BANGKOK -- Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha met with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe here on Sunday, and the two sides agreed to further enhance military cooperation.

Thailand adheres to the one-China policy and is willing to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, Prayut said, adding Thailand hopes to further strengthen economic and trade cooperation with China, and welcomes more Chinese investment in Thailand as the two countries mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year. (Thailand-China-Ties)

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HONG KONG -- In a fresh bout of violence on Sunday rioters set a Hong Kong police vehicle on fire with petrol bombs and attacked two police officers with arrow and metal ball outside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in Kowloon.

The police armored vehicle was attacked with petrol bombs hurled by the rioters who had blocked traffic at a major sea crossing tunnel, and TV footage showed fire engulfed the front side of the vehicle on a flyover near the PolyU. (Hong Kong-Violence)

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COLOMBO -- Sri Lanka's President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa said on Sunday that he was ready to take over the presidency and begin work for all his citizens, shortly after the Elections Chief declared him the winner of Saturday's presidential polls.

"I am very happy that I have won. I am ready to take over and begin work for all my citizens," Rajapaksa told Xinhua after meeting Elections Chief Mahinda Deshapriya in the capital of Colombo. (Sri Lanka-Election)

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BANGKOK -- China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) pledged on Sunday to further strengthen defense cooperation to safeguard regional stability.

The pledge was made at the 10th China-ASEAN Defense Ministers' Informal Meeting, which was co-chaired by Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan. (Thailand-China-ASEAN)

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HONG KONG -- Financial Secretary of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government Paul Chan on Sunday condemned rioters' violent acts, warning that it could cause further damage on the already battered economy.

In an article published on his official blog, Chan said the mounting pressure from the ongoing social crisis on the economy would be passed onto the job market and trigger a rapid surge in unemployment if the economy, especially private consumption, continues to weaken. (Hong Kong-Economy)

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HONG KONG -- A senior government official of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Sunday appealed to the public to return to rationality and end violence so as to ensure the imminent district council elections take place in a peaceful and orderly way.

In an article published on the government website, Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung called on all parties of the society to keep calm and restraint, and respect and tolerate people with different political views as the polling day scheduled for Nov. 24 is only one week away. (Hong Kong-Government) Enditem

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