The Odd Couple

One & Two

A Welcome

Chinese honour guards perform at a welcome ceremony for Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev, at the Great Hall of the People in 北京 (Běijīng), China. Photo: Iori Sagisawa/EPA.

The Paradoxes of Freedom

Chinese national and social media influencer 刘振亚 (Liú Zhènyà) (centre), known as “亚亚在台湾” (“Yàyà in Taiwan”), is escorted by Taiwanese police officers after her press conference in Taipei. 刘振亚 (Liú Zhènyà) received a deportation notice for allegedly making several social media posts advocating cross-strait unification by force, violating regulations for Chinese residents in Taiwan, according to the National Immigration Agency. Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA.

红线 (Red thread of fate)

Ducks walk across the red carpet, ahead of a meeting between Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Chinese President 习近平 (Xí Jìnpíng) as part of 习 (Xí)’s two-day state visit, in Belgrade, Serbia. Photo: Zorana Jevtić/Reuters.

“There’s always something authentic concealed in every forgery”

Three-time Women’s World Chess Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), dressed in an Alberta Ferretti draped silk satin gown, starred as “post-90s beauty chess queen” on the red carpet at the 4th anniversary of the Green Carpet Fashion Awards which took place online and offline at 上海中心大厦 (Shànghǎi Tower) in 上海 (Shànghǎi), China Saturday, October 10, 2020. Although the Green Carpet Fashion Awards is usually conceived as a grand finale for Milan Fashion Week, this year’s special edition, co-organised by the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI) and the brand consultancy agency Eco-Age, in collaboration with the Chinese partner APAX Group, was held in the Celestial Empire for the first time, so as to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the relationship between China and Italy. “Yes, it’s always been my pursuit to be a woman inside and out. There is a life beyond the board which I hope to enjoy more amply”, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) said. Photos: 隆溢体育 (Lóngyì Sports).

International Relations and Diplomacy

Deals include sale of stakes in projects to Chinese firms, an oil supply contract and joint investments in petrochemical projects Russia and China sealed a raft of energy deals during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing on Saturday, strengthening economic ties while pledging to preserve the strategic balance of power among nations. [Read more].

• “Friends forever”: Xí talks up China’s ties with Russia during Putin trade trip, The Guardian, June 26, 2016

Russia’s President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and China’s President 习近平 (Xí Jìnpíng) shake hands at the signing of documents following Russian-Chinese talks at 北京, (Běijīng) on Saturday. Photo: Mikhail Metzel/TASS.