①China holds two multinational meetings to discuss Afghanistan. We discuss China's role in seeking solution to Afghanistan’s problems. ②China and the EU will hold a leaders' meeting. What’s at stake? ③Russia won't immediately require buyers to pay for its gas exports in rubles. What does it mean to Russia and Europe? ④China’s factory and services activity contracts amid virus resurgence. ⑤We look at China’s top archaeological discoveries in 2021 that may redefine the movement of ancient people.