Beijing

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is to visit China later this week, his third visit as premier in as as many years to attend a summit on China's Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on April 27.

Amid tightening relations between Greece and China, Tsipras is also expected to meet with top government officials and explore prospects for economic cooperation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech at the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) to be held from April 25 to 27 in Beijing, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced on Friday.
Leaders including heads of state and government from 37 countries will attend the forum's round-table summit, Wang told a press briefing.

The U.S. and China are planning two rounds of face-to-face meetings as they seek to wrap up a trade deal, with negotiators aiming for a signing ceremony in late May or early June, according to people familiar with the situation.

Foreign Minister and First Deputy PM Ivica Dacic said this, referring to the Serbian president's upcoming trips abroad.

Aleksandar Vucic and Vladimir Putin will speak in Beijing during a Belt and Road forum.

The Serbian president and leader of the ruling SNS party told a party gathering in Belgrade that he would face a request to recognize a full independence of Kosovo, without divisions and "full and integral territory of an independent Kosovo."

Vucic and Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Beijing during the Belt and Road forum. Vucic said today that he is honored to be meeting again with Putin.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Friday welcomed Greece as the 17th member of the 16+1 Initiative of Central and Eastern European countries plus China at a summit of the initiative on trade held in Dubrovnik.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sought to allay concerns that it is violating European Union competition rules, pledging to respect standards and fair trade.  

Turkey will promote a green, sustainable future at the Beijing 2019 EXPO, where the main theme of the event is "Live Green, Live Better," Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said on April 12 in Istanbul at a press conference where she shared the details of Turkey's preparations and participation.

Coal-powered plants, mobile networks, major bridges, roads and railways: Chinese investments have been booming throughout Central and Eastern Europe's cash-strapped developing countries, even as European Union officials scramble to counter Beijing's mounting economic and political influence on the continent.