The first imported equipment -- a batch of reboilers -- for a China-Saudi Arabia ethylene project completed customs clearance in Zhangzhou City of east China's Fujian Province on Saturday.
Construction of the main complex of the joint-investment ethylene project, which involves petrochemicals giant Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), began in February 2024.
The project, with a total investment of 44.8 billion yuan (about 6.3 billion U.S. dollars) from SABIC and Fujian Energy Petrochemical Group Co., Ltd., is being built in the Gulei petrochemicals base in the city of Zhangzhou.
As the largest single Sino-foreign joint venture in Fujian Province, the project is expected to be completed in 2026 and possess a maximum annual production capacity of 1.8 million tonnes of ethylene.
The project has triggered investment totaling more than 200 billion yuan for upstream and downstream industries in the Gulei petrochemicals base, according to preliminary estimates.
The base is one of China's seven largest petrochemicals bases. It has 15 operational projects and a further 12 are under construction.
First imported equipment clears customs for China-Saudi Arabia ethylene project
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
