A Russian scholar emphasized the crucial role close exchanges between Chinese and Russian leaders plays in deepening bilateral cooperation, ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visit to Russia from May 7 to 10.
During the visit, Xi will attend the celebrations in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and World War II.
Vasily Kashin, director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Russian National Research University Higher School of Economics, shared his expectations for Xi's visit, especially under the current global circumstances, in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Moscow on Monday.
"The visit is significant, because this year marks the 80th anniversary of the Victory in World War II, and the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. It comes at a time when the world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century. For Russia and China, close exchanges and staying in lockstep are extremely important for continuously deepening our ties," said Kashin.
He stressed that various factors will keep pushing the two countries to enhance their relationship.
"I believe that the turmoil in the international situation will only push our two countries to deepen cooperation. We are each other's most important partners, our economies complement each other, and we share a long land border. This means that we can trade directly without the influence from third parties. In the future, we need to pay close attention to each other's markets and focus on bilateral cooperation, because it can bring more opportunities and greater potential," said Kashin.
The scholar underscored the importance of leadership exchanges in shaping Russia-China relations.
"The close exchanges between the leaders of our two countries play an extremely important role in guiding our cooperation, and even the most complex affairs could be resolved at the leaders' level. Therefore, the Chinese leader's visit to Russia is of great importance," said Kashin.
Close leadership exchanges key to Russia-China cooperation: Russian scholar
Close leadership exchanges key to Russia-China cooperation: Russian scholar
A major port in northern Venezuela came under U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of January 3, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, destroyed critical medical supplies in a warehouse, and severely impacted centuries-old cultural heritage sites, according to local residents.
The La Guaira Port, a vital hub for imports that support daily life in the region, was heavily damaged during the attack.
Large quantities of medical supplies stored at the port were destroyed. A historic cultural building dating back for some 300 years was also badly damaged by the bombardment.
Residents living near the port recalled the terrifying scenes as explosions shook nearby neighborhoods.
Humberto Bolivar, who lives in a community separated from the port by only a main road, said the blast waves shattered his home's windows, while stray shrapnel struck the water tank on his roof. According to reports, three missiles were fired at the port that night.
Bolivar said that beyond material losses, he is most concerned about the psychological impact on his children, who remain too frightened to leave their home days after the attack.
"The United States invaded our country. The children were frightened. This is not good for them, because it leaves some children with psychological trauma. They do not want to go to school or leave the house, because they are afraid that something worse might happen. We truly do not want this to happen to our country," he said.
Apart from civilian facilities, local cultural heritage site was also affected.
The La Guaira state government building, a structure with nearly 300 years of history and once served as the site of Venezuela's first national customs office, was struck by the force of the explosions.
Windows of the building were shattered, and furniture scattered across the floor.
"As people of La Guaira, we feel deep pain. Our cultural heritage has been bombed. We are living in constant anxiety and suffering, and life can no longer be the same as it was before," said a local named Henry Cumares.
The U.S. side has claimed the airstrikes targeted warehouses allegedly used to store narcotics. However, locals refuted such accusation.
"According to what Donald Trump said, they bombed this place using the excuse that the warehouses here were used to store drugs at the port. But based on the video released by our governor, these warehouses that were burned contained medicine for kidney patients and foods. Many people depend on these supplies to survive. I think the bombing is extremely despicable," said a local resident named Alejandro Capriles.
US strike hits Venezuelan port, wrecking medical supplies, heritage building
