Yearender: Top Ten world news events in 2015 selected by Xinhua

The following are the Top Ten world news events in the year 2015 selected by Xinhua in a chronological order:

1. CHINA'S DIPLOMACY ACHIEVED TANGIBLE RESULTS

On Jan. 8-9, the first ministerial meeting of the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) was held in Beijing, officially launching a pivotal mechanism for cooperation between the two sides.

Since then China's all-round diplomacy has been making progress after progress through the end of the year, strengthening ties with other major countries while sparing no efforts to promote win-win cooperation in its neighborhood.

China's relations with fellow developing nations were further deepened with spectacular successes achieved in multilateral venues.

This year, the country successfully held a series of activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and in the World Anti-Fascist War. It also actively participated in multilateral activities such as a series of summits on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the UN's founding.

A series of global initiatives with Chinese characteristics were extensively lauded worldwide, such as the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road that links China with Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Besides, China also made great achievements in helping solve international and regional hot-spot issues.

2. POWERFUL QUAKE IN NEPAL

On April 25, a devastating 8.1-magnitude earthquake rocked central Nepal, killing about 9,000 people and injuring more than 22,000. The number of people affected by the quake reached 8 million, nearly a quarter of the Nepalese population.

The earthquake also destroyed a lot of infrastructure and cultural relics in Nepal, including the famous world heritage site -- Durbar Square -- and greatly damaged tourism, pillar of Nepal's economy.

Following the disaster, the international community including China helped Nepal with rescue and reconstruction efforts.

3. EVENTS HELD WORLDWIDE COMMEMORATING 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF WWII VICTORY

In 2015, the international community held a series of activities to jointly commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Allied victory in the World Anti-Fascist War.

On May 5, a UN General Assembly special meeting kicked off to commemorate victims of the World War II.

On May 9, a grand military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War victory was held in Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping joined some 20 other leaders of nations and international organizations in the commemorative event at the Red Square.

On Sept. 3, China held a series of events, including a military parade, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and in the World Anti-Fascist War. A total 65 leaders of nations and international organizations, high-level government representatives and former political leaders attended the events.

4. HISTORIC IRANIAN NUCLEAR DEAL REACHED

On July 14, a comprehensive agreement was reached over the Iranian nuclear issue between Iran and the six major countries -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, following negotiations of nearly two years.

The deal, which imposes limits on the Iranian nuclear program in return for lifting economic sanctions, entered into force on Oct. 18.

On Dec. 15, board members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution to close the investigation into Tehran's alleged nuclear activities after 12 years, which paved the way for lifting sanctions on Iran and implementation of the deal.

However, despite the comprehensive deal, it will still take a long way for Iran and Western countries led by the United States to improve their ties.

5. UN APPROVES 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

On Sept. 25, leaders of all 193 United Nation member states unanimously adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Comprising 17 ambitious Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets, the agenda has charted a course for global development and cooperation in the next 15 years.

For many years, China has made great contribution to global sustainable development and played the role as a responsible major country. President Xi announced at the UN Sustainable Development Summit on Sept. 26 that China will set up a fund, with an initial contribution of 2 billion U.S. dollars, to support South-South cooperation and assist developing countries in implementing their post-2015 development agenda.

6. REFUGEE CRISIS A HARD BLOW TO EUROPE

Wars and conflicts in certain North Africa and Middle East countries have resulted in major surges in the number of refugees. North African refugees reaching Europe by route of the Mediterranean topped 700,000 this year, and at least 3,000 refugees lost their lives before reaching their dream lands in Europe.

The European Commission has estimated that the number of refugees will keep rising before it reaches 3 million by the end of 2016. Therefore, Europe is confronted with the biggest refugee crisis since World War II.

7. SERIOUS CHALLENGE IN GLOBAL WAR AGAINST TERROR

A Russian passenger airliner crashed in Egypt on Oct. 31, killing 224 people on board. Egypt's branch of the Islamic State (IS) group said it had downed the plane with a bomb.

On Nov. 13, gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people in a series of terrorist attacks in Paris, for which the IS also claimed responsibility.

More terrorist attacks were seen in Kenya, Tunisia, Kuwait, Turkey, Mali and the United States throughout the year. The UN Security Council has endorsed multiple resolutions on expanded efforts to combat terrorist threats.

8. INCLUSION OF CHINA'S CURRENCY IN SDR BASKET

The International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s executive board on Nov. 30 approved the inclusion of the Chinese yuan into its Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket as an international reserve currency.

The Chinese yuan will be included into the SDR basket as a fifth currency, along with the U.S. dollar, the euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound, from Oct. 1, 2016, it said.

The move is conducive to a more robust international monetary and financial system, which in turn will support the growth and stability of China and the global economy.

9. HISTORIC CLIMATE PACT ADOPTED AT PARIS MEETING

A historic Paris agreement on climate change was finally adopted with no objection on Dec. 12 by the 196 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) during the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) hosted by France.

On the basis of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, the Paris agreement calls for aiming to hold global average temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and strives for limiting the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

During the talks, China maintained close communication and worked closely with other parties concerned, playing a positive and constructive role in achieving success of the conference.

10. ESTABLISHMENT OF AIIB TO DEEPEN REGIONAL COOPERATION

The China-initiated AIIB was formally established on Dec. 25. Tasked with financing infrastructure construction across Asia, it took two years for the bank to develop into a fully-fledged body with 57 developed and developing nations as prospective founding members.

The establishment of the bank marked a milestone in the reform of the global economic governance system as well as in infrastructure development in the Asia-Pacific region.

The legislatures of 17 members, which hold a combined 50.1 percent stake in the bank, have ratified the Articles of Agreement, which outlines the financial share of each founding member as well as rules for policymaking, the governance structure, and business and operational systems for the bank.

The AIIB will be operational after its board of directors and executive council meet for the first time in January 2016. Endi