Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, stated during the meeting that China and Germany have maintained frequent high-level interactions while their pragmatic cooperation continues to show strong momentum and deliver positive results. Wang noted that although unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, the global shift toward multipolarity is unstoppable.
As strategic partners, China and Germany, as well as China and the European Union, should strengthen solidarity, coordination, and cooperation, uphold free trade, practice multilateralism, and safeguard the authority of the United Nations, said Wang, noting China is willing to deepen all-round cooperation with Germany, promote the positive development of bilateral relations, and safeguard global peace and stability.
For his part, Scholz stated that Germany highly values its relationship with China and is willing to strengthen exchanges and dialogue at all levels. He emphasized Germany's opposition to protectionism and disagreement with a tariff war. Scholz expressed hope that the EU and China will adopt a constructive approach to properly resolve trade frictions including that on electric vehicles as soon as possible, and work together to uphold the free trade system.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis.
China willing to deepen all-round cooperation with Germany: FM
Thousands of protesters flooded the streets of London on Saturday, marching from Westminster to the U.S. embassy to deliver a clear message to the United States and Israel -- stop the war in Iran.
Chanting slogans and carrying banners reading "Stop bombing Iran" and "No war on Iran", demonstrators condemned what they described as unlawful military aggression that they say threatens regional stability and civilian lives.
"What Trump is doing from his base in America -- trying to rule the world. And I think it's disgusting and it's dangerous. It's killing. It's going to kill tens of thousands of people across the Middle East, and it'll have huge ramifications across the world," said a protester in an interview with China Global Television Network.
"I think that Trump and Netanyahu's obvious attempts to push regime change are unacceptable. And it's ultimately the Iranian people and people across the Middle East, normal people, who are going to suffer the most in this war," said another.
The United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks against Iran on Feb. 28, which resulted in the deaths of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, several of his family members and multiple senior Iranian military commanders.
Iran said on Friday evening that since the fighting began, at least 1,332 civilians have been killed, with thousands of others injured.
"A completely immoral, groundless act of aggression, another war crime against Iran," said a third protester.
"They are going in, they're bombing people indiscriminately. Over 160 school children have been killed for no good reason," another protester said, referring to the U.S.-Israeli airstrike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Minab, southern Iran.
Initially, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the United States couldn't use any British bases for military actions in the Middle East. But he later rolled back on his words, saying that the U.S. can use certain bases as long as it is for defensive actions only.
The protesters don't think he has gone far enough. They said that this is an illegal action and should be stopped immediately.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a live broadcast statement on Saturday that Israel's attack on Iran will continue with "full force and uncompromising momentum."
Israel has a well-prepared plan with many surprises to undermine "Iranian regime" and "enable change," Netanyahu said.
Thousands march in London to demand halt to US-Israeli strikes on Iran
