Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

(Reuters) - Trade-oriented currencies including the Australian dollar surged on Tuesday, with the Chinese currency poised for its biggest daily jump in nearly three months on increasing signs that Beijing and Washington are inching closer to a trade deal.

A decision by the Chinese central bank to trim lending rates by only 5 basis points also boosted general risk appetite, with the perceived safe-haven Japanese yen and the Swiss franc weakening by a third of a percentage point.

BANGKOK, November 3. /TASS/. Sales of Russian aircraft to Thailand is a promising export, as the Russian-Thai cooperation is not limited to tourism, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said at the end of his visit to Thailand on Monday.

"We discussed various fields at the talks. In this context, I can name what is already on the agenda and what could be added to the agenda in the near future. For example, imports of Russian aircraft, or planes and helicopters. It is a vast and serious market, which is of interest for us," the prime minister said.

BANGKOK, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) concluded its 35th summit here on Monday, vowing to put its priorities on continuity, complementarity and creativity in the cause of the bloc's development.

BANGKOK, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday met here with Chuan Leekpai, president of the Thai National Assembly and speaker of the House of Representatives, and called for closer exchanges between the two nations.

In the meeting, Li spoke highly of the current relations between China and Thailand and commended the Thai parliament for its consistent efforts in advancing the bilateral friendship.

BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's National Press and Publication Administration has issued a notice on preventing minors from becoming addicted to online games.

The document emphasizes the shared responsibilities of online game providers, government agencies and social forces in jointly managing and governing the issue, according to the administration.

The document asks all online game users to register with their identification information and strictly limits the window and total length of time for minors to access online games on a daily basis.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Bussinesses will suffer and ultimately the people on the ground will end up paying the price of trade wars, says     
ASEAN-India Business Council (AIBC) co-chairman, Ramesh Kodammal.

“Trade spats will not benefit any country, be it the ones that started the war, or others that are not directly involved.             

BANGKOK, Nov 5 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The Australian government is hoping that Malaysia will drop conditions imposed on rare earth company Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd operating in Gebeng, Kuantan.

This was among the matters raised in talks between Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on the sidelines of the 35th ASEAN Summit here Monday.

“They (Australian government) are hoping we will drop the conditions,” he told Malaysian media covering his participation in the regional gathering here Monday.

BANGKOK , Nov 5 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The 15 participating countries in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have concluded the negotiations Monday night, leaving India out of the deal which would have been the largest trade pact in the world.

The RCEP, which went through after seven years of intense negotiations, was successfully wrapped up at the 35th ASEAN Summit here Monday night.

Shanghai, Nov 5 (AFP) President Xi Jinping on Tuesday pledged to further open China's economy, declaring the world must "knock down walls" as he opened an annual trade fair in Shanghai.

Xi addressed an audience including French President Emmanuel Macron at the import exhibition, staged annually by China to show its willingness to free up its vast domestic markets in the face of criticism that they are too cosseted by Beijing.

Shanghai, Nov 5 (AFP/PTI) Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed a "high degree of trust" in Hong Kong's unpopular leader Carrie Lam as the two met after months of increasingly violent protests in the semi-autonomous city.

Xi's show of support follows speculation that Beijing was preparing to remove Lam as city authorities struggle to contain pro-democracy demonstrations that have rocked the financial hub.