A Serbian oil company controlled by Russia's Gazprom Neft announced that it secured a multimillion-dollar contract to drill for oil in Turkmenistan.

• January 13, 2011

Azerbaijan agreed to export at least 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year to Iran, its southern neighbor, the day before meetings with the European Union on a new fuel transit corridor.

• January 13, 2011

China effectively rejected Iran's invite to tour Tehran's nuclear facilities on Thursday, potentially smoothing a source of friction ahead of President Hu Jintao's state visit to the United States next week.

• January 13, 2011

With the test of a stealth fighter jet Tuesday, just hours before U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with Chinese President Hu Jintao, the Chinese military provided a blunt demonstration of its willingness to challenge both the United States and its own president.

• January 12, 2011

China would welcome assurance about the security of its financial assets in the United States, a senior diplomat said ahead of President Hu Jintao's visit next week, while playing down rifts between the two powers.

• January 12, 2011

Chinese investors are keen on taking part in developing energy projects in Bulgaria, Bulgaria's Government said on January 10 2011.

• January 11, 2011

Organizers of a petition drive in Kazakhstan calling for the president to remain in power for at least another decade say they have gathered signatures from at least half the Central Asian nation's eligible voters.

• January 11, 2011

The U.S. and Chinese defense chiefs took a step Monday toward mending frayed relations between their powerful militaries, though China warned ties could be cut again if Washington does not heed Beijing's wishes.

• January 10, 2011