10 highlights of world politics in early 2018
(Baonghean.vn) - Signs of cooling down at hot spots along with the trend of open dialogue and cooperation through intensive diplomatic activities at the beginning of the year, the global security picture is increasingly brighter, in a positive direction, promising a year where the world lives in reconciliation and cooperation.
1. Inter-Korean dialogue
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| Right from the first days of the new year 2018, inter-Korean relations have shown positive signs when officials representing the two Koreas officially met for the first time in more than two years, after many months of continuously escalating tensions over nuclear and missile issues. |
2. North Korea attends the Winter Olympics
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| North Korea sent officials, athletes, art troupes and cheering groups to the Winter Olympics. Notably, athletes and officials from the two countries marched together under a unified flag during the opening ceremony of the Games. Pictured: North and South Korean athletes march together and carry the Unified Korean Flag. |
3. The US leaves open the possibility of negotiations with North Korea.
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| The US has also left open the possibility of negotiations with North Korea during the Winter Olympics in South Korea. Previously, US President Donald Trump said the US was ready to negotiate with North Korea “at the right time, under the right circumstances”. Hopefully, with the efforts of both sides, the Olympics will be turned into a peaceful event, contributing to improving relations on the Korean peninsula. |
4. Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi (Russia)
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| In the Middle East - the hottest spot in the world in recent years, the Syrian National Dialogue Congress took place in Sochi (Russia). The biggest success of the Congress was the establishment of a Constitutional Committee to draft a new constitution. In the photo: UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (center) at the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi (Russia). Photo: SANA. |
5. ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat
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| The situation in the East Sea in the first month of 2018 was also relatively calm. At the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Singapore, the countries once again affirmed their stance on the East Sea and agreed to the proposal to launch substantive negotiations between ASEAN and China on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the coming time. |
6. French President visits China
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| French President Emmanuel Macron paid a state visit to China with 50 business leaders. The two sides signed many cooperation documents in areas such as aerospace, digital, banking and finance... This visit is expected to bring about a major development in the relationship between China, France and the EU. In the photo: French President Emmanuel Macron (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping during Mr. Macron's visit to Beijing. Photo: Reuters |
7. British Prime Minister Theresa May visits China
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| British Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to China in early February with the largest trade delegation ever demonstrated Britain's hopes to attract more investment from China, boost British exports, and consider further relations between the two sides after Britain leaves the European Union (EU). In photo: British Prime Minister Theresa May and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: Reuters |
8. German Chancellor Angela Merkel visits France
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| German Chancellor Angela Merkel is visiting France to promote a stable government at home, boost cooperation on foreign affairs and security issues. At the same time, she pledged to support a new bilateral agreement in 2018 to strengthen cooperation between the two countries and create a new push for deeper integration in the EU. The German-French axis of cooperation will promote the role of the EU 27 in a globalized world. In the photo: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) and French President Macron. Photo: Reuters |
9. Russian President Putin wants to dialogue with other countries
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| Russian President Putin also wants to engage in dialogue with other countries to deal with global threats. He expressed hope that the Japanese Prime Minister and the French President will visit Russia in 2018. In his message to the US President, Putin called for “practical cooperation” because this will allow Russia and the US to move towards building practical, long-term cooperation. |
10. US State of the Union Address
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| In the United States, in his State of the Union address, President Trump also called for unity in the United States as well as the Republican and Democratic parties. He called on all congressmen of both parties to overcome conflicts and differences to find common ground, promote solidarity and unity among the people, and together "build a safe, strong and proud America". In the photo: President Donald Trump read the first federal address of his term. Photo: ABC |