January 23, 2026
Local
Local
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — Two foreign nationals have become the first individuals in Malaysia to be charged in court for littering under the newly enforced anti-littering law, according to a report by The Star.
BEIJING, May 13 — Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to strengthen relations with Latin America and denounced global "bullying" in what appeared to be a veiled criticism of the United States, as he addressed regional leaders gathered in Beijing.
Delegates from Latin American and Caribbean nations are attending the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, part of Beijing’s continued push to deepen economic and political ties with the region.
In his speech at the forum's opening ceremony, Xi praised the long-standing friendship between China and Latin America, calling the summit a “great, sturdy tree” symbolizing growing cooperation.
“Despite the geographical distance, China and Latin American and Caribbean nations share a rich history of friendly exchanges,” he said.
Xi emphasized the need for global unity and collaboration to maintain peace and stability, and pledged US$9.2 billion (RM39.8 billion) in credit to support regional development. He also cautioned against “bloc confrontation.”
His comments came shortly after a temporary agreement between China and the United States to ease their tariff dispute, suspending further escalation for 90 days. Under the deal, the US agreed to reduce tariffs on Chinese imports to 30 percent, while China would lower its tariffs to 10 percent.
Commenting on the broader impact of the trade war, Xi said: “There are no winners in tariff or trade wars. Bullying and hegemonic behavior only lead to isolation.”
He warned that the world is undergoing rapid changes “unseen in a century,” with intertwined risks and challenges demanding collective action.
Among the prominent attendees were Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, currently on a five-day state visit to China, and Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who expressed intent to join Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.
China’s influence in the region has grown significantly, with two-thirds of Latin American nations now part of its massive BRI infrastructure programme. China has also overtaken the US as the top trading partner for countries like Brazil, Peru, and Chile. — AFP
