Photo: AFP/Saul Loeb
Eurasia
07/10/2023 18:00
The White House had begun making plans for a meeting on the sidelines of the summit in a bid to stabilise relations, The Washington Post reported, quoting one official as saying it "it's pretty firm".
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to visit Washington at some point ahead of the APEC summit.
Beijing however has not confirmed whether Xi will attend the summit or meet with his US counterpart. The White House has also declined to elaborate on a potential meeting with Xi.
In recent years, Italy has been among the few European countries – and arguably the only one – that have sought to strengthen their relations with Central Asian nations.
Hungary will not abandon its pro-peace stance, just as it will not abandon its energy cooperation with Russia – even if the war in Ukraine drags on longer than hoped – Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated in Budapest on Monday following a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni highlighted Italy's pioneering role in EU–Central Asia relations and endorsed the Middle Corridor as a vital trade route at the Astana International Forum.