China, EU lift restrictions on exchanges, signaling strong willingness to cooperate: expert

China and the European Parliament have decided to simultaneously and comprehensively lift restrictions on mutual exchanges as agreed by the two sides, a move which will inject new impetus into the sustained, healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations, a Belgian expert said Tuesday.

Alberto Turkstra, project manager at Diplomatic World, a Brussels-based quarterly international magazine, shed light on the significance of the decision which comes when China and the European Union (EU) marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

"Because it comes just May 6, the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. And also practical to add the necessary momentum and to add the necessary political trust," he said.

As U.S. President Donald Trump's chaotic tariffs prompted its trading partners to seek for stable alternative partnerships, China has become the best choice for the EU. Turkstra believes many Europeans are optimistic about the opportunities provided by China.

"II think it makes for great news for European companies who have always seen China as an important market. [Whoever] I speak to here is very eager to tap into the Chinese market. This tariff war has accelerated this process of coming together for EU and China economic sphere," he said.

Against the backdrop of the Trump administration's trade protectionism and tariffs, China and Europe have common vital interests in stabilizing global trade rules, safeguarding the multilateral system, and building a diversified trade network. Turkstra said the two sides can fully carry out pragmatic cooperation to inject valuable stability and certainty into the global economy and trade.

"I think that for the EU and China, in this turbulent world, we have to live now with the transatlantic partnership with so many question marks over it, this is the perfect time to join forces for a stable world. We are two great civilizations, so we will agree to disagree on some matters, but that that does not take away the fact that there is plenty of room opportunities for cooperate [cooperation] in the business community," he said

China, EU lift restrictions on exchanges, signaling strong willingness to cooperate: expert

China, EU lift restrictions on exchanges, signaling strong willingness to cooperate: expert

Thousands of demonstrators rallied in Italy and Greece on Saturday to protest against U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, with protesters in Rome, Milan and Athens condemning Washington's actions and calling for respect for Venezuelan sovereignty.

In Rome, more than 1,000 demonstrators marched toward the area near the U.S. Embassy, calling on Washington to immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

Police blocked roads around the embassy to prevent protesters from approaching the building, but demonstrators continued to denounce U.S. actions.

"First of all, we oppose U.S. imperialist aggression. This kind of behavior is shameful. The U.S. is attacking a sovereign country, and as [U.S. President Donald] Trump himself has said, this is for oil interests," said protester Giovanni Barbera.

Saturday's rally marked the second large-scale protest in Rome this month against U.S. military operations in Venezuela, following an earlier one on on Jan 3.

Participants included members of multiple political parties, labor unions and social organizations. The protesters held banners reading "Stop imperialist interference" and "Free Maduro," urging the international community to respect Venezuela's sovereignty and the will of its people, and condemning the U.S. for violating international law.

"We are protesting the way the U.S. handles international politics. Since the events of January 3, we have seen violations of international law, and we are very concerned about how the global situation is developing," said protester Stefano De Angelis.

Organizers said solidarity rallies in support of Venezuela were held in 30 Italian cities on the same day.

Meanwhile, similar protests were also staged in Greece. About 200 people gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Athens, voicing support for Venezuela and opposition to U.S. military actions.

"We oppose U.S. imperialism and its attack on Venezuela. At the same time, the U.S. is also threatening Cuba, Mexico and Greenland. We must stand up against this behavior," said Greek protester Argiro Sirmakezi.

Protesters rally in Italy, Greece against U.S. military operation in Venezuela