Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with African diplomatic envoys in China and celebrated Africa Day together with them in Beijing on Monday.
Ambassadors or charge d'affaires from more than 50 African countries to China and representatives of the African Union in China attended the meeting.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted the overall positioning of China-Africa relations has also been upgraded to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, and China's relations with Africa have entered the best period in history.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, said Wang, adding that at the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Beijing last September, President Xi Jinping put forward six proposals and 10 partnership actions for jointly advancing modernization.
China is ready to use the upcoming ministerial meeting of coordinators for the implementation of the forum outcomes as an opportunity to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of both sides, set a benchmark for high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, create a model for implementing the Global Development Initiative, and accelerate the common modernization of China and Africa, Wang said.
Wang pointed out that the more turbulent the international situation is, the more China and Africa need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, jointly oppose power politics, advocate multilateralism, safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, and jointly promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment.
Some of the African envoys said that African countries are deeply inspired by the series of global initiatives and the 10 partnership actions proposed by President Xi, and they are full of confidence in Africa-China cooperation.
African countries will firmly abide by the one-China principle, support all efforts made by China to safeguard its sovereignty and achieve national reunification, and oppose interference in China's internal affairs, they said, adding that the African countries will jointly safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and defend the common interests of countries in the Global South with China.
Chinese FM meets African envoys
Chinese FM meets African envoys
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
