Xi meets Russian Federation Security Council secretary

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Sergei Shoigu, secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council, in Beijing on Friday.

Xi said that China and Russia are good neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, and further more, time-tested true friends. He said that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during their two talks since the beginning of this year, have made top-level designs on the development of bilateral relations and had in-depth communication on major international and regional issues.

He noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victories of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN), adding that China and Russia will face a series of important agendas in the coming months.

Xi said the two sides should maintain close communication at all levels to fully implement the consensus reached between the two heads of state and promote permanent good-neighborliness and friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, so as to boost the common development and rejuvenation of the two countries.

The two sides should continue to strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs, give full play to the roles of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and work together to consolidate unity and cooperation among Global South countries, Xi said.

Shoigu conveyed President Putin's cordial greetings to President Xi, saying that President Putin highly values the sincere friendship and close contact with President Xi.

The relations between Russia and China have reached an unprecedented high level and do not target any third party, Shoigu said.

Russia and China have always trusted each other and held dialogue on an equal footing, Shoigu said, adding that strategic cooperation between the two countries serves the common interests of both sides.

He said Russia will implement the important consensus reached between the two heads of state in earnest and unswervingly strengthen cooperation with China.

China has been actively promoting a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis, which Russia deeply appreciates, said Shoigu.

Xi meets Russian Federation Security Council secretary

Xi meets Russian Federation Security Council secretary

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Saturday that nuclear power plant sites or nearby areas must never be attacked, following a fourth strike near an Iranian nuclear power plant.

The IAEA said on social platform X that, according to the information from Iran, a projectile hit the nearby area of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on Saturday morning. This was the fourth such incident in recent weeks, it said.

One staff member at the site was killed by a projectile fragment, while a building on the site was affected by shockwaves and fragments, the IAEA said, citing the Iranian authorities. There was no increase in radiation levels reported, it added.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed his deep concern about the incident, stressing that nuclear power plant sites or nearby areas "must never be attacked." He warned that the auxiliary site buildings may contain vital safety equipment.

Grossi once again stressed the paramount importance of ensuring nuclear safety and security during a conflict, calling for maximum military restraint to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident.

Iran's nuclear facilities have been struck several times since the joint Israeli-U.S. military actions against the Islamic Republic started on Feb. 28.

Nuclear power plants must never be attacked: IAEA chief