BRICS Summit in Goa

BRICS Summit held in Goa on 15 and 16 October. The association includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Xi Jinping called on Putin to strengthen coordination within the United Nations

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

Address key issues need to be put to the coordination of positions, and thus, by joint efforts to achieve a more just and rational world order, said the Chinese leader met with President of the Russian Federation.

15:19

15/10/2016

Xi Jinping congratulated Putin on his victory "United Russia" in the elections

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

The party "United Russia" won a landslide victory that creates strength, a good political basis for further stable development of Russia, said the Chinese leader.

15:15

15/10/2016

Putin and Xi Jinping is carried out in Goa talk face to face

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

Although The planned talks in expanded format, retired leaders and talk tete-a-tete, said presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

15:12

15/10/2016

India is interested in shares in Suzun, Tagul fields and boat

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

"Rosneft" and expanded consortium of five Indian state companies announced their intention to expand cooperation in the framework of joint oil and gas projects in Russia in the framework of the BRICS summit.

14:57

15/10/2016

India and Russia will actively promote cooperation in the peaceful atom

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

Start power unit №2 NPP "Kudankulam" tab and the second stage of the nuclear power plant took place on Saturday in a video conference with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

14:18

15/10/2016

Rogozin: Russia retains first place in the arms market in India

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

Recent contracts fully compensated for complete silence, which was two or three years ago, said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

14:04

15/10/2016

India is working on the release of the site for a new nuclear power plant Russian project

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

The Indian side is working on the prompt release of the second portion for the construction of a new nuclear power plant with Russian participation, the statement said Putin and Modi.

13:48

15/10/2016

Rogozin: Russia makes an exception in the supply of S-400 only for China and India

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

The fact that we came out with China and with India for the resolution of these issues, said very much about, said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

13:35

15/10/2016

Putin and Modi welcomed plans to hold military-industrial conference

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

The conference will address issues related to the military of special equipment, including spare parts, repair and maintenance of Russian military equipment delivered, as well as its co-production.

13:33

15/10/2016

India is grateful to Russia for its support of efforts to combat terrorism

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

Under the cross-border terrorism in India primarily understand terrorist activities of militants in the Kashmir region. According to Narendra Modi, requires "zero tolerance" with regard to terrorists and their accomplices.

13:15

15/10/2016

Applications for participation in the privatization of "Rosneft" will submit in late October

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

Economic Development Ministry previously reported completion of the privatization of "Bashneft". "Rosneft" acquired 50.0755% of the shares of the Bashkir oil companies for 329.7 billion rubles, after which the funds transferred to the Treasury account.

13:14

15/10/2016

Project 11356 frigates are equipped with missile "Brahmos"

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

Two frigates will be built on the territory of Russia, and the two will be built in India, said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

13:12

15/10/2016

Russia and India have called for a convention on terrorism

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

Russia and India stressed the need to prevent the emergence of "safe havens" of terrorists and the importance of combating the spread of terrorist ideology, radical ideas that give rise to terrorism.

13:09

15/10/2016

Russia and India will meet in Goa military-technical conference at the end of 2016

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

Participation by Russia conference will be about 100 specialists from the MIC leadership of companies and their Indian counterparts, said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

13:07

15/10/2016

Russia and India have expressed the need to strictly comply with UN Security Council Resolution

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

Russia and India recognize the threat posed by terrorism, and believe that the crucial in combating this challenge will be strict adherence to the provisions of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions without any double standards.

13:07

15/10/2016

Russia supports the candidacy of India for permanent membership of UN Security Council

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

The parties also reaffirmed the commitment to work together to create a multi-polar international system based on the central role of the UN and international law, common interests, equality and mutual respect.

13:04

15/10/2016

Construction of "Turkish stream" synchronized with Moscow and Kiev contract on gas

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

Completion of construction of the pipeline "Turkish Stream" is fully synchronized with the contract, which is in effect between "Gazprom" and "Naftogaz" before the end of 2019, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said.

13:03

15/10/2016

Russia and India have called for a comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

UN Security Council reform is needed to improve its efficiency and representation in accordance with modern geopolitical realities, the statement said Putin and Modi.

13:02

15/10/2016

"Roskosmos" and India have agreed on the mutual placement of satellite stations

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

Countries planning to deployment of ground stations collect measurements of the Russian global satellite navigation system GLONASS satellite NavIC and Indian groups.

12:48

15/10/2016

Kostin told about the volume of investment in VTB agreement, "Rosneft" and Essar

Plot: BRICS Summit in Goa

The deal will be closed after the fulfillment of certain conditions, such as approval of its regulators, senior creditors. The parties expect that all necessary approvals will be obtained in the first quarter of 2017.

12:27

15/10/2016

Putin and Xi Jinping discussed in Goa, the situation in Syria

© RIA Novosti. Alexei Druzhinin

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Goa (India), October 15 -. RIA Novosti Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged views on the situation in Syria, the Russian side informed of developments in the country, said on Saturday, a spokesman for the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov.

© RIA Novosti. Mikhail Klimentyev

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Xi Jinping called on Putin to strengthen coordination within the United Nations

"President Hu and exchanged views on the Syrian affairs, Putin informed the Chinese counterpart of developments there." - Said Peskov told journalists after the meeting of the two leaders in Goa.

According to the press secretary of the Russian president, "the similarity of positions in terms of the need to counter terrorism" was noted during the meeting.

In addition, according to him, in the course of the conversation, "the inadmissibility of interference has been accentuated in Central Asian affairs of any outside forces."

© AFP 2016 / Greg Baker

Xi Jinping congratulated Putin on his victory "United Russia" in the elections

"The need for further cooperation was stressed to prevent the penetration into the territory of Central Asia and through it the international terror", - Peskov said.

Also, he said, the two leaders touched upon the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and expressed support for its denuclearization.

"In general, the similarity of the positions of Russia and China on major international issues has been underlined", - concluded the president's spokesman.

Gas explosion kills 7 in coal mine in southwest China

Seven people have been killed after a gas explosion at a coal mine in China’s southwest Guizhou province.

The local government said two other miners sustained serious injuries in the accident that occurred underground at the Rongsheng Coal Mine in Zhenfeng County, state media reported late Friday night.

Of the 18 miners working at the time, 11 -- including the two injured -- were rescued.

An investigation into the incident in ongoing.

Chinese mines are among some of the most dangerous in the world due to lax regulations and poor operating procedures.

In recent years, the country has produced more than one-third of the world's annual coal output, but accounted for more than two-thirds of global mining deaths annually, according to Mining Technology.

Last month, a gas explosion at a coal mine in northwest Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region left 18 people dead and two others missing.

In February a gas leak at a coal mine in northeast Jilin Province left 12 miners dead, while in March 19 people died after a coal mine collapsed in northern Shanxi province while 129 workers were working underground.

 

Pak reaffirms support to Kashmiris

President Mamnoon urges int’l community to take notice of HR violations in IOK; reaffirms support to Kashmiris

MUZAFFARABAD, October 15 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain Saturday called upon the international community to take a serious notice of Indian atrocities in Indian occupied Kashmir and play its role for the resolution of Kashmir issue to avoid any human catastrophe in the region.
Addressing a joint sitting of AJK legislative Assembly and Kashmir Council here, he expressed his hope that the world would awake now and play its role after unprecedented sacrifices of the Kashmiri people.
“The aggressor feels free to continue violating human rights and perpetrate atrocities because the international conscience is silent. But I hope that it will awake following an unprecedented movement by the Kashmiri people,” the President said.
“When people from all walks of life of any nation rises against occupation, like those of Kashmir, no power can deprive them of its freedom and I hope the freedom is not much far from the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
He said it was a prestige for him to come on the land of a nation having a history of unprecedented struggle for their freedom and paid rich tribute to martyrs including young Burhan Wani and others.
“The people of Kashmir are facing Indian tanks with stones, elders are witnessing deaths of their children, mothers are mourning the bloodshed of their sons and women are facing molestation,” Mamnoon said and saluted the Kashmiri people their unprecedented sacrifices.
He said the blood of young Burhan Wani had taken the freedom struggle into a new phase where, the international conscience could remain no more indifferent.
President Mamnoon viewed that when the freedom movements reach such a stage to awake the conscience of even occupational forces, the country claiming to be the world’s biggest democracy is yet deprived of this sense.
He demanded the Indian government to repeal all draconian laws, ban the use of lethal weapons against masses, lift the longest curfew and allow international human rights activists and observers to enter the valley.
He also demanded demilitarization of Kashmir and said the Pakistan was ready to talk to India for the purpose but pointed out that barbarism and negotiations could not go together.
The president said the solution of the conflict could be only possible through a free and fair plebiscite under United Nations (UN) and recalled that Indian premier Jawahar Lal Nehru himself had taken the issue to UN.
He also acknowledged the problems and sacrifices of the people living alongside the Line of control (LOC) and said their lives were a sole example in the world history and that those brave people would not be left alone.
He said the Pakistani and Kashmiri people were bonded with historical, religious and geographical relations that was a ground reality and these strong relations can not be forgotten.
“Support of Kashmir freedom struggle is part of our belief and honor. Neither we can forget the sanctity of Hazrat Bal nor can we ignore the sacrifices of people of Jammu and Kashmir,” the President added saying the people and Pakistan will continue to support freedom movement.
He also recounted the destruction caused by October 2005 earthquake in Azad Kashmir and expressed his pleasure over reconstruction and development, he witnessed here ad added that the federal government would continue its generous support to AJK government.

Nawaz Sharif leaves for Islamabad after 3-day Azerbaijan visit

Nawaz Sharif leaves for Islamabad after 3-day Azerbaijan visit

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Oct 15 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif leaft here Saturday for Islamabad on culmination of his three-day visit to Azerbaijan.

Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Akhmedov saw off the prime minister and his high level delegation at the airport.

On the invitation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, this was the first visit of the prime minister to the country.

During his visit, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Both the leaders also addressed a joint press stakeout and shared their vision for peace in the region, besides agreeing to enhance economic and defence cooperation.

During his meeting with Azerbaijan counterpart Artur Rasi-zadeh, the prime minister exchanged views to strengthen ties in the fields of energy, defence and economy.

Both the leaders were also unanimous to seek just and peaceful resolution of the issue of Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions.

The prime minister was also awarded an honorary doctorate degree by the Baku State University in recognition of his services for global peace and progress and strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries.

Earlier on Saturday, the prime minister visited Milli Mejlis (the parliament of Azerbaijan) wherein he was briefed by Speaker Ogtay Asadov on the functioning of the parliament.

The prime minister, along with his delegation, also held a meeting with Speaker Milli Mejlis.

Nawaz Sharif laid a wreath at the tomb of Hayder Aliyev, former Azerbaijan president at Fakhri Kiyaban (Alley of Honour) Azerbaijan.

He also visited the Alley of Martyrs at Shahidlar Khiyaban and paid homage to the martyrs of the freedom struggle of Azerbaijan independence movement.

वाराणसी में भगदड़: प्रधानमंत्री मोदी ने जताया शोक, अनुग्रह राशि की घोषणा की

नयी दिल्ली, 15 अक्तूबर :भाषा: प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने आज अपने लोकसभा क्षेत्र वाराणसी में भगदड़ की एक घटना में हुई मौतांे पर शोक जताया और मृतकों के परिवार वालों को दो-दो लाख रूपये की अनुग्रह राशि देने की घोषणा की।

उन्होंने अधिकारियों को प्रभावितों की हरसंभव मदद करने का निर्देश दिया।

मोदी ने ट्वीट कर कहा, ‘‘वाराणसी में भगदड़ के दौरान लोगों की मौत से गहरा दुख हुआ। शोक संतप्त परिवारों के प्रति संवेदनाएं। घायलों के लिए प्रार्थना।’’ उन्होंने एक अन्य ट्वीट में कहा, ‘‘मैंने अधिकारियों से बात की है और वाराणसी में भगदड़ से प्रभावित लोगों की हरसंभव मदद सुनिश्चित करने के लिए कहा है।’’ मोदी ने घटना में मरने वालों के परिजन को दो-दो लाख रूपये और गंभीर रूप से घायल लोगों को 50-50 हजार रूपये दिये जाने को मंजूरी दी। उन्होंने प्रधानमंत्री राष्ट्रीय राहत कोष से यह राशि देने की घोषणा की।

वाराणसी की सीमा और चंदौली के बीच राजघाट पुल पर भगदड़ में कम-से-कम 19 लोगों की मौत हो गयी और 60 अन्य लोग घायल हो गये। एक धार्मिक कार्यक्रम के सिलसिले में आज दोपहर वहां बड़ी संख्या में लोग इकट्ठा हुए थे।

रूस से एस-400 वायु रक्षा प्रणाली खरीदेगा भारत

गोवा:, 15 अक्तूबर :भाषा: भारत ने आज घोषणा की कि वह रूस से पांच अरब डॉलर से अधिक मूल्य का एस-400 ‘ट्राइअम्फ’ वायु रक्षा प्रणाली खरीदेगा और कामोव हेलीकॉप्टर बनाने के लिए संयुक्त निर्माण सुविधा की स्थापना के साथ-साथ चार आधुनिक फ्रिगेट के निर्माण के लिए दोनों देश सहयोग करेंगे।

यहां आयोजित ब्रिक्स शिखर सम्मेलन से इतर प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी और रूस के राष्ट्रपति व्लादिमीर पुतिन के बीच हुई बैठक के बाद इन सौदों की घोषणा की गयी।

लंबी दूरी की रक्षा मिसाइल प्रणाली एस 400 ‘ट्राइअम्फ’ की खरीद को लेकर अंतर-सरकारी समझौता सामरिक दृष्टि से सबसे अहम फैसला है। यह रक्षा प्रणाली करीब 400 किलोमीटर के क्षेत्र में शत्रु के विमान, मिसाइल और यहां तक कि ड्रोन को नष्ट करने में सक्षम है।

करीब पांच एस-400 की खरीद को लेकर भारत और रूस करीब एक वर्ष से बातचीत कर रहे हैं। यह रक्षा प्रणाली क्षेत्र के लिहाज से काफी अहम साबित होगी।

यह तीन तरह के मिसाइल छोड़ने, बहुस्तरीय रक्षा प्रणाली तैयार करने और एक-साथ 36 निशाने साधने में सक्षम है। अगर भारत इस समझौते पर हस्ताक्षर करता है तो वह चीन के बाद इस प्रणाली को खरीदने वाला दूसरा देश बन जायेगा। चीन ने पिछले वर्ष करीब तीन अरब डालर का समझौता किया था।

अन्य अहम समझौता चार एडमिरल ग्रिगोरोविच-क्लास :प्रोजेक्ट 11356: गाइडेड मिसाइल स्टील्थ फ्रिगेट को लेकर है।

इस सौदे के तहत दो युद्धपोत रूस से आयेंगे और रूस के सहयोग से दो का निर्माण भारत में किया जायेगा।

भारतीय शिपयार्ड के चुनाव को लेकर कोई निर्णय नहीं किया गया है।

भारत में चीता और चेतक हेलीकॉप्टर का स्थान लेने के लिए 200 कामोव 226टी हेलीकॉप्टर के निर्माण से जुड़ा जटिल समझौता दोनों देशों के बीच किया गया एक और अहम सौदा है।

News Analysis: BRICS looks to New Development Bank to unleash fresh growth potentials

by Xinhua writers Xia Fan and Bai Chun GOA, India, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Over the weekend in the coastal Indian state of Goa, the New Development Bank has become a buzz phrase as BRICS leaders gathered for their annual summit here amid high hopes that the bank could provide new momentum of growth and cooperation between BRICS countries. The bank, formally opened in July last year in Shanghai, has witnessed remarkable progress. Its first loan projects have been approved, and first bonds issued to raise funds for clean energy projects in member states. "I believe the bank is going in the right direction," said Indian economist D.K. Ravi in a recent interview with Xinhua. "When it was launched, the bank was expected to issue its first loans early 2016 and indeed it has approved its first package of loans worth 811 million U.S. dollars in April this year." Three months later, the bank announced that it had successfully issued its first bonds worldwide to raise funds for clean energy projects in member states. The five-year green bonds, denominated in the Chinese currency renminbi or Chinese yuan, are worth 3 billion yuan (449 million U.S. dollars). The progress took place despite slowing growth rates experienced by BRICS countries in recent years amid a plunge in commodity prices and a sluggish global recovery. According to World Bank forecasts, the Russian and Brazilian economies may shrink by 1.2 percent and 4 percent respectively this year and South Africa may grow at a meager 0.6 percent. However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) upgraded its growth prediction for the emerging economies earlier this month with IMF chief Christine Lagarde saying China and India will maintain fast growth rates. Experts are hoping that the New Development Bank could further consolidate the positive economic signs. The bank can provide much-needed financing for large infrastructure development projects in BRICS countries, which would give a significant boost to social development and economic growth, according to Zhang Yansheng, secretary-general of the Academic Committee of China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The World Bank estimated that the financial gap for developing countries in upgrading their infrastructure has reached up to 1 trillion dollars. However, the private financial sector is usually unwilling to fund large infrastructure development projects, as such investments are large in scale and require a longer payback period, said Zhang. "This is where the New Development Bank comes in," he told Xinhua in a telephone interview. The logic behind the bank is that as a policy bank, it can provide the development financing for such projects although they might not be profitable in the short run, he explained. "It's like injecting blood to the development of BRICS countries," said Zhang. "Once the policy financing reaches a certain level, the private financial sector will also come in, further accelerating regional economic and social development." The successful establishment and operation of the bank, a concrete outcome of the BRICS cooperation, is also expected to inspire the establishment of new cooperative institutions by the bloc, further enhancing intra-BRICS cooperation and binding BRICS countries closer together. "If last year the main issue discussed was the readiness of our countries for creating institutions, then in the end of September there was a meeting in Goa, and there the discussion centered about what other institutions BRICS need," said Sergey Karatayev, deputy head of the Center for Economic Research at the Russian Institute of Strategic Studies. For example, India said that an institution is needed for scientific research and formulating common expert opinion of the BRICS countries; there is also discussion about the creation of a rating agency, according to the expert. "These issues have been touched upon before, but now they have emerged again mainly due to the successful work of the bank," he added. Experts are also hoping that the NDB will push forward a reform of global financial governance. BRICS countries have shown that they are also capable of creating international institutions which can work successfully on the basis of principles different from other such bodies, said Karatayev. A distinctive feature of the NDB is the absolutely just distribution of votes between members, "each of them have equal voting rights, different from the quota system based on the role of this or that member," he said. Despite the current limited capabilities of the bank, Karatayev said what's more important is to show that the bank is capable of investing in new directions and of formulating its own policy, which will eventually influence activities of other banks. Echoing his view, Zhang Yansheng said the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, created at the end of World War II over 70 years ago, can no longer meet the needs of developing countries. "The New Development Bank, along with other policy financial institutions, is a new force in global governance -- it might lack experience and make mistakes, but they are an emerging force after all."

U.S. broadens Syria talks after failure of truce deal with Russia

A general view taken with a drone shows the damage in the rebel-held Bab al-Hadid neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria, October 13, 2016. Picture taken October 13, 2016. REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail

By Alexander Winning and Lesley Wroughton | LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov returned to Syria talks on Saturday, three weeks after the failure of their painstakingly drafted ceasefire that many saw as the last hope for peace this year.

Kerry has pointedly avoided new bilateral negotiations with Lavrov, and his invitation to the Turkish, Saudi, Qatari, Iranian, Jordanian and Egyptian foreign ministers to join them for talks in the Swiss lakeside town of Lausanne will broaden the discussion to include powerful backers of Syria's government and rebels.

"We've asked countries to come, having done some thinking, about a realistic way forward given the differences represented in the room," a senior U.S. State Department official said.

Since the breakdown of U.S.-Russia cooperation, long the backbone of efforts to end the war in Syria, U.S. officials have worked through ideas, some of which will be presented in Lausanne, the official said.

"With all that said, I'm not expecting we will have some major announcement at the end of this. This is going to be, as it has been now for several years, a very difficult process," the official added.

The new talks will not deliver an immediate solution, but could be the basis of a new process, the official said.

Pressure is rising for a halt to a ferocious, three-week-old Syrian government offensive to capture the rebel-held eastern zone of the city of Aleppo, where the United Nations says 275,000 civilians still live and 8,000 rebels are holding out against Syrian, Russian and Iranian-backed forces.

Western powers have accused Russia and Syria of committing atrocities by bombing hospitals, killing civilians and preventing medical evacuations, as well as targeting an aid convoy with the loss of around 20 lives.

Syria and Russia counter that they only targeting militants in Aleppo and accuse the United States of breaking the ceasefire by bombing scores of Syrian troops fighting Islamic State insurgents, over which the United States has expressed "regret".

A senior rebel commander said on Friday Syrian government forces would never be able to capture Aleppo's eastern sector, but a military source said the operation was going as planned.

The United Nations has said food, fuel and medicine are running out in eastern Aleppo and there will be no rations to distribute from the start of next month.

In a gesture of apparent desperation, U.N. Syria peace envoy Staffan de Mistura has offered to escort members of an Islamist militant group, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, out of Aleppo if that would entice Damascus to forge a ceasefire with the remaining rebels.

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Lavrov has said he does not plan to bring new proposals to Lausanne.

But his deputy Gennady Gatilov said Russia wants to discuss de Mistura's offer, as well as elements of last month's failed truce deal, namely humanitarian aid deliveries and a pullout of both sides' troops from the Castello Road, a key supply route.

"And it's about time to start moving toward an inclusive political process," Gatilov told Interfax news agency.

Many in Syria's opposition say Kerry has put too much trust in Lavrov, with protracted diplomatic wrangling over ceasefires buying time for Russia's military campaign and obscuring the once central question of the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while the clock runs down to the U.S. elections on Nov. 8.

(Additional reporting by Marina Depetris, John Irish, Lesley Wroughton and David Alexander; writing by Tom Miles; editing by Mark Heinrich)

China graft watchdog criticizes Hong Kong affairs office

A Hong Kong flag is seen in between Chinese flag at a reception following a flag raising ceremony in Hong Kong October 1, 2014.REUTERS/Bobby Yip

The anti-graft watchdog of China's ruling Communist Party has criticized the Beijing government department in charge of Hong Kong affairs for weak leadership and not properly following policy following a routine inspection.

The party's graft-busting Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said late on Friday its most recent inspection of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office had found a series of problems.

"The party's leadership is not strong or powerful enough, and the enforcement of the relevant policies of the center is not firm enough," the watchdog commission said in a statement.

The way people are promoted is not conducted in a serious manner, personnel changes are not carried out in a timely way, and party discipline rules not taken seriously enough, it said.

The anti-graft commission's report comes amid mounting concerns among pro-democratic politicians, activists and foreign diplomats that the Central Government's Liaison Office, Beijing's official representative body in the territory, was actively interfering in Hong Kong politics and affairs.

The watchdog's inspection also found "clues" about problems with some senior officials that have been reported up and will be handled, it said, without naming anyone or giving details.

The statement quoted the head of the Hong Kong affairs office, Wang Guangya, as saying he "sincerely accepted" the report and that his agency would "sternly and conscientiously carry out rectification".

China on Friday had also expressed "great indignation and strong condemnation" of two Hong Kong lawmakers who raised the disputed issue of independence at their official mid-week swearing-in ceremony.

The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under the so-called "one country, two systems" formula, granting Hong Kong a high degree of freedom and autonomy.

A 79-day "umbrella revolution" in late 2014 demanding Beijing allow full democracy in Hong Kong brought chaos to the streets, and anti-mainland Chinese sentiment has simmered since.

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Some fear Beijing's growing role in the city undermines the "one country, two systems" principle.

Critics of unpopular Hong Kong leader, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, accuse him to being too close to the head of the Liaison Office, Zhang Xiaoming.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Greg Torode in Hong Kong; Editing by Tom Hogue)