Mexican int'l student expresses expectation for 4th ministerial meeting of China-CELAC Forum

A Mexican international student studying in China said she expects the upcoming fourth ministerial meeting of China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum will help promote win-win multilateralism and cooperation as strengthening bilateral ties keep yielding fruitful results.

Speaking to China Global Television Network (CGTN) in a recent interview, Moraima Ordonez, an international student who is currently studying at Peking University, said the forum is critical in promoting China-LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) cooperation across various fields, which is conducted on the basis of equality and is aimed at pursuing shared development.

"Understood as a space to promote cooperation in politics, security, trade, science, technology and culture based on equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit and shared development, the China-CELAC Forum has converged on several achievements. Notably the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative, demonstrating the forum's importance to the region and its value in expanding China's diplomatic relations with Latin America and the Caribbean," she said.

As the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing on Tuesday, Ordonez said she hopes the meeting will help strengthen multilateralism and cooperation even at a time when the world is facing increasing fragmentation, unilateralism, and protectionism.

"The celebration of the fourth ministerial meeting represents an opportunity to reflect on the current international dynamics that presents new geopolitical challenges for the international community. My expectations for this meeting are the existence of a discussion on the expansion of the diversification of the bilateral commerce as key to advancing in win-win multilateralism and the cooperation to address current economic challenges," she added.

Tuesday's fourth ministerial meeting will be chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and will also see the attendance of foreign ministers or representatives from CELAC countries, and heads of relevant regional organizations, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Sunday. The meeting is expected to adopt multiple outcome documents on cooperation in areas such as technological innovation, economic and trade investment, artificial intelligence, finance, infrastructure, agriculture and food security, industry and information technology, energy and minerals, and Belt and Road cooperation, demonstrating both sides' firm commitment to peace, development, and cooperation.

Mexican int'l student expresses expectation for 4th ministerial meeting of China-CELAC Forum

Mexican int'l student expresses expectation for 4th ministerial meeting of China-CELAC Forum

Mexican int'l student expresses expectation for 4th ministerial meeting of China-CELAC Forum

Iran is not only ready for talks with the U.S. on the basis of mutual respect, but also fully prepared for war, said Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Monday.

Araghchi accused the U.S. and Israel of playing a direct role in recent unrest across Iran. He said the Iranian government has obtained evidence showing that the recent disturbances, including attacking police stations and burning public facilities, were carried out by "terrorists" backed by the U.S. and Israel.

The Iranian government announced a three-day nationwide mourning period from Monday to honor police officers, security personnel, and civilians killed during the disturbances.

According to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, at least 111 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in the unrest over the past two weeks. Iranian authorities have not released official casualty figures for protesters.

At midday on Monday, Iranians remained largely without internet access, according to on-the-ground reporting by a China Media Group (CM) journalist, who also said domestic phone services have not been disrupted in Iran over the past 24 hours.

Security has been reinforced across Tehran, with police increasing patrols in key locations and blocks.

Despite heightened security measures, traffic conditions in Tehran were reported to be normal.

Iran ready for talks with US based on mutual respect: FM