China warmly congratulates Anura Kumara Dissanayake on his inauguration as president of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, candidate of the National People's Power, emerged as the winner in the presidential election in Sri Lanka held on Saturday, the Election Commission confirmed Sunday.
"Sri Lanka's presidential election was held successfully in an orderly manner on September 21. Mr. Dissanayake was elected as new president of Sri Lanka, and was sworn in. China extends heartfelt congratulations on that. President Xi Jinping has sent a message to President Dissanayake to congratulate him," Lin said.
"China and Sri Lanka are friendly neighbors. We are willing to work together with President Dissanayake and the new government of Sri Lanka to champion the essence of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and renew the traditional friendship between China and Sri Lanka. We will seek closer synergy between our development strategies, and deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, so as to make new progress together in advancing the China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship," he said.
China congratulates Dissanayake on assuming presidency of Sri Lanka: spokesman
Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.
In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.
Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.
The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.
Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.
Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.
He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.
He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.
Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation
