Xi says China-Slovakia strategic partnership entering "fast lane" of development

The strategic partnership between China and Slovakia has entered the "fast lane" of development, Chinese President Xi Jinping said during his meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Moscow on Friday.

The meeting came on the sidelines of the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.

Xi pointed out that promoting the all-round, in-depth and high-level development of China-Slovakia relations is in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples and conforms to the historical trend of open cooperation and mutual benefit.

The two countries should deepen their traditional friendship, maintain close high-level exchanges, firmly support each other, expand mutually beneficial collaboration, and advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, so as to push for sustained progress in the development of China-Slovakia and China-EU relations, said Xi.

Xi said China welcomes Slovakia's participation as the guest country of honor in the fourth edition of the China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Expo, supports the exports of high-quality Slovak products to the Chinese market, and hopes to see more Chinese enterprises invest and do business in Slovakia.

China is ready to work with Slovakia and other countries in solidarity to cope with challenges and uphold international fairness and justice, Xi said, adding that China hopes Slovakia will actively promote continuous development of China-EU ties.

For his part, Fico said deepening the strategic partnership with China is a top priority of Slovakia's foreign policy, adding that Slovakia will firmly adhere to the one-China policy.

Slovakia will actively promote friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation with China, strengthen trade and investment ties, and enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, he said.

Noting that a healthy and stable EU-China relationship is in the interest of both sides, Fico said Slovakia is committed to promoting the development of relations between the EU and China.

He expressed Slovakia's support for the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, appreciation of China's position and constructive role in global affairs such as the Ukraine crisis and the Middle East question, and willingness to work with China to uphold multilateralism, safeguard free trade rules, and maintain stability of the global production and supply chains.

Xi says China-Slovakia strategic partnership entering "fast lane" of development

Xi says China-Slovakia strategic partnership entering "fast lane" of development

Xi says China-Slovakia strategic partnership entering "fast lane" of development

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.

In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.

Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.

Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.

Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.

He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.

He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation