China committed to promoting global interconnectivity: FM spokesman

Describing the China-Europe freight train as a "epitome of China's cooperation with the world in connectivity", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Friday that China is committed to serving as a driving force for global interconnectivity.

According to the latest data, the China-Europe freight train has made over 110,000 trips, with the accumulative value of goods transported surpassing 450 billion U.S. dollars.

At a regular press briefing in Beijing, Lin emphasized the significance of the China-Europe freight train as a landmark achievement of the Belt and Road Initiative.

At present, a total of 128 Chinese cities have launched the China-Europe freight train service, reaching 229 cities in 26 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries, with departures averaging every half an hour, he said, citing the data.

"The efficient, stable and smooth operation of China-Europe freight train not only serves as a bridge for economic and trade exchanges between Asia and Europe, but also injects development momentum into countries along the route. The China-Europe freight train is a epitome of China's cooperation with the world in connectivity. Whether it is the smooth operation of the China-Laos Railway, the Western Land-Sea New Corridor trains, or the under-construction China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway, these new logistics channels have enhanced cross-border logistics efficiency, promoted personnel exchanges and trade, deepened industrial collaboration and value chain integration, driven industrial transformation and upgrading in related countries, and brought tangible benefits to local peoples," Lin said.

"Connectivity is a key area of cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. China will adhere to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, continue to serve as a driving force for global interconnectivity, leverage our own development to benefit the world and achieve win-win outcomes for all parties," he said.

China committed to promoting global interconnectivity: FM spokesman

The United States cannot legitimize an operation that attacked Venezuela and captured its president, a Chinese scholar said Sunday.

On Saturday, the United States launched a large-scale strike on Venezuela, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were 'captured and flown out of Venezuela' according to a post by U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account.

Teng Jianqun, director of the Center for Diplomatic Studies at Hunan Normal University, said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) that the aim of this operation is to take full control of Venezuela’s natural resources.

"I don't think the United States can legitimize this operation to take custody of the president of Venezuela. And also I don't think the United States can legitimize its any action in taking the oil reserves of that country. This is actually a very dangerous game played by the Trump administration. And of course, the United States would like to take full control of that country and to take full control of the natural resources, especially the large reserve of oil in Venezuela," said Teng.

Teng said Venezuela is not an isolated case but a common practice by the United States. The United States launched an invasion of Panama on Dec. 20, 1989, which continued until January 1990, with the stated objective of capturing Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega on charges of drug trafficking and organized crime.

"We still remember the so-called sentence of the former president of Panama in the late 1980s. And this time, the president of Venezuela will be under some judicial condition (judicial proceedings) for the so-called drug trafficking and some other crimes. So I think this is not a single case for the Venezuela country, but also this is actually a practice by the United States -- to use force, to use so-called justice under law against any leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean waters," he said.

US cannot legitimize operation against Venezuela: Chinese scholar