Jul42017

Dmitry Medvedev holds talks with President of China Xi Jinping

Russia

The agenda included current issues of bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, energy, industry, transport infrastructure and agriculture.

Excerpts from the transcript:

Meeting with President of China Xi Jinping

Meeting with President of China Xi Jinping

4 July 2017

Meeting with President of China Xi Jinping

Meeting with President of China Xi Jinping

4 July 2017

Meeting with President of China Xi Jinping

Dmitry Medvedev: Mr President, your visit is yet another contribution to the strengthening of our strategic partnership and cooperation. I am confident  your visit will help to further improve our relations, which have already reached an unprecedentedly high level.

Our governments continue to cooperate, and we meet regularly. Last year, we met in St Petersburg, and this year I hope to visit your wonderful country for intergovernmental talks.

Xi Jinping: We are pleased at the positive development of the Russian economy and social stability in the country.

President Vladimir Putin recently visited Beijing for the Belt and Road Forum, during which we agreed to strengthen our relations in the new situation. We agreed to boost regional economic integration, the parties’ economic globalisation, openness, inclusiveness, common benefit, balance and mutual success in order to stand together against global economic problems.

Our relations have always been a foreign policy priority for China. We are confident of our cooperation with Russia against global challenges. China and Russia should expand and deepen their cooperation in the spirit of mutual support and openness in order to create conditions for the joint development and revival of our countries and also to give a powerful boost towards stronger peace and stable development in the world as a whole. 

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Jul42017

Guidance: How to trace, weigh and distribute fish products

DEFRA

Guidance on traceability, weighing and distribution of fish and fisheries products up to the point of first sale. For full details see Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 of 8 April 2011 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy.

Fishery products must be traceable at all stages of production, processing and distribution, from catch or harvest to retail sale. As with all other European Union fisheries legislation, this continues to apply to UK vessels and waters.

Jul42017

Ultrafast Wi-Fi for Llangollen Eisteddfod

Welsh Government

Celebrating its 70th anniversary year, the festival has recently connected to ultrafast broadband which provides speeds of 330Mbps through BT’s Fibre on Demand service which is available in Wales as part of the Superfast Cymru programme.

The service will provide fast wi-fi to the 4,000 performers and 50,000 visitors attending the world-renowned event, which is taking place between 3 – 9 July.

The festival already had superfast broadband speeds available in its office and pavilion, but decided to invest in Fibre on Demand to provide improved and faster communications for all those attending the event.

Minister for Skills and Science Julie James said:

“The Llangollen Eisteddfod welcomes thousands of visitors from across the world every year and what people experience here will give them a lasting impression of Wales.  It’s excellent news that the festival has taken advantage of Fibre on Demand through the Superfast Cymru programme, which demonstrates how Wales is a digitally connected country.

“This festival was established to create better understanding and build friendships between nations.  That makes it even more fitting that visitors will be able to stay connected during their time here.

“Superfast Cymru is transforming the digital landscape in Wales.  Over 645,000 premises now have access to superfast broadband as a result of the programme.  Wales has the highest availability of superfast broadband among the devolved nations  with over eight out of ten premises able to access it.”

Rhys Davies, Eisteddfod Chairman, said:

“We are delighted to be bringing Fibre on Demand through the Superfast Cymru programme to the Eisteddfod field in time for this year’s event. This additional service will greatly enhance the facilities available for our audiences, exhibitors and competitors who will be able to access information and share their experiences of the Eisteddfod in a way that has never been possible before. This would not have been achieved without funding from Arts Council of Wales and the assistance of the Welsh Government and we are very grateful for their support.”

Ed Hunt, Superfast Cymru programme director for BT, said:

“Up and down the country more and more people are seeing the benefits of superfast broadband.

“Our Openreach engineers are working incredibly hard every day to roll-out the infrastructure as quickly and as widely as possible. It’s great to see that such a world renowned event as the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, along with its thousands of international visitors, will benefit from the superfast infrastructure that we’re building.”

Superfast Cymru is the partnership between the Welsh Government, BT, UK Government and European Regional Development Fund, bringing faster broadband to areas which would otherwise not receive it.

The Welsh Government also runs an Ultrafast Connectivity Voucher scheme which provides assistance for businesses which want to upgrade to ultrafast.

Jul42017

Press release: New Foreign Office booklet published on its historic ban on homosexuality

HM Government

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has today published a new booklet which for the first time provides insight into one of the most controversial parts of its history – the ban on diplomats being homosexual which was only lifted in 1991.

The booklet reveals the human cost of the ban, detailing specific cases of individuals whose lives – professionally and personally – suffered. Based on recently discovered archive files, it includes the various historical definitions of “acceptable” and “unacceptable” homosexuality circulating among British diplomats; the pressure from campaign groups and the press on the Foreign Office to alter its policy; and the lengths to which officials went to identify and remove anyone suspected of defying the ban. The foreword has been written by Sir Stephen Wall, a former British Ambassador who concealed his homosexuality for his entire diplomatic career.

It also demonstrates how times have changed. Today the Foreign Office takes a prominent role in promoting equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around the world and since 2014, British embassies and consulates have held marriages for over 400 British same sex couples in countries where such marriages are not recognised. The Foreign Office takes part in Pride celebrations around the world and there is a very active staff association (FLAGG). The Afterword to the booklet is written by John Kittmer, an openly gay diplomat and former British Ambassador to Greece.

By highlighting these contrasting times, the Foreign Office hopes to use its own experience to show how attitudes can change and use this to support the work of British diplomats around the world to promote tolerance and end discrimination.

James Southern of FCO Historians who wrote the publication said:

If we are to make today’s FCO a tolerant and open institution, then it is vital we understand its past. I hope this publication and event go some way to help all of us realise that we have a shared history and a shared responsibility to shape the present.

Simon McDonald, Head of the British Diplomatic Service said:

I am proud to lead an organisation with a diverse workforce which stands up for people persecuted around the world because of their sexuality. But it’s important we don’t hide the past and are honest about our mistakes. We changed our attitude to homosexuality, and now set an example for others.

Lucy Monaghan of the Foreign Office’s network for LGBT Staff, FLAGG, said:

This report shines a light on the history of the sexuality bar in the FCO and the significant struggles many LGBT officers experienced. We hope it will enable the FCO to learn from its history and continue to stand up for LGBT rights within the FCO and across the world.

The report is available online here

Further Information:

Foreign Office staff who declare themselves as LGBT now represent the UK all around the world and at all grades. We have openly gay ambassadors in countries including Ukraine (Judith Gough), Israel (David Quarrey) and Thailand (Brian Davison).

Further information on the FCO Historians and their publications can be found here or on Twitter @FCOHistorians.

FLAGG tweet the latest news about the FCO’s work to promote LGBT equality on twitter @FCOflagg