Xi says ideals, convictions key to success of Chinese revolution

Chinese President Xi Jinping says the secret to the success of the Chinese revolution lies in ideals and convictions.

He made the remarks when visiting a memorial park in Guangxi dedicated to the Battle of the Xiangjiang River during the Long March in the 1930s.

The president spoke highly of the spirit of the Red Army and vowed to carry forward its resolve and character.

The visit was part of his inspection tour in the autonomous region.

The president also stressed the protection of ecological environment when inspecting a section of the Lijiang River.

IAEA to invite Chinese experts over Fukushima wastewater disposal: FM spokesperson

China says the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that it would invite Chinese experts to join a working group to monitor and assess Japan's disposal of contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

Japan announced earlier this month it would release into the sea more than 1 million tonnes of contaminated water from the Fukushima plant, which was wrecked by an earthquake and tsunami a decade ago.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday that China has maintained that the IAEA should initiate a technical working group as soon as possible that involves China and other relevant stakeholders to carry out work concerning the wastewater disposal plans, their implementation as well as international assessment and supervision.

He said it is natural for China, as a major stakeholder, to have serious concerns over Japan's irresponsible practice.

China willing to help India fight COVID-19: spokesperson

China says it's ready to help India fight the new wave of COVID-19 outbreak at the earliest time possible.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin says the two sides are maintaining communication on the matter.

He says if the Indian side makes specific requests, China will provide support and assistance within its capacity.

India's COVID-19 tally surpassed 17 million on Monday with a fresh high of over 350,000 new cases recorded in the past 24 hours.

China's top market regulator probes Meituan over alleged monopoly conduct

China's State Administration for Market Regulation has started an investigation into Meituan Dianping for alleged monopoly conduct including implementing an "exclusive dealing agreement."

The company operates China's largest one-stop online platform for goods and services on-demand.

It says it will actively cooperate with the regulators on the investigation.

China releases counter-espionage regulations

China has issued regulations on counter-espionage security work, which take effect upon promulgation.

A state security official says overseas espionage and intelligence agencies and hostile forces have intensified infiltration into China, and broadened their tactics of stealing secrets in various ways and in more fields.

The document noted that Party and state organs, social groups, enterprises and public institutions should assume primary responsibility for preventing espionage activities within the units.

China publishes landform survey report on Diaoyu Islands

China has published a landform survey report on the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands.

Based on historical data, the survey obtained new terrain data of the islands, as well as the terrain data of waters 30 meters or less in depth, using technology such as satellite remote sensing.

The report also made large-scale topographical thematic maps of the islands, improving basic geographic data of the area.

Officials say the survey is of great significance to the local resource management and ecological environment protection.

U.S. maintains high military spending despite pandemic: study

A new report shows that the United States has continued to increase its military spending despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), military spending by the United States last year increased 4.4 percent compared with 2019, reaching an estimated 778 billion U.S. dollars.

The same data also shows total global military expenditures rose to over 1,900 billion dollars in 2020.

As the world's largest military spender, the United States accounted for nearly 40 percent of the world's total.

Russia puts U.S. on list of 'unfriendly countries'

Russian news agency TASS has reported that the country has put the U.S. on its list of "unfriendly" states.

The move comes just days after President Vladimir Putin signed a law to limit the number of local staff working at foreign diplomatic missions and other agencies, and ordered the Russian government to make a list of "unfriendly" states that will be subject to the restrictions.