The New York Times reports, "Air pollution data from the Chinese government shows that more than 90 percent of 360 Chinese cities failed to meet national air quality standards in the first three months of this year, according to a report released on Tuesday by Greenpeace East Asia. Interior provinces were found to have the most polluted cities during those months. Cities near the eastern and southern coasts also had dire levels of fine pollutants, but the levels were lower than in the same period one year ago, the report said. The drop could be due to central government policies announced in late 2013 aimed at limiting coal use in China's most densely populated regions."
According to Reuters, "Chinese President Xi Jinping praised Pakistan on Tuesday for its contribution to security in China's restive far west where a Muslim minority chaffs against Beijing's rule, while Pakistan promised to step up cooperation in tackling terrorism. Xi, in an address to Pakistan's parliament, also called for closer economic cooperation between the traditional allies a day after they launched energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan worth $46 billion. Xi has linked economic cooperation with security and said on Tuesday the two countries 'share a common stake in security.'"
"Nearly three quarters of Japanese firms believe Tokyo should join the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) only if governance conditions are met...The plans for the new bank, seen as a significant setback to U.S. efforts to extend its influence in the Asia-Pacific region and balance China's growing financial clout, have put Japan in a quandary. It does not want to alienate Washington, its closest ally, or bolster rival China especially at the expense of the Asian Development Bank, the Manila-based multilateral institution dominated by Japan and the United States...Fifty-seven countries, including Britain, Germany and France, put up their hand to be AIIB founding members. Japan and the U.S. were notably absent, citing the need for better transparency and higher governance standards although they can still join at a later date," writes Reuters.