Dominican president calls on US to respect Venezuela's sovereignty

President of the Commonwealth of Dominica Sylvanie Burton has called on the United States to cease its bullying of Venezuela and seek negotiations to resolve differences.

Since late August, the U.S. has ramped up military presence in the Caribbean off Venezuela's coast, alongside escalating sanctions, blockades and military threats against the oil-rich South American nation.

The U.S. military has also launched dozens of strikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean since September, which it alleged were carrying drugs.

The strikes, which were justified by the U.S. as "war on drug cartels," have killed more than 100 people, according to figures released by the U.S. administration.

In an interview with China Media Group (CMG) aired on Saturday, Burton urged the U.S. to stop its aggression against Venezuela and the broader Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing the importance of peaceful negotiations.

"Every government must be respected. Our appeal to the U.S. is to let there be discussions. Let us sit at the table instead of having wars, instead of trying to remove governments in power, instead of moving to each other's country because we are smaller than you and you are more equipped than us and bullying us into submission. And so for us in the Caribbean, we are calling on the U.S. to cease that aggression against Venezuela. I think the entire Latin America and the Caribbean is singing one voice and we can only hope that the U.S. will listen and will respect Venezuela's sovereignty," the president said.

Dominican president calls on US to respect Venezuela's sovereignty

Dominican president calls on US to respect Venezuela's sovereignty

Dominican president calls on US to respect Venezuela's sovereignty

Dominican president calls on US to respect Venezuela's sovereignty

From augmented reality (AR) cycling glasses to autonomous boats and drone deliveries, sci-tech applications are making spring outings in China more appealing, convenient and smarter, boosting the country's tourism sector.

The ancient city wall in Xi'an, the provincial capital of Shaanxi in northwest China, has deployed smart autonomous boats carrying tourists smoothly through the moat beneath the wall. Some passengers take photos of the scenery, while others brew tea on board, enjoying the relaxation in spring.

"I think the smart boats are more convenient, and the speed is just right. It allows people to focus more on the scenery," said a tourist surnamed Mr. Wang.

On the ancient wall, visitors renting bicycles can simultaneously rent AR-enabled smart glasses. As they ride, the glasses automatically trigger audio guides for sights in view, making every detail of the wall more vivid and engaging.

"Since launching the smart boats and AR cycling glasses, tourists on average stay 30 percent longer than before," said Zhu Yuan, head of the cultural and tourism development of the Xi'an City Wall management committee.

In Hundred Springs Yuanshui Park in Xingtai City, north China's Hebei Province, visitors stroll among the springs while experiencing immersive attractions such as glass-free giant-screen theaters and cinemas with six degrees of freedom (6-DOF) motion systems, exploring the area's historical evolution.

"It feels like flying over the springs and a sea of flowers. The perspective is very novel and stunning. It's my first time experiencing sightseeing this way, and it's very interesting," said a visitor.

In the Huangshan scenic area in east China's Anhui Province, technology is also enhancing the visitor experience, with drones offering delivery services in parks and on-demand unmanned vending vehicles providing instant services.

Sci-tech services add new appeal to spring tourism