China's top legislator meets Singaporean PM

China's top legislator Zhao Leji met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in Beijing on Tuesday.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that China is ready to enhance strategic communication with Singapore, deepen practical cooperation, expand cultural exchange, and promote the continuous advancement of a comprehensive, high-quality, future-oriented partnership between the two countries.

He expressed the NPC's willingness to work with the Parliament of Singapore to implement the important consensus that was reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen friendly exchange between legislative bodies, and share experience in legislation and oversight, thereby providing legal support for China-Singapore cooperation.

For his part, Wong said that Singapore adheres firmly to the one-China principle and is willing to deepen exchange at all levels with China, expand cooperation in such areas as the economy, society and culture, and strengthen interactions between the legislative bodies of Singapore and China to safeguard the shared interests of the two countries.

Every country chooses a development path suited to its own national conditions, and there is strong belief that China will be successful in achieving its Second Centenary Goal, Wong added.

China's top legislator meets Singaporean PM

Protesters filled Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma on Saturday, rallying in solidarity with Venezuela and denouncing U.S. influence in Latin America.

The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela in the early hours of Jan 3, taking by force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Holding numerous flags and banners while chanting slogans intermittently, a huge crowd of protesters criticized U.S. military actions against Venezuela and the unlawful control over President Maduro and his spouse, calling for respect for national sovereignty and regional peace.

"We oppose the U.S. intervention and hegemony towards the countries in Latin America. The United States has flagrantly trampled on international law, bombed Caracas and kidnapped the Maduro couple. The U.S. interventionism has become extremely blatant. We must firmly oppose and be highly vigilant, because this is not only related to a certain country, but also to all countries," said a protester.

"We demand that the United States stop interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs. The country must immediately cease its exploitation and plundering of the countries in Latin America," said another protester.

Protest erupts in Mexico City over US military operation in Venezuela