Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Dec. 25

NEW DELHI -- The Christian community across India Monday held celebrated Christmas festival with religious fervor and gaiety.

The prayers were held at churches across almost all the main cites and major towns in India. Community members gathered to listen to the religious address. (India-Christmas Celebrations)

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MANILA -- Local firefighters said on Monday that they have retrieved the remaining 36 bodies of those who died in a mall fire in the southern Philippine city of Davao, bringing the death toll to 37.

Wilberto Rico Niel Kwan Tiu, regional director of Bureau of Fire Protection, said that 36 bodies were recovered on Monday inside the Davao shopping mall which was engulfed by the fire. (The Philippines-Fire-Deaths)

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BANGKOK -- The China-Thailand high-speed railway will upgrade Thailand's transport system and unleash economic potentials of region along the route, said a Thai expert. (Thailand-China-Railway)

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MANILA -- The severe tropical storm that ravaged the southern Philippines last week has left 164 people dead and 171 more missing, the government said on Monday.

Tropical Storm Tembin started lashing parts of Mindanao on Friday, triggered massive flash flooding and mudslides in the region. Nearly 98,000 people, mostly from poor farmer families, spent their Christmas holidays in 261 government evacuation centers. (The Philippines-Storm-Casualties)

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PHNOM PENH -- The year of 2017 has marked a significant milestone in Cambodia-China tourism relations as China became the biggest source of foreign tourists to Cambodia after it overtook Vietnam in the first quarter of the year, said Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon. (Cambodia-China-Tourism) Enditem