Xinhua China-related world news summary at 1000 GMT, July 20

Syria's Foreign Ministry renewed on Wednesday the Syrian government's support to China regarding the South China Sea issue.

In a statement carried by the state news agency SANA, the ministry said Syria supports China's sovereignty over the South China Sea territories in tandem with the international law.

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LONDON -- The Chinese government's two recent statements and a white paper regarding the South China Sea provide "authoritative, comprehensive and clear-cut elaborations on China's position," Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming said Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference in London, Liu said the Chinese government immediately reaffirmed its solemn position that China does not accept nor recognize the award, after the so-called tribunal in the South China Sea arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines announced its award last week.

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WASHINGTON -- The United States on Tuesday expanded its challenge at the World Trade Organization to China's export restraints on key raw materials.

It requested consultation with China on the country's export duties on chromium, as well as China's export quotas on antimony, indium, magnesia, talc and tin, said the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

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BEIJING -- Leaders of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Tuesday exchanged congratulations to mark the 25th anniversary of the dialogue relationship between the two sides.

In a congratulatory message sent to Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, ASEAN's rotating chair, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang noted that China and ASEAN are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers. Endi