Chinese FM calls on China, India to foster cooperation, not division

China and India should strive for mutual understanding, support and collaboration, rather than fostering suspicion, alienation and consuming each other, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Beijing.

Noting that since the leaders of the two countries met in Kazan, Russia last year, the two sides have earnestly implemented the important consensus reached by the leaders, carried out active interactions at all levels, and accelerated the process of improving China-India relations, Wang said both sides should seize the opportunity to meet each other halfway and explore more substantive measures.

The improvement and development of China-Indian relations are fully in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and are conducive to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South countries and contributing to the peace, stability, development and prosperity of Asia and the world, Wang added.

Misri said that India and China have carried out a series of useful dialogues and communications in accordance with the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries in Kazan, properly managed and resolved differences, and promoted the resumption of pragmatic cooperation in various fields.

India is willing to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, and will fully support the work of China which has assumed the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Misri added.

Chinese FM calls on China, India to foster cooperation, not division

Chinese FM calls on China, India to foster cooperation, not division

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned on Sunday that Tehran would view the United States and Israel's military bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" should Washington take military action against Iran.

At a parliamentary session convened to review an emergency proposal on assembly regulations, Qalibaf emphasized that, at this highly sensitive juncture, Iran must accurately and thoroughly identify the schemes of its adversaries.

Qalibaf said that Iran is currently confronting Israel and the United States simultaneously on four fronts: economic, cognitive, military, and counterterrorism. Of them, the economic warfare and the cognitive and psychological warfare began many years ago and have persisted to this day, growing increasingly complex and intense in recent years.

The remarks came as U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran, taking advantage of its nationwide unrest.

Protests have erupted in several Iranian cities since late December over the sharp fall of the rial and long-standing economic hardship. Iranian authorities have acknowledged the demonstrations and voiced willingness to address economic grievances, while warning against violence and vandalism.

Amid the ongoing protests, deadly clashes have been reported lately between police and what the government described as "rioters." However, no official death toll has been released.

Also on Sunday, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will address the country's economic situation and political environment in a televised interview later that day.

Iran swears to counterattack if attacked