South Korean Foreign Minister Choi had requested that diplomatic efforts between South Korea, the United States, and Japan be maintained. This includes cooperation between Seoul and Washington as well as ties among the three nations.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/south-korea-main-opposition-party-to-file-complaint-against-acting-president-choi/The NUST Institute of Policy Studies (NIPS) organised a seminar on "Pak-US Relations" in Islamabad, featuring a keynote address by Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States. The event was attended by statesmen, former officials, academics, and think tank experts who highlighted the strong potential for bilateral ties between Pakistan and the US. They emphasized the importance of pragmatic cooperation, mutual respect, and adopting a forward-looking approach to strengthen relations. The participants also stressed the significance of increased academic, business-to-business exchanges, and trade linkages in areas such as agriculture, education, ICTs, renewable energy, healthcare, and minerals.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1269529-nust-organises-seminar-to-highlight-strong-pak-us-tiesUS diplomat Amos Hochstein expressed hope that the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon is proceeding in the right direction after meeting with Lebanese officials, including Prime Minister Najib Mikati and parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri. The agreement requires the Israeli army to withdraw from southern Lebanon over a 60-day period, while the Lebanese army deploys alongside UN peacekeepers in the south and Hezbollah pulls its forces north of the Litani River. Hochstein met with Major General Jasper Jeffers, a US representative on the committee overseeing the ceasefire, and said that despite some delays, he is optimistic about the progress being made. He also urged political consensus in Lebanon ahead of a presidential vote this week, calling it an opportunity to focus on rebuilding the economy and implementing reforms for economic growth and prosperity.
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/us-envoy-says-israeli-forces-begin-pullout-from-second-south-lebanon-townSouth Korean officials have expressed concern over a recent missile launch by North Korea, which flew around 1,100 kilometers before falling into the sea. The US and Japan are in close coordination with South Korea about the launch, and Seoul has strengthened its surveillance and vigilance for potential future launches. In a separate development, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with acting President Choi Sang-mok and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries, as well as trilateral cooperation with Japan. The meeting comes ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who has taken a more isolationist approach to foreign policy and has been critical of South Korea's contributions to the cost of hosting US troops on its soil.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2025/01/06/north-korea-fires-missile-as-blinken-warns-of-pyongyang-and-russian-cooperation/162213China's foreign ministry stated that any solution to the border dispute with India should be fair and acceptable to both sides. The two countries agreed to maintain peace in their shared border areas and promote healthy bilateral relations. Beijing also expressed a desire to separate the border issue from overall relations between the two nations, without providing further details on what this entails.
https://channelnewsasia.com/commentary/india-china-dispute-diplomatic-relations-himalayan-border-4836516India and China, the world's two most populous countries, have a choice between cooperation or rivalry as they navigate their complex relationship in the 2020s. A commitment to cooperation could allow them to manage their differences, particularly on border issues, and focus on shared economic growth and stability through increased trade, investment, and technology exchanges. This could help reduce their dependence on Western economies and promote joint interests in areas such as climate change, global health, and multilateral trade.
https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/india-china-relations-2025-bridging-the-divide-or-widening-the-rift-13850346.htmlUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit South Korea from January 4 to 9, amidst ongoing political turmoil in the country. During his trip, he will discuss ways to strengthen cooperation with South Korea to promote a "free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific" region. The visit includes stops in Japan and France, where Blinken will engage in diplomatic efforts to address regional security concerns.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/antony-blinken-to-visit-south-korea-japan-and-france-from-january-4-to-9/US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting South Korea and Japan as part of the Biden administration's Indo-Pacific strategy to counter Chinese ambitions and deter North Korean nuclear threats. In South Korea, he will discuss cooperation on global challenges with officials despite recent political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. In Tokyo, Blinken will review progress in the US-Japan alliance, including a $3.64 billion arms sale that China has criticized as destabilizing the region. He will also meet with French officials in Paris to discuss Middle East and European security issues, particularly in Ukraine.
https://www.voanews.com/a/blinken-heads-to-south-korea-japan-france-/7924746.htmlUnited Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a critical examination of the path forward on the Cyprus issue. In his report on the mission of Good Offices in Cyprus, he noted that despite efforts by Personal Envoy Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, no common ground was found between Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC) President Ersin Tatar and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides. However, a positive development occurred when Guterres hosted an informal dinner with the two leaders in New York on October 15, where they agreed to take constructive next steps. The report also mentions that the leaders plan to hold an informal meeting under the auspices of the Secretary-General in the near future to discuss the way forward.
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/un-chief-calls-for-critical-look-at-path-forward-on-cyprus-issue-204344