China Roundup: US, China preps for summit, China flights to increase, epidemiologist dies, and Pride march

US, China to make a collab in prep for a forthcoming summit

U.S. officials announced on Friday that the United States and China have agreed to collaborate in preparation for an anticipated summit involving Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, scheduled for next month. These developments followed extensive meetings in Washington between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and senior U.S. diplomats. In a report from Reuters, during Wang Yi's visit, the first by a Chinese foreign minister to Washington since 2018, he had a one-hour meeting with President Biden. The White House characterized these talks as a valuable opportunity to maintain open lines of communication between these two significant geopolitical rivals, despite their substantial policy differences. The discussions between Wang Yi, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spanned two days and amounted to a total of nine hours. U.S. officials described these interactions as candid and comprehensive.

Flights in China set to rise by 34%

China's civil aviation regulator has announced plans to increase domestic flights to 34% above pre-pandemic levels, a move that is expected to provide a significant boost to Chinese airlines' recovery. Reuters report shows that this development follows the positive news that China's major airlines have reported their first quarterly profits in over three years, raising hopes for these state carriers to overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Civil Aviation Administration of China is preparing to launch its winter and spring season flight plan, scheduled to be in effect until March 30.

Chinese epidemiologist Wu Zunyou dies, media says

Renowned Chinese epidemiologist Wu Zunyou, who held the position of Chief Epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and served as an adjunct professor of Epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), has sadly passed away from pancreatic cancer. Report from Reuters says this information was reported by the government-supported National Business Daily, citing sources from the CDC. Furthermore, Wu was recognized for his contributions as a member of the UNAIDS Evaluation Expert Advisory Committee, as detailed in his profile on the China CDC website.

Taiwanese presidency leading candidate participates in largest Pride parade in East Asia

On Saturday, approximately 180,000 individuals paraded exuberantly through Taipei, marking East Asia's most extensive Pride march, according to Reuters Report. This vibrant event was a celebration of LGBTQ+ equality and diversity. It featured the participation of Vice President Lai Ching-te, who became the highest-ranking government official to attend such an event. This event transpired as a precursor to Taiwan's upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in January. Vice President Lai, who is currently leading in the polls for the presidential race, joined the delegation of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), aiming to solidify the party's position as a champion of progressive values.