A new passenger train route linking Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with southwest China's Chongqing Municipality was launched on Tuesday, facilitating transregional traveling of residents in southern Xinjiang.
The first train running on the new route, K4532, departed from Kashgar and stopped in Aksu and Kuqa cities in Xinjiang, Xining City in Qinghai Province, Lanzhou City in Gansu Province, and Guangyuan City in Sichuan Province before arriving in Chongqing.
Directly connecting southern Xinjiang with Sichuan and Chongqing, the new route provides a new option for people in southern Xinjiang to travel across the country.
New passenger train route links southern Xinjiang with Chongqing
People across Iran took to the streets on Friday to mark International Quds Day, an annual event expressing support for Palestinians and condemnation of Israeli actions.
Several high-ranking Iranian officials also took part in the rallies in Tehran, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei as well as cabinet ministers, such as Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.
The event, established by Iran in 1979, is observed on the final Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan. This year, it fell on March 13 and amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran.
In the capital, people marched from 10 different locations towards the iconic Enghelab Square in central Tehran, while waving Iran's flags and holding pictures of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei.
The marchers condemned the "crimes" committed by the United States and Israel, voiced their support for the Iranian armed forces, and pledged allegiance to the new supreme leader.
According to the official news agency IRNA, Tehran's central areas near the rally path came under U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in the early minutes of the gathering, killing at least one person. Addressing reporters after the strikes, Larijani said the attacks are "out of fear and desperation."
Araghchi said despite the attacks today, millions of people have taken part in the rallies across Iran, which shows "the Iranians' firm determination and will in supporting" the country.
On Feb 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East.
Iran's Assembly of Experts on Sunday announced the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's new supreme leader.
Iranians hold mass rallies to mark Quds Day amid U.S.-Israeli attacks
