China and Kazakhstan hold emergency talks amid new ‘deadlier than COVID-19’ disease

News Snapshot:

Zhang Xiao, the Chinese ambassador to Kazakhstan, phoned Kazakh Health Minister Alexei Tsoi to reaffirm ties between the two countries. According to a statement on the Chinese embassy’s website during the call Mr Tsoi thanked China for the support it has provided during the COVID-19 epidemic. Kazakhstan is a major partner in China’s belt and road initiative, an ambitious economic and geopolitical programme being promoted by Beijing. The row began on Thursday when the Chinese embassy in Kazakhstan claimed the country had been stuck by an “unknown pneumonia”. In a statement it claimed 1,772 have died this year in Kazakhstan...