Trump envoy confirms venue for talks with Russia on Ukraine conflict 16 Feb, 2025 19:36

Negotiations will start in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, according to the Washington Post

US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has confirmed that talks on ending the Ukraine conflict will be held in Saudi Arabia in the coming days. Witkoff will be heading to the kingdom on Sunday alongside US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

“I’m leaving tonight,” the envoy stated in an interview with Fox News. “We’re hopeful that we’ll achieve significant progress,” he added. Witkoff did not disclose whom they would be meeting with or the topics of discussion.

Senior US officials are scheduled to meet with their Russian counterparts in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, next week to initiate discussions on ending the Ukraine conflict, the Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing an unnamed US official.

The upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia will be among the first high-level, in-person discussions between Russian and US officials in years, serving as a precursor to a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Donald Trump.

https://www.rt.com/news/612822-russia-us-saudi-arabia/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changan_Ford

Changan Ford (simplified Chinese: 长安福特; traditional Chinese: 長安福特; pinyin: Cháng'ān Fútè; full name Changan Ford Automobile Co., Ltd.) is a Chinese automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Chongqing. It is a 50/50 joint venture between local Changan Automobile and US-based Ford Motor Company. The company's principal activity is the manufacture of Ford brand passenger cars for the Chinese market. The company was formed in December 2012 after the decision to restructure Changan Ford Mazda, whereby Ford and Mazda agreed to work with Changan as separate joint ventures.[1] Currently, Changan Ford's entire production base is the largest manufacturing location outside Detroit, Michigan, for Ford.[2] It has plants in Chongqing, Hangzhou & Harbin

Ford China JV to Get First Chinese Boss in 10 Years

Tang Liuyang DATE: Apr 29 2021

(Yicai Global) April 29 – Ford China yesterday named He Xiaoqing as head of its passenger car joint venture in China, with full responsibility for operations. He will be Changan Ford Automobile’s first Chinese president in a decade.

The new chief’s goal will be to deepen the partnership between the JV’s major shareholders and restore Changan Ford’s place among leading JVs, the statement said. He will also push to make the JV play a key role in advancing Ford China’s passenger vehicle strategy.

He previously served as vice president of Ford China’s Enterprise Alliances. Prior to joining Ford China, he held senior positions at several Chinese automakers, including vice president of Chery Automobile and Nanjing Automotive Group.

Ford China’s auto business in the country will focus on Ford passenger and commercial vehicles, Lincoln cars as well as electric autos, the firm added.

Changan Ford is a 50-50 venture of Ford Motor and China Chang’an Automobile Group, with plants in the cities of Chongqing, Hangzhou and Harbin. Chongqing is Ford’s biggest production base outside of Detroit.

Changan Ford’s sales and profits have fallen since 2016. But the situation began to improve in the second half of last year. Sales rose 16 percent to 213,700 in 2020, while first-quarter sales this year jumped nearly 50 percent from a year ago to 49,300.

Steven Armstrong, Changan Ford’s former president, will serve as transformation officer at Ford South America and India to evaluate fund allocation in India and lead business restructuring in South America, Ford China said.

https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/ford-china-jv-to-get-first-chinese-boss-in-10-years