China's top political advisor Wang Huning met in Beijing on Tuesday with visiting senior members of Japan's ruling coalition, formed by the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party.
At the meeting, Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), recalled that in November 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Lima, Peru, where they reached a consensus to comprehensively advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit in accordance with the principles and directions established in the four political documents between China and Japan.
Wang emphasized that the ruling parties of the two countries should engage in in-depth exchanges to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, work together to develop China-Japan relations, and contribute to the prosperity and development of the region and the world. The CPPCC stands ready to make a positive contribution to this effort, he said.
The Japanese side noted that Japan and China are important neighbors to each other and expressed the willingness to, in accordance with the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and in the spirit of seeking common ground while reserving minor differences, maintain people-to-people exchanges at all levels, including young parliamentarians and sub-regional leaders, through the exchange mechanism of the ruling parties to reduce differences and promote cooperation.
China's top political advisor meets senior members of Japan's ruling coalition
China's top political advisor meets senior members of Japan's ruling coalition
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he will extend the two-week ceasefire with Iran that was set to expire on Wednesday night (midnight GMT Tuesday).
"Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The U.S. president said he will "extend the ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other."
The U.S. military will continue the blockade against Iran and "remain ready and able," according to Trump.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X Tuesday that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports is "an act of war and thus a violation of the ceasefire" and attacking Iranian merchant ships and detaining their crew members were even more serious violations.
"Iran knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying," Araghchi wrote in his post.
Mehdi Mohammadi, an advisor to Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, also said the U.S. blockade must be met with a military response, dismissing Trump's ceasefire extension announcement as "meaningless".
"Extending the ceasefire by Trump has no meaning. The losing side cannot dictate terms. Continuing the blockade is no different from bombing and must be met with a military response. Moreover, any extension of the ceasefire by Trump is certainly a way to buy time for a surprise attack. Now is the time for Iran to take the initiative," Mohammadi posted on X.
Trump extends ceasefire; Iran vows military response to naval blockade
