China Center for Cooperation on Special Economic Zones in BRICS Countries inaugurated in Hangzhou

The China Center for Cooperation on Special Economic Zones in BRICS Countries was officially inaugurated on Friday in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province in eastern China.

The Center is the first platform mechanism personally announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in the field of BRICS economic and trade cooperation.

It will focus on key areas such as economic and trade collaboration, standard alignment, and institutional innovation, striving to become a pivotal platform for promoting economic and trade cooperation and exchanges between China and other BRICS countries.

Furthermore, the Center aims to evolve into a new platform supporting the advancement of high-level institutional opening-up.

Protesters filled Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma on Saturday, rallying in solidarity with Venezuela and denouncing U.S. influence in Latin America.

The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela in the early hours of Jan 3, taking by force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Holding numerous flags and banners while chanting slogans intermittently, a huge crowd of protesters criticized U.S. military actions against Venezuela and the unlawful control over President Maduro and his spouse, calling for respect for national sovereignty and regional peace.

"We oppose the U.S. intervention and hegemony towards the countries in Latin America. The United States has flagrantly trampled on international law, bombed Caracas and kidnapped the Maduro couple. The U.S. interventionism has become extremely blatant. We must firmly oppose and be highly vigilant, because this is not only related to a certain country, but also to all countries," said a protester.

"We demand that the United States stop interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs. The country must immediately cease its exploitation and plundering of the countries in Latin America," said another protester.