Chinese FM meets Indonesia's National Economic Council chairperson

Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with visiting Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, chairman of the National Economic Council of Indonesia, in Beijing on Tuesday, with the two sides pledging to deepen bilateral cooperation.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that President Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held two meetings last year and reached important consensus on enhancing the comprehensive strategic cooperation, fostering bilateral cooperation in the "five pillars" of politics, economy, people-to-people and cultural exchange, maritime affairs and security.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relationship, Wang said friendship between China and Indonesia, having weathered the tests of international circumstances, has become a precious asset shared by both sides.

China stands ready to work with Indonesia to deepen political mutual trust, promote high-quality cooperation on landmark projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor, and strengthen cooperation in various fields such as ocean and minerals, tap the potential for cooperation in emerging fields, and contribute to each other's high-quality development, Wang said.

In the face of various risks and challenges, China and Indonesia should remain committed to the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relationship, uphold independence and autonomy, expand win-win cooperation, and safeguard fairness and justice, Wang said.

Congratulating Indonesia on becoming a full member of the BRICS, China is willing to work with Indonesia to carry forward the Bandung Spirit of solidarity, friendship and cooperation, and safeguard the hard-won peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, he said.

Luhut hailed the solid friendship between the two countries, saying Indonesia's economic development is closely linked to mutually beneficial cooperation with China.

The two sides have achieved fruitful cooperation in economy and trade, finance, technology transfer and talent cultivation. Landmark projects like the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway have benefited the people of both countries, and bilateral cooperation has radiated positive impacts across neighboring countries, Luhut said.

Indonesia looks forward to maintaining close exchanges at all levels with China, expanding areas of cooperation, and enhancing people-to-people and cultural exchanges, so as to promote greater development of the Indonesia-China community with a shared future, and jointly advance solidarity and cooperation in the Global South.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

Chinese FM meets Indonesia's National Economic Council chairperson

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