In the coming week, the 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) will be held at the China National Convention Center and Shougang Park in Beijing.

The Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which supplies natural gas from Russia to Europe under the Baltic Sea, will be closed for three days.

Intl. Fair for Trade in Services

The 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) will open on August 31.

A total of 71 countries and international organizations will attend this year's event, including the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Australia.

Since its establishment in 2020, CIFTIS has become an important platform for China to introduce major reform and opening-up policies, build global cooperation consensus and promote international cooperation and exchanges.

Nord Stream 1 pipeline to shut down for three days

Russia will halt natural gas supplies to Europe for three days from August 31 to September 2 via its main pipeline into the region, according to Russia's state-owned energy company Gazprom, piling pressure on the region as it seeks to refuel ahead of winter.

Gazprom said the shutdown was because the pipeline's only remaining compressor requires maintenance.

The move will bring further disruption particularly for Germany, which depends largely on deliveries from Moscow to power its industry.

The European Union has accused Russia of using energy as a weapon while Moscow has denied the charge and has blamed sanctions for the drop in exports.

Day by day

Monday: Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki meets French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris to discuss security and energy issues; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the opening ceremony of the Offshore Northern Seas energy conference held in Norway; Environment ministers of G20 countries to meet in Bali ahead of the G20 presidency summit; International Day against Nuclear Tests.

Tuesday: Taliban marks the first anniversary of the last U.S. soldier leaving Afghanistan with celebrations; Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan and Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev meet in Moscow; Informal summit of EU Defense ministers held in Prague.

Wednesday: 2022 China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Service opens in Beijing; Informal summit of EU Foreign Affairs ministers held in Prague.

Thursday: Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting of the supervisory board of a national patriotic youth movement.

Friday: Quiet day in politics.

Saturday: Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

Sunday: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier hosts Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Schymal at his Bellevue residence; Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on a three-day state visit to Indonesia.

(With input from agencies)