Xinhua Asia-Pacific News Summary at 1000GMT, July 8

Afghan Taliban and the government have agreed to " continue talks to create an environment conducive for peace and reconciliation process," the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Pakistan hosted the talks in Murree, a scenic city near Islamabad, on Tuesday. The meeting was the first ever direct contact between the two sides since President Ashraf Ghani has assumed office in September last year.(Afghanistan-Taliban-Talks)

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YANGON -- Myanmar will hold a multi-party general election on Nov. 8, sources with the Union Election Commission said on Wednesday.

A formal announcement will be made later in the day, the commission said, adding that a meeting on the election was underway.(Myanmar-General Election-Nov.8)

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ISLAMABAD -- At least 16 people were killed and many others injured when two passenger vans crashed near Pakistan's capital of Islamabad on Wednesday, local Urdu TV channel Geo said.(Pakistan- Attack-Casualties)

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PHNOM PENH -- Chinese "Belt and Road" initiative will give greater possibility for Cambodia to access loans for infrastructure connectivity development, boost trade, and encourage more Chinese investors and tourists to Cambodia, said Oum Sarith, Secretary-General of the Senate of Cambodia, on Wednesday.

Told a lecture at a conference hall of the Senate here, Sarith said the initiative would contribute to enhancing peace, security, development and cooperation among countries along the routes through people-to-people exchanges and connectivity.(Cambodia- China-"Belt and Road") Endi