China warmly welcomes the new member of BRICS and stands ready for greater BRICS cooperation in the future, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.
Brazil, the BRICS chair for the year of 2025, released a statement on Monday announcing that Indonesia has become a full member of the BRICS.
Countries such as Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Cuba and Bolivia have become BRICS partners on the first day of 2025.
At a regular press conference in Beijing, Guo said, "China warmly welcomes the new member of the 'BRICS family'. The BRICS cooperation mechanism owes its birth to the historical trend of the collective rise of emerging markets and developing countries, which is in line with the expectations of the international community to maintain world peace, promote common development and improve global governance. In the nearly 20 years since its establishment, the BRICS grouping now represents nearly half of the world's population, approximately 30 percent of global GDP, and contributes more than 50 percent to global economic growth. The representativeness, appeal and influence of the BRICS cooperation mechanism have been increasing, turning it into a significant platform for promoting unity and cooperation in the Global South, as well as an important force for the reform of the global governance system."
"China is ready to work with other BRICS countries in the spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation to promote the high-quality development of the greater BRICS cooperation and jointly advocate an equal and orderly world multipolarization and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, so as to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. The greater BRICS cooperation has a lot of potentials and a promising future," Guo noted.
China welcomes new BRICS member, ready for greater cooperation: FM spokesman
China welcomes new BRICS member, ready for greater cooperation: FM spokesman
China welcomes new BRICS member, ready for greater cooperation: FM spokesman
A major port in northern Venezuela came under U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of January 3, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, destroyed critical medical supplies in a warehouse, and severely impacted centuries-old cultural heritage sites, according to local residents.
The La Guaira Port, a vital hub for imports that support daily life in the region, was heavily damaged during the attack.
Large quantities of medical supplies stored at the port were destroyed. A historic cultural building dating back for some 300 years was also badly damaged by the bombardment.
Residents living near the port recalled the terrifying scenes as explosions shook nearby neighborhoods.
Humberto Bolivar, who lives in a community separated from the port by only a main road, said the blast waves shattered his home's windows, while stray shrapnel struck the water tank on his roof. According to reports, three missiles were fired at the port that night.
Bolivar said that beyond material losses, he is most concerned about the psychological impact on his children, who remain too frightened to leave their home days after the attack.
"The United States invaded our country. The children were frightened. This is not good for them, because it leaves some children with psychological trauma. They do not want to go to school or leave the house, because they are afraid that something worse might happen. We truly do not want this to happen to our country," he said.
Apart from civilian facilities, local cultural heritage site was also affected.
The La Guaira state government building, a structure with nearly 300 years of history and once served as the site of Venezuela's first national customs office, was struck by the force of the explosions.
Windows of the building were shattered, and furniture scattered across the floor.
"As people of La Guaira, we feel deep pain. Our cultural heritage has been bombed. We are living in constant anxiety and suffering, and life can no longer be the same as it was before," said a local named Henry Cumares.
The U.S. side has claimed the airstrikes targeted warehouses allegedly used to store narcotics. However, locals refuted such accusation.
"According to what Donald Trump said, they bombed this place using the excuse that the warehouses here were used to store drugs at the port. But based on the video released by our governor, these warehouses that were burned contained medicine for kidney patients and foods. Many people depend on these supplies to survive. I think the bombing is extremely despicable," said a local resident named Alejandro Capriles.
US strike hits Venezuelan port, wrecking medical supplies, heritage building
