Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, Sept. 23

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here Thursday that China and Canada have agreed to strengthen their ties in economic, trade and other fields, and to begin exploratory talks for a free trade agreement.

Li, who is on an official visit to the North American nation, made the remarks in a joint press conference with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. (Canada-Chinese Premier-Visit)

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DAMASCUS -- Nearly 30 civilians were killed Friday by bombardment in Syria's northern city of Aleppo, a monitor group reported.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that the shelling came from Syrian and Russian warplanes, which reportedly struck several districts in the rebel-held eastern part of Aleppo city. (Syria-Aleppo)

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CAIRO -- The death toll of the capsized migrant boat near Egypt's northern coast rose to 112, Egypt's Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed told Xinhua on Friday.

"The number of the death toll might rise because the rescue efforts are still going on," Megahed said. (Egypt-Boat Capsize)

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TOKYO -- The Okinawa prefectural government on Friday lodged an appeal to a ruling made by the Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court supporting the central government's controversial moves to relocate a U.S. base within Japan's southernmost prefecture.

Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga was initially shot down by the high-court ruling made on Sept. 16, which found that Onaga's revocation of a landfill permit last October previously granted by his predecessor was "illegal." (Japan-Okinawa) Endi