Chinese FM urges India, Pakistan to avoid escalation, affirms willingness to support ceasefire efforts

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed his hope on Saturday that Pakistan and India will exercise restraint and avoid escalating tensions, emphasizing China's readiness to play a constructive role in supporting ceasefire efforts.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, held a phone conversation on Saturday with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

As a neighbor of both Pakistan and India, China is concerned about the escalation of the conflict between the two countries, Wang said during the phone conversation.

China believes that Pakistan will respond to the current situation with calm, and make decisions in line with its fundamental and long-term interests, he added.

Dar said that Pakistan is willing to achieve a ceasefire with India but will respond to any acts that violate its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Noting that Pakistan stands on the front line of the international fight against terrorism and has made significant contributions to counterterrorism, Wang said that China supports Pakistan's continued firm commitment to combating terrorism.

In a phone conversation with India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on the same day, Wang expressed his hope that India and Pakistan will remain calm and exercise restraint, properly handle their differences through dialogue and consultation, and avoid escalating tensions.

Wang said that China supports and expects India and Pakistan to reach a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire through consultation, as this aligns with the fundamental interests of both countries and reflects the shared aspirations of the international community.

Wang also said that China condemns the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam area and opposes all forms of terrorism.

Noting that the world is undergoing both transformation and upheaval, Wang said peace and stability in Asia are hard-won and deserve to be cherished, adding that India and Pakistan are neighbors that cannot be moved away, and that they are both neighbors of China.

Doval stated that the attacks in the Pahalgam area resulted in significant casualties on the Indian side, adding that India must take appropriate counter-terrorism actions.

War is not the choice of the Indian side and is not in the interests of either side, he said, adding that both India and Pakistan will be committed to a ceasefire and look forward to restoring regional peace and stability as soon as possible.

Chinese FM urges India, Pakistan to avoid escalation, affirms willingness to support ceasefire efforts

Chinese FM urges India, Pakistan to avoid escalation, affirms willingness to support ceasefire efforts

Chinese FM urges India, Pakistan to avoid escalation, affirms willingness to support ceasefire efforts

Chinese FM urges India, Pakistan to avoid escalation, affirms willingness to support ceasefire efforts

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