China's top legislator holds talks with Zimbabwe's parliament speaker

China's top legislator Zhao Leji held talks with Speaker of Zimbabwe's Parliament Jacob Mudenda in Beijing on Tuesday.

Zhao, chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee noted that last year Chinese President Xi Jinping had an in-depth and friendly exchange with visiting Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and reached an important consensus with him, which drew a new blueprint for the development of relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

Zhao said China is willing to work with Zimbabwe to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and jointly build a high-level China-Zimbabwe community with a shared future.

Zhao expressed gratitude to Zimbabwe's long-term valuable support for China on questions and issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang and human rights.

China stands ready to make joint efforts with Zimbabwe to maintain and develop the high-level political mutual trust between the two countries and continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning their core interests, he said.

Zhao said China is willing to work with Zimbabwe to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, deepen practical cooperation, and enhance exchanges in areas such as youth and culture.

China is ready to work with Zimbabwe to strengthen international cooperation, jointly implement the Belt and Road Initiative and the three major global initiatives proposed by President Xi, and practice true multilateralism, he said.

Zhao said the NPC is willing to enhance friendly exchanges at all levels with the Parliament of Zimbabwe, carry out exchanges and mutual learning on issues such as legislation, supervision, improvement of people's livelihood, social governance, and fight against cross-border crimes, and create a favorable legal environment for cooperation between the two countries.

He welcomed Zimbabwean parliamentarians to come to China for more exchanges and visits.

Highlighting on legislative work, Zhao briefed him on the development of China's special economic zones.

Mudenda said that under the leadership of President Xi and President Mnangagwa, the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Zimbabwe and China has continuously deepened.

Zimbabwe firmly adheres to the one-China principle, thanks the Chinese government and people for their long-term valuable support, and hopes that the two sides will strengthen practical cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, agriculture, artificial intelligence and culture, he said.

Mudenda said the Parliament of Zimbabwe is willing to enhance friendly exchanges with the NPC and make contributions as a legislative body to the building of a high-level China-Zimbabwe community with a shared future.

China's top legislator holds talks with Zimbabwe's parliament speaker

A major port in northern Venezuela came under U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of January 3, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, destroyed critical medical supplies in a warehouse, and severely impacted centuries-old cultural heritage sites, according to local residents.

The La Guaira Port, a vital hub for imports that support daily life in the region, was heavily damaged during the attack.

Large quantities of medical supplies stored at the port were destroyed. A historic cultural building dating back for some 300 years was also badly damaged by the bombardment.

Residents living near the port recalled the terrifying scenes as explosions shook nearby neighborhoods.

Humberto Bolivar, who lives in a community separated from the port by only a main road, said the blast waves shattered his home's windows, while stray shrapnel struck the water tank on his roof. According to reports, three missiles were fired at the port that night.

Bolivar said that beyond material losses, he is most concerned about the psychological impact on his children, who remain too frightened to leave their home days after the attack.

"The United States invaded our country. The children were frightened. This is not good for them, because it leaves some children with psychological trauma. They do not want to go to school or leave the house, because they are afraid that something worse might happen. We truly do not want this to happen to our country," he said.

Apart from civilian facilities, local cultural heritage site was also affected.

The La Guaira state government building, a structure with nearly 300 years of history and once served as the site of Venezuela's first national customs office, was struck by the force of the explosions.

Windows of the building were shattered, and furniture scattered across the floor.

"As people of La Guaira, we feel deep pain. Our cultural heritage has been bombed. We are living in constant anxiety and suffering, and life can no longer be the same as it was before," said a local named Henry Cumares.

The U.S. side has claimed the airstrikes targeted warehouses allegedly used to store narcotics. However, locals refuted such accusation.

"According to what Donald Trump said, they bombed this place using the excuse that the warehouses here were used to store drugs at the port. But based on the video released by our governor, these warehouses that were burned contained medicine for kidney patients and foods. Many people depend on these supplies to survive. I think the bombing is extremely despicable," said a local resident named Alejandro Capriles.

US strike hits Venezuelan port, wrecking medical supplies, heritage building