Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met with Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, in Beijing on Thursday.
At the meeting, Wang, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Vietnam earlier this month drew up a new grand blueprint for the construction of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.
China is willing to work with Vietnam to earnestly implement the outcomes of this visit and solidly advance the building of China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Wang said.
Wang also told Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, who is also vice-president and secretary-general of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, that the CPPCC is willing to work with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front to make contributions to promoting China-Vietnam friendship and strengthening people-to-people exchanges.
Nguyen Thi Thu Ha said that Xi's visit to Vietnam is of historic significance and will surely lead to greater development of bilateral relations.
The Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front is willing to take the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China as an opportunity to strengthen exchanges with the CPPCC, and play an active role in promoting the construction of Vietnam-China community with a shared future, she said.
China's top political advisor meets senior Vietnamese official
Some Iranians in Türkiye are crossing back over the border, driven by worry and desperation, as a nationwide communications blackout in Iran has left them cut off from their loved ones.
Protests have erupted in many Iranian cities since Dec. 28. They initially began with Tehran bazaar merchants demonstrating against the sharp devaluation of the national currency rial, and soaring inflation, before spreading to other cities. The unrest has led to casualties among both security forces and civilians.
At the Turkish-Iranian border, many are returning with no certainty about what awaits them, filled instead with questions and growing fear for those on the other side of the border.
"I went to Van yesterday for internet. I urgently needed to use the internet. I got it done. Now I'm heading straight back. There are protests everywhere. We can't get any news. We can't communicate with our families. And it's not just me, there are many Iranians outside the country who can't reach their families," said Feriste, an Iranian citizen.
With communications blacked out across Iran, those outside the country feel powerless to check on the situation back home. For some, this silence has prompted them to return across the border, even as tensions continue to rise.
"We can't get any news. There is no internet. Everything is shut down. I want to search. I want to find out. I want to see my brother. I'm going to see my family," said Husnu, an Iranian citizen.
"I work in Türkiye, and I have no news from Iran at all. I'm going back because I'm worried about my family. It's been days since I last heard from them, and because I'm worried, I'm returning to Iran now. Of course, we are concerned about our safety. We don't know what awaits us there," said another Iranian.
With protests escalating and government blackouts still in place, many Iranians are caught between staying in safety abroad and risking everything to reconnect with their families.
"We had to come to Türkiye because we couldn't reach our families. Schools were closed already. All official institutions were shut down. We have no information about other cities either, because there is no communication network there. There is no television, no internet. We can't even check Twitter," said Nazlican, another Iranian citizen.
Iranians in Türkiye return home, fearing for their families amid unrest in Iran
Iranians in Türkiye return home, fearing for their families amid unrest in Iran
