Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Dec. 9

COLOMBO -- Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Saturday that Sri Lanka had joined China's Belt and Road Initiative with the launch of operations at the Hambantota Port through a joint venture between China and Sri Lanka.

The port was handed over to the China Merchant Ports Holdings (CMPH) on a 99-year lease agreement at a ceremony, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority together with CMPH will manage the operations of the southern port. (Sri Lanka-China-Port)

- - - -

KATHMANDU -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday welcomed the holding of two-phased state and federal elections in Nepal which was concluded this week.

In a statement, the UN secretary-general congratulated the people of Nepal on the peaceful conduct of the polls, hoping that all parties will maintain the same spirit in the next stages of the electoral process. (Nepal-Election)

- - - -

ISLAMABAD -- The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said Friday that the country would form five joint working groups with Afghanistan to boost cooperation in different areas including security and intelligence sharing.

Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had floated the proposal during his talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul on Oct. 1. Pakistan has now formally shared details of the groups. (Pakistan-Afghanistan-Cooperation)

- - - -

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday that Japan and the European Union (EU) had finalized negotiations on a free trade deal and aimed to implement it in early 2019.

Abe made the announcement after holding telephone talks with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to confirm the accord reached in Brussels. (Japan-EU-Free Trade) Enditem