Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
Security forum focuses on Afghan question
Top officials and military experts gather in Germany for the Munich Security Conference. Afghanistan is likely to top the agenda, after France decided to end its combat mission early and a leaked report accused Pakistan of aiding the Taliban. US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta will be joined tomorrow by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe for talks on trans-Atlantic relations and ties with Russia. Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger (left) will lead a debate on security with European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and US Senator John McCain.
Beijing envoy courts Libyan business
The Ministry of Commerce is sending Wang Shenyang, its director general for outward investment and economic co-operation, to Libya for talks with officials on the protection of Chinese investments in the North African country and participation in its post-Gaddafi reconstruction. Wang will be accompanied on the five-day visit by representatives of several state-owned companies in construction, electricity, transport and telecommunications.
Merkel and Wen head for Guangdong
After visiting Beijing, German Chancellor Angela Merkel heads south to Guangdong, accompanied by Premier Wen Jiabao. They will visit a firm, take part in an economic forum and meet German and Chinese business leaders. Agence France-Presse, citing a diplomatic source, says Merkel will meet the Bishop of Guangzhou, Joseph Gan Junqiu, tomorrow.