The United States and China on Wednesday agreed on $45 billion in U.S. export deals and to give U.S. companies greater access to China's $88 billion-plus government contracts market at the start of Chinese President Hu Jintao's four-day state visit.

• January 20, 2011

Georgian Prime Minister participated in the 4th World Future Energy Summit held in Abu Dhabi

• January 19, 2011

Kyrgyzstan's Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev met with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Susan Elliott here Monday, agreeing on maintaining security in the ex-Soviet nation and resuming bilateral consultations.

• January 18, 2011

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev this week embarks on a rare visit to the Middle East in an effort to push forward the Israeli-Palestinian peace process after US-brokered talks stalled last year.

• January 18, 2011

As India takes its seat on the U.N. Security Council as the new nonpermanent member after nearly a two-decade hiatus, its latest move vis-a-vis Iran has signaled New Delhi's desire to be viewed as a responsible rising power and a potential permanent member of the Security Council.

• January 18, 2011

The EU signed a major political deal yesterday to import Azeri natural gas and help curb Europe's reliance on Russia, its traditional main supplier.

• January 17, 2011

On a visit to Azerbaijan yesterday (13 January), European Commission President José Manuel Barroso signed a deal expected to bring ten billion cubic metres of gas each year to Europe, promising in return "visa facilitation" for Azeri nationals.

• January 17, 2011

A Joint Declaration on Southern Gas Corridor signed by the European Commission and Azerbaijan provides a firm political basis for gas supply from Azerbaijan, the official statement of Nabucco Gas Pipeline International says.

• January 17, 2011