In the upcoming week, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party president, Fumiko Kishida, will be formally elected as prime minister, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Paris for talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in an effort to mend ties and China will commemorate the 110th anniversary of the historic 1911 revolution.
Blinken to address 'crisis of trust' with French FM
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Paris on Monday and hold talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday, the State Department has announced.
Blinken's three-day trip comes as part of efforts by President Joe Biden's administration to repair relations after a rift emerged between the allies over the AUKUS deal, under which Australia would build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines with U.S. and British technology, cancelling a previous multi-billion dollar deal for French-designed submarines.
Le Drian said last week that the nuclear submarine deal cancellation caused a "crisis of trust" between allies and required an explanation.
Diplomatic relations between Washington and Paris hit a low point last month following the announcement of the pact. In retaliation, France briefly withdrew its ambassador to the U.S., although the ambassador has since returned to Washington, D.C.
China marks 110th anniversary of 1911 Revolution
China will commemorate the 110th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution, also known as the Xinhai Revolution, on Sunday.
China's central bank, the People's Bank of China, has issued a set of commemorative coins to mark the event.
The revolution, which began on October 10, 1911, ended the autocratic monarchy that had ruled China for more than 2,000 years, helped spread the ideas of democracy and republicanism, and promoted the social reform of modern China.
Day by day
Monday: President of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party Fumiko Kishida is formally elected as prime minister of Japan; Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov holds talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Samih Shukri in Moscow; British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak speaks at the Conservative party annual conference in London; Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen visits Nazi German concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau as well as Warsaw during a visit to Poland; Eurozone finance ministers discuss EU recovery plans, G20 and IMF meetings, banking union, fiscal policy in Brussels; 21st OPEC and non-OPEC ministerial meeting in Vienna.
Tuesday: French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian holds talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Paris; Israeli President Isaac Herzog pays first official visit to Ukraine (to Thursday); European Parliament holds debate in Brussels on future of EU-U.S. relations and long resolution calling for increased transatlantic cooperation on foreign and security policy and trade; Virtual meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level (MCM) "Shared Values: Building a Green and Inclusive Future" (to Wednesday).
Wednesday: Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam delivers the 2021 Policy Address; German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to visit Ukraine.
Thursday: 20th anniversary of the U.S. launching war in Afghanistan; EU Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting (to Friday).
Friday: Japan's new prime minister delivers a policy speech; French President Emmanuel Macron chairs Africa-France summit with many African heads of state.
Saturday: A quiet day in politics.
Sunday: 110th anniversary of China's 1911 Revolution; Election for Iraqi Council of Representatives; 51st anniversary of Fiji's independence.