The BRICS Customs Center of Excellence was officially inaugurated on Sunday in Xiamen City in east China's Fujian Province to support deeper economic and trade cooperation among BRICS countries.
As part of the China-initiated "Smart Customs" Cooperation Partnership program, the center aims to promote the development and cooperation of BRICS countries in advancing "Smart Customs" initiatives.
The center has launched a "Smart Customs" Center of Excellence website and a capacity-building platform, while also showcasing China's experiences to support coordinated customs development among BRICS countries.
The "Smart Customs" Cooperation Partnership program, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 2023 BRICS Plus Dialogue in South Africa, aims to promote technological development and innovation in customs among BRICS member states, foster customs modernization and digitalization, and bridge the digital divide to better address global challenges.
BRICS Customs Center of Excellence opens in Xiamen, Fujian Province
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Saturday that nuclear power plant sites or nearby areas must never be attacked, following a fourth strike near an Iranian nuclear power plant.
The IAEA said on social platform X that, according to the information from Iran, a projectile hit the nearby area of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on Saturday morning. This was the fourth such incident in recent weeks, it said.
One staff member at the site was killed by a projectile fragment, while a building on the site was affected by shockwaves and fragments, the IAEA said, citing the Iranian authorities. There was no increase in radiation levels reported, it added.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed his deep concern about the incident, stressing that nuclear power plant sites or nearby areas "must never be attacked." He warned that the auxiliary site buildings may contain vital safety equipment.
Grossi once again stressed the paramount importance of ensuring nuclear safety and security during a conflict, calling for maximum military restraint to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident.
Iran's nuclear facilities have been struck several times since the joint Israeli-U.S. military actions against the Islamic Republic started on Feb. 28.
Nuclear power plants must never be attacked: IAEA chief
