Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Tuesday called for dialog among civilizations while delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum in Beijing.
"Dialog among civilizations allows us to progress toward the future. The typical concept of a relationship between nation-states has evolved since the 18th century, moving toward a notion that transcends the nation-state. These civilizations encompass multiple nations, as seen in Latin America and the Caribbean. This idea leads us decisively toward the possibility of a united humanity," he said.
Petro added that equal communication is capable of improving the global situation and Tuesday's meeting contributes to promoting dialog among civilizations.
"This horizontal, but not vertical, dialog can be free of authoritarianism, imperialism, and the one-on-one confrontation between civilizations. Undoubtedly, Europe and Africa would play a fundamental role in the dialog and so do China and the wider Asia. But here we are focusing on the China-LAC countries issue," he said.
Petro pointed out a greener world is critical to the prosperity of Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean countries, and he is looking forward to more cooperation with countries around the world.
"I think we could talk about prosperous Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean in a decarbonized world. Improving energy structure and aid from North America are important. But undoubtedly, we should also work alongside Europe and China. And then we will also talk about cooperation," said Petro.
The fourth ministerial meeting opened on Tuesday and saw the attendance of foreign ministers or representatives from CELAC countries, and heads of relevant regional organizations.
Colombian President calls for dialog among civilizations
Colombian President calls for dialog among civilizations
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
