01. China， Laos to enhance cooperation， boost ties

Jan. 6， 2020 （Xinhua） — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held talks with visiting Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith， calling for further development of bilateral relations. Li said that China attached great importance to relations with Laos and was ready to work with Laos to carry forward their traditional friendship， deepen mutual political trust， implement the action plan on the building of a community with a shared future for China and Laos， and promote cooperation featuring win-win results.

02. Chinese-funded firms eye to list on Indonesian stock market

Jan. 8， 2020 （Xinhua） — More than 180 people including those from major Chinese-funded enterprises in Indonesia attended a business forum on Indonesian capital markets held at the Indonesian Stock Exchange （IDX） Building， eyeing to float their shares on the stock market through initial public offerings. “Being listed in IDX not only brings about diversified funding， but also enhances corporate governance， the national transparency as well as improves the company's branding in Indonesia，” said Zhang Chaoyang， Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia.

03. Lao workers to undergo training in China for railway operation

Jan. 9， 2020 （Xinhua） — As many as 600 Lao workers will undergo training in China in preparation for operation of the China-Laos railway， which is scheduled to commence service in December 2021. Personnel selection and training will be carried out in three sessions， with the first job vacancies were announced in January. The first group of trainees is expected to go to Kunming City in southwestern Chinas Yunnan Province later， where they will attend courses for about 15 to 18 months.

04. Guangxi promotes exchange with Vietnam

Jan. 9， 2020 （China Daily） — A New Year meeting attended by representatives from Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Vietnams four provinces bordering China was held in Liuzhou from January 6 to 7 to enhance friendship and deepen pragmatic cooperation. All parties reviewed the collaborations achieved in the past year and reached consensus in multiple fields to work on together in 2020， including trade， investment and tourism. The year 2020 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam.

05. Myanmar sends over 24，000 migrant workers abroad in single month

Jan. 14， 2020 （Xinhua） — Myanmar authorities sent 24，572 migrant workers to work abroad in single month. The Ministry of Labour， Immigration and Population sent 16，691 workers to Thailand while 6，472 workers to Malaysia and 619 to Japan respectively. Meanwhile， the ministry offered a total of 26，551 local employments， of which 25，192 workers engaged in private sector. Aiming to promote development of the country and help people increase their incomes， the ministry has been offering local and overseas employment opportunities.

06. The Philippines aims to cut poverty rate in half by 2022

Jan. 14， 2020 （Xinhua） — The Philippines expects to halve the countrys poverty rate by 2022. “This would be the first time in history that the poverty rate will be halved in just six years， a significant contribution and achievement of this administration，” said Ernesto Pernia， Philippine Socioeconomic Planning Secretary. Statistics show the Philippines poverty incidence dropped to 16.6% in 2018， averaging a reduction of 2.23% per year， making the previous target achievable by middle 2022.

07. Giant Panda “Yi Yi” celebrates her second birthday in Malaysia

Jan. 14， 2020 （Xinhua） — Fans from Malaysia， China， Japan and other places gathered at Malaysia's National Zoo to celebrate Yi Yi's birthday， as zookeepers put on "Happy Birthday" decoration and made a big ice cake. “Compared with her sister Nuan Nuan， Yi Yi is gentler and gets along well with the keepers，” the zookeeper said. Born in January 2018， Yi Yi， whose name means friendship in Chinese， is the second offspring of her parents， Xing Xing and Liang Liang， who arrived in Malaysia in 2014.

08. Chinas trade with Myanmar up 28.5% in 2019

Jan. 15， 2020 （Xinhua） — Chinas trade with Myanmar expanded by 28.5% year-on-year in 2019 to RMB 128.91 billion yuan （about US$ 17.71 billion）， according to customs data. Chinas exports to the country stood at RMB 84.9 billion yuan， up 22.1% from the previous year， while imports surged 42.8% to RMB 44.01 billion yuan. The two sides will deepen cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road and make progress in major projects of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.