert that the responsibility for resolving important issues lies entirely with Washington. (TASS)

Southeast Asia

* The 43rd ASEAN Summit Series ends: On September 7, speaking at the closing session of the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related Summits, Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for turning the Indo-Pacific into a “peaceful and inclusive theater”.

He said this is an important foundation to open up a better future for the people of ASEAN and the world, and is also the spirit of Indonesia's ASEAN Chairmanship 2023 with the theme "ASEAN Stature: The Center of Growth".

The Indonesian leader stressed that ASEAN's mission is not over yet and said that Southeast Asia will continue to face many dynamics and complexities of global challenges.

For that reason, according to Mr. Widodo, ASEAN must join hands to turn challenges into opportunities, competition into cooperation, monopoly into inclusiveness, and difference into unity. Besides, ASEAN must also be the “captain of its own ship”.

Before handing over the ASEAN Chairmanship hammer to Laos, President Jokowi called on countries in the region to continue to cooperate for a peaceful and prosperous ASEAN, and to make the world “a better place for everyone”.

For his part, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone congratulated Indonesia on its outstanding achievements during its 2023 ASEAN Chairmanship and said that Vientiane will continue the achievements of ASEAN cooperation during Indonesia's Chairmanship year.

The 2024 ASEAN Chairmanship will focus on implementing the next conferences, promoting connectivity, seeking cooperation opportunities, and addressing challenges in the context of constantly changing geopolitics.

The Lao Prime Minister affirmed that ASEAN needs to continue connecting to narrow the gap between members, promote dialogue, strengthen internal unity, expand cooperation with partners and resolve differences to maintain peace, stability and development in the region.

Finally, the head of the Lao government pledged to cooperate in enhancing leadership capacity, strengthening unity to ensure peace, stability and development, promoting digital transformation and economic integration, promoting people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in combating climate change. (VNA)

* Russia warns about Asia-Pacific : On September 6, speaking at the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Jakarta (Indonesia), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated: "Particular attention is paid to the risk of militarization of East Asia, in the context of NATO forces and infrastructure entering the region with dependence on deterrence mechanisms created by the West, or promoting the confrontational AUKUS project, thereby creating conditions for the deployment of a strategic-military complex with a nuclear component in the region."

The Russian diplomat also pointed out that, during the exchange of views on important issues related to the Asia-Pacific region, “Moscow's consistent stance in supporting the consolidation of the equal and indivisible security structure in the region as well as ensuring strong development dynamics” received attention from partners.

The Russian Foreign Ministry affirmed: “(Foreign Minister Lavrov also highlighted) the importance of the goal of maintaining multilateral cooperation mechanisms operating within the framework of the ASEAN coordination system, in the spirit of constructive dialogue, depoliticization and creative cooperation based on the principles of consensus, mutual respect and taking into account interests”.

The ministry concluded: “Russia affirms that the focus is on establishing a solid framework of inter-state cooperation in the region through combining the potential of multilateral mechanisms operating in the spirit of active cooperation for mutual development, including enhancing constructive interaction between ASEAN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).” (TASS)

South Pacific

* China is willing to cooperate with Australia for peace in the Asia-Pacific : On September 7, during talks with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the EAS in Jakarta (Indonesia), Chinese Premier Li Qiang declared that the region is the common home of both China and Australia, therefore, Beijing is willing to cooperate with Canberra to join hands to protect regional peace and stability.

In addition, during the meeting, the leaders of China and Australia pledged to strengthen bilateral exchanges, as well as agreed on the importance of relations between the two countries.

According to Li Qiang, Beijing is willing to work with Canberra to restart and restore bilateral exchanges in various fields. The leader also affirmed that a healthy and stable China-Australia relationship serves the fundamental interests and common aspirations of the two peoples.

For his part, Prime Minister Albanese said that the relationship between Australia and China is very important, and made it clear that Canberra is very pleased with the progress in bilateral relations.

According to the leader, Australia is willing to promote dialogue and exchanges with China in the spirit of mutual respect, strengthen cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and properly handle differences to build stable and constructive bilateral relations. (Xinhua)

Central Asia

* Armenia : Azerbaijan prepares for “ military provocation ” near Nagorno-Karabakh : On September 7, speaking at a cabinet meeting in Yerevan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that the military-political situation in the region “has become seriously worse”.

Claiming that Azerbaijan was massing troops on the border between the two countries and near mountainous areas controlled by separatists, Pashinya accused Baku of “demonstrating its intention to launch new military provocations against Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia.”

Prime Minister Pashinyan's statement came ahead of snap presidential elections in the breakaway region on September 9, as well as just days before joint military exercises between Armenian peacekeeping forces and the US. (VNA)

Europe

* Germany arrests Syrian rebel group leader : On September 7, German prosecutors said that two suspects, Amer A. and Basel O., were arrested in Kiel and Munich on September 6 and were detained before trial.

Amer A. is said to have founded “Liwa Jund al Rahman” in 2013 in Deir ez-Zor province, Syria. Fighters under his command “continuously engaged in hostile activities against the Syrian army”.

In June 2013, along with other jihadist groups, the group took part in an attack on the eastern village of Hatlah, which killed 60 Shiite residents. According to prosecutors, Amer A. joined the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) in 2014 and allowed IS to control its finances and fighters. Amer A. is accused of war crimes.

Meanwhile, Basel O. is said to have held a “prominent military position” in Amer A.’s organization in 2013-2014. Germany said the suspect commanded units fighting against the Syrian army, notably at Deir ez-Zor airport. (AFP)

Middle East-Africa

* Gabon, Central Africa agree to draft “roadmap ” to return to democracy : On September 6, Gabon's “transitional president,” General Brice Oligui Nguema, and Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadera, who is assigned as special envoy to the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), agreed to outline a “roadmap” to restore democracy after last week's coup.

In a short speech broadcast on Gabon television on the evening of September 6, President Touadera emphasized: “ECCAS has appointed me as a facilitator of the political process (in Gabon)... to draft a roadmap that will allow a rapid return to constitutional order, with the consent of the interim president (Nguema).”

On the same day, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the Central African Region, Mr. Abdou Abarry, met with General Nguema in Gabon.

During the meeting, he said that United Nations organizations are always ready to support Gabon in returning to constitutional order.

“Once we know the roadmap, the timetable, once the government is appointed, our different agencies will make the necessary contacts and continue to support Gabon,” he said after the meeting. (AFP/Reuters)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-79-nga-noi-ve-tin-rat-xau-trung-quoc-san-sang-lam-dieu-nay-voi-australia-241244.html