Chancay, a city in Peru that is home to a Chinese-built megaport and boasts a special relationship with China dating back to the 1800s, is celebrating the Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, with a variety of events including traditional Chinese lion dances.
"It is a great joy to begin with because I am not of Chinese descent, but I have a great appreciation and respect for Chinese culture," said Joe Palomino, the leader of a Chinese lion dance team.
The Chinese presence in Chancay is far from recent. Long before the construction of the megaport, the city had already established deep connections with China, with a community of Chinese-descended Peruvians whose roots trace back six generations to the 19th century.
One such individual is Lidia Lau Cheng, whose maternal great-grandfather arrived in Peru in the late 1800s.
"I remember my childhood, for example my great grandfather, my grandfather and my father came to Huaral," said Lidia Lau Cheng, head teacher of Vicente Hondarza Gomez School.
The ties between Chancay and China were further strengthened last year with the inauguration of Chancay Port, a flagship project of the Belt and Road cooperation between China and Peru.
The port is set to enhance trade efficiency between Peru and Asia, cutting shipping time to China to 23 days and reducing logistics costs by at least 20 percent.
"This year should be celebrated with greater happiness and greater joy because now in Chancay there is a lot of progress with the construction of the megaport," said Lidia Lau Cheng, head teacher of Vicente Hondarza Gomez School.
Chancay in Peru celebrates Spring Festival
Chancay in Peru celebrates Spring Festival
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
