Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday, discussing bilateral cooperation and Venezuela's situation, the Kremlin said in a statement.
The two leaders exchanged views on the further advancement of friendly bilateral relations, in line with a strategic partnership and cooperation agreement that entered into force in November 2025, the statement noted.
Both sides reaffirmed their mutual commitment to the consistent implementation of joint projects in trade, energy, as well as economic, financial, cultural, humanitarian and other fields, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
It added that Putin expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and reaffirmed his support for the Maduro government's policy of safeguarding national interests and sovereignty amid mounting external pressure.
Putin and Maduro signed the strategic partnership and cooperation agreement following bilateral talks in Moscow on May 7. According to the agreement, both countries have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation across all key sectors.
Putin, Maduro discuss bilateral cooperation over phone: Kremlin
Putin, Maduro discuss bilateral cooperation over phone: Kremlin
Shanghai officially unveiled the city brand of "Shanghai Style" on Saturday during the launch ceremony of the 2026 National Premium Products Debut Season and the "First in Shanghai" event series at historic Zhangyuan in Shanghai.
Concurrently, a unified visual identity system for the brand was unveiled, designed to serve as a trusted certification mark enabling consumers to identify authorized service providers and premium offerings across key sectors, including fashion, fine jewelry, and traditional crafts.
The move aims to develop a robust ecosystem for customized goods and services, with an emphasis on craftsmanship, brand development, and accessibility for international visitors, reinforcing its strategic positioning as an international consumption center.
"We were the first to launch customized service in Shanghai, aiming to build a brand, encourage industry clustering, and strengthen coordination with an emphasis on the integration of culture, business, tourism, sports and exhibitions. More importantly, we want to foster craftsmanship. We have also introduced group standards, mainly focusing on the 'Shanghai Style'. Our goal is to enrich its content and standardize the service," said Liu Min, deputy director of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce.
To ensure a smooth journey and better experience for global shoppers, the city is prioritizing several practical service upgrades. Measures include further optimizing the tax refund process for overseas visitors, expanding the number of pilot stores, and enhancing the overall convenience of tax refunds.
"Applications are underway for systems related to inbound duty-free shopping. Any payment method you can think of are available here. In Shanghai, for orders where on-site processing cannot be completed within the visitor's stay, finished items will be delivered to the customer's home country via international logistics," said Zhu Weiming, chief planner of the Shanghai Fashion Couture and Tailoring Festival.
Shanghai sparks new era of personalized shopping with "Shanghai Style"
