Uzbek people are expecting more Chinese travelers as the China-Uzbekistan mutual visa exemption agreement came into effect on Sunday.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Uzbekistan's Bukhara, is a city steeped in over 2,500 years of history. Its stunning architecture and vibrant bazaars feel like scenes pulled straight from ancient legends, many familiar to Chinese people through shared Silk Road heritage.
"Here I can explain. Great Silk Road. Here you can see kind of go from China, Samarkand, Bukhara. And here you can see Zhang Qian who started Silk Road from China. Silk Road for Uzbekistan, it's always (about) the passing for the silk, for the tea, or exchange always. It's not just like business. They bring also, they take also," said miniaturist Kurbanov Firuz while introducing his work.
Local vendor Makhmud Saidov said he hoped that the mutual visa exemption policy will help him sell more of his decorative textiles.
"All handmade by hook work. We have two kinds of work: with needle work -- needle, in Bukhara we call Suzan; and also hook work, making like this style. We want also to go to China, because, now it's very easy to go to China. We have now a direct flight also," he said.
Uzbekistan expects more Chinese travelers thanks to mutual visa exemption
Uzbekistan expects more Chinese travelers thanks to mutual visa exemption
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
