Every Monday The Diplomat's Zachary Keck takes a look at the latest happenings in the Asia-Pacific region. From important meetings of heads of state, to critical trade and business gatherings to matters of culture and art, The Diplomat keeps you up to date on the latest events.
Here is this week's primer from April 29 through May 5.
See an event we missed or something for next week? Please post a comment below!
Monday: Myanmar President U Thein Sein visits Thailand to attend the 69th meeting of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok.
Monday: Bangladesh holds an election to replace President Zillur Rahman, who passed away last month. The post is largely ceremonial.
Monday and Tuesday: 7th Ministerial of the Community of Democracies in Mongolia will continue through Tuesday.
Monday and Tuesday: Chinese special envoy to the Middle East Wu Sike will continue his trip to Palestine and Israel that began last Thursday. It comes ahead of the Palestinian President and Israeli Prime Minister’s trips to China next week.
Monday and Tuesday:The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Catherine Ashton wrapped up her trip to China on Sunday and next traveled to Mongolia. This is the first EU visit to Mongolia at this level and Ashton will attend the Community of Democracies meeting and European Union's Partnership and Cooperation agreement with Mongolia. While in the country she intends to meet with Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, Prime Minister Noroviin Altankhuyag and Minister of Foreign Affairs Luvsanvandan Bold.
Monday and Tuesday: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will continue his trip to Russia where he will meet with President Vladimir Putin. This is the first time a Japanese PM has visited Russia in over a decade.
Monday: Indian affairs minister Vayalar Ravi is leading a delegation to Saudi Arabia to discuss the new newly-introduced Nitaqat law. For more on the proposed law see Sudha Ramachandran’s piece from last week.
Monday-Wednesday: China’s May Day holiday will continue through Wednesday.
Tuesday-Sunday: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay official visits to Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei from April 30 to May 5.
Thursday-Sunday: 46th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank will be held inGreater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. This year’s theme will be empowerment through development.
Thursday-Sunday: The finance ministers of ASEAN+3 (China, Japan, and South Korea) will meet on the sidelines of the ADB meeting. A separate meeting between the FMs of China, Japan, and South Korea was cancelled at China’s request.
Thursday: U.S. President Barack Obama begins a trip to Mexico and Costa Rica. In Mexico he will meet with President Peña Nieto. Both countries are part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.
Sunday: South Korean President Park Geun-hye leaves for a five-day trip to the U.S. that will include a meeting with President Obama at the White House on May 7th. This will be Park’s first trip abroad since taking over as president. She plans on visiting China shortly after returning from the United States.
Sunday: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will begin at trip to China at the invitation of Premier Li. PM Netanyahu has cancelled two previously trips to China. He will land in Shanghai and later travel to Beijing.
Sunday: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas begins a two-day state visit to China that comes at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.
Sunday: Malaysia holds parliamentary elections.