BBC News China

Top Stories

Latest Updates

  1. Video content

    Video caption: Sunak emphasises UK involvement in Indo-Pacific region

    Britain is working with Australia and Japan to ensure the Indo-Pacific region remains "free and open", says Rishi Sunak.

  2. Eritrea's leader makes rare visit to China

    Will Ross

    Africa editor, BBC World Service

    Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki, who's on a rare visit out of his country, has met China's President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing.

    Mr Isaias laid a wreath at the Monument to People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square, which remembers all those who died in the struggle to build a modern China.

    In 1989 Tiananmen Square became the focus for large-scale protests for greater political freedom.

    The protests were crushed by the Chinese authorities.

    Mr Isaias praised what he called China's contributions to transform the world order.

    Eritrea is one of the world's most oppressive states.

    It's frequently criticised by the West for its human rights record, but is geopolitically important for China.

    China has a military base in neighbouring Djibouti and is seeking to increase its influence across the fragile Horn Of Africa region.

    Premier Li Qiang of China (R) and President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea shake hands as they attend a meeting at the Great Hall of the People on May 15, 2023 in Beijing, China
    Image caption: China's Premier Li Qiang and Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing