Partial and largely symbolic elections in Hong Kong in September take place in the context of waves of public and pro-democracy demonstrations in the 6.8 million population of the special Chinese administrative zone and former British colony.

Again stressing the significance of Chinese-European relations, including in the new era of the enlarged European Union, President Hu Jintao visited three new or prospective EU members in Eastern and Central Europe from June 6 to 13 to strengthen economic and cooperative links.

Europe and Japan have become stakeholders in both regions in a phase of increasing integration and need to collaborate and consult in a number of political and economic areas in advance of decisions and actions, the head of the European team to the annual EU-Japan summit stressed before a mixed audience in Tokyo.

Asians and European struck by the dramatic and destructive force of nature on December 26 were united again in adversity and grief but also in the grim reaction of rescue, salvaging, care and reconstruction.