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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, May 8

Xinhua, May 8, 2017 Adjust font size:

China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang on Monday arrived in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) to begin his three-day inspection.

Zhang is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.(China-Macao SAR-Inspection)

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MANILA -- This year's Balikatan exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States forces formally commenced on Monday, focusing on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and counterterrorism.

Maj. Celeste Sayson, said, the Balikatan exercise will feature only 5,400 troops from both sides, or 5,600 personnel less compared to last year's activity, owing to its refocusing to humanitarian assistance, disaster response (HADR) and counterterrorism. (the Philippines-U.S.-Drills)

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KUNDUZ, Afghanistan -- At least 44 persons including 40 militants have been killed as fighting has been continuing between Taliban and government forces in the northern Kunduz province over the past two days, provincial police chief Abdul Hamid Hamidi said Monday.

"A total of 40 Taliban rebels have been killed and 20 others sustained injuries as government forces have been fighting to foil the enemies vicious designs in Kunduz province," Hamidi told reporters here. (Afghanistan-Militants)

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BANGKOK -- Five Thai ministers will attend the upcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday.

The five ministers, namely Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Transportation Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Commerce Apiradi Tantraporn, Minister of Digital for Economy and Society Pichet Durongkaveroj and Minister of Science and Technology Atchaka Sibunruang, will attend the forum. (Thailand-Belt and Road) Endit