Australia's S&P/ASX 200 closed down 12.90 points, or 0.15%, at 8,719.50 on Friday, Sept. 18.

China's National Energy Administration director Wang Hongzhi met ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Beijing on Sept. 16 to discuss China–ASEAN clean energy cooperation and institutional arrangements. Wang said the China–ASEAN Clean Energy Cooperation Center has been established and is playing a key role, and that the China–ASEAN energy ministers' mechanism is being advanced. Kao said ASEAN's energy demand has risen rapidly and ASEAN seeks deeper cooperation with China on clean energy, energy supply, mechanism building, technology exchange, experience sharing and joint research.

France's prime minister said the government will not raise taxes.