Xi congratulates Merz on election as German chancellor

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Friedrich Merz on his election as chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Noting that China and Germany are all-round strategic partners, Xi said since establishing diplomatic relations 53 years ago, the two countries have treated each other with mutual respect, trust and equality.

The two countries have consistently followed a path of mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, growing into good partners that advance together and help each other succeed, and promoting the steady and sound development of bilateral relations through high-level cooperation, said Xi.

Today's world is marked by intertwined transformation and upheaval, with surging headwinds of unilateralism and protectionism, Xi noted.

Yet peace, development, cooperation and win-win outcomes remain the right way forward for humanity and an unstoppable trend of the times, Xi said.

As the world's second- and third-largest economies and two major countries with global influence, China and Germany should follow the trend of history, uphold fairness and justice, deepen exchanges and mutual learning, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, work together to weather storms and tempests, enhance the well-being of their peoples, and jointly promote an equitable and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive economic globalization, said Xi.

Xi said he highly regards the development of China-Germany relations, and is ready to work with the chancellor to stick to the original aspiration in establishing diplomatic relations, consolidate political mutual trust, deepen exchanges and cooperation, and open a new chapter in the all-round strategic partnership between China and Germany, so as to guide China-EU cooperation in the right direction, and jointly promote world peace, stability, and prosperity.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Merz on his election as German chancellor.

Noting that China and Germany are all-round strategic partners, Li said the practical cooperation between the two sides in various fields has yielded remarkable results and has broad prospects.

Equality, mutual benefit, cooperation, and win-win outcomes are the historical choices made by both countries and the most distinctive features of China-Germany relations, which should be carefully nurtured, inherited and promoted by both sides, Li said.

The Chinese premier said he looks forward to establishing and maintaining a sound working relationship with Merz, deepening exchanges and jointly promoting development, enhancing understanding and building consensus, continuously enriching the connotation of the China-Germany all-round strategic partnership, and guiding China-Germany and China-EU cooperation in the right direction.

Xi congratulates Merz on election as German chancellor

Xi congratulates Merz on election as German chancellor

Xi congratulates Merz on election as German chancellor

Xi congratulates Merz on election as German chancellor

Xi congratulates Merz on election as German chancellor

The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.

In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.

"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.

Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."

Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.

President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.

Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.

Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.

Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests