Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600GMT, April 29

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Saturday that China-proposed Belt and Road initiative is good for Southeast Asia, noting that the initiative will help China's neighbors like the Philippines.

Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aiming at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of Silk Road. (the Philippines-Belt and Road)

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MANILA -- A 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of the island of Mindanao in Southern Philippines on Saturday morning, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The quake struck offshore near Glan town in Sarangani province at a depth of 10 km around 4:23 a.m. local time, 68 km south of the city of General Santos,the USGS said. (the Philippines-Quake)

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TOKYO -- The Japanese government lodged a protest with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday over the test-firing of a ballistic missile by the country earlier in the day.

Japan's top government spokesperson, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, told a press conference that Japan has issued a "stern protest" to the DPRK over the latest missile launch. (Japan-DPRK-Missile)

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YANGON -- A total of 19 people were killed and 21 others injured in a passenger bus crash on the Asian Highway in Kayin state in southeastern Myanmar, official sources confirmed Saturday.

With more than 40 people on board, the air-conditioned bus that ran on the route of Zayatkyi-Taungoo-Myawaddy fell into a 30-meter-deep ravine due to brake failure at around 10:45 a.m local time Friday. (Myanmar-Bus Crash) Endit