US so-called "trial" of Maduro violates Venezuela's national sovereignty: spokeswoman

The U.S. so-called "trial" of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro violates Venezuela's national sovereignty, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

Mao made the remarks when asked to comment on Maduro pleading not guilty to all U.S. charges during his first court appearance in New York on Monday.

"The United States has disregarded Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's status as head of state by openly prosecuting and conducting a so-called 'trial' in its domestic court, severely violating Venezuela's national sovereignty and undermining the stability of international relations. No country can place its own rules above international law. China calls on the United States to immediately release President Maduro and his wife, and to ensure their personal safety," said Mao.

US so-called "trial" of Maduro violates Venezuela's national sovereignty: spokeswoman

US so-called "trial" of Maduro violates Venezuela's national sovereignty: spokeswoman

US so-called "trial" of Maduro violates Venezuela's national sovereignty: spokeswoman

US so-called "trial" of Maduro violates Venezuela's national sovereignty: spokeswoman

US so-called "trial" of Maduro violates Venezuela's national sovereignty: spokeswoman

US so-called "trial" of Maduro violates Venezuela's national sovereignty: spokeswoman

The Global Mayors Dialogue opened in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Tuesday, bringing together mayors and senior city officials from across Europe, Asia, and North America to have in-depth exchanges on practical approaches to developing the ice and snow economy.

Held under the theme "Connecting the World with Ice and Snow, Win-Win Cooperation for a Shared Future", the three-day event gathered mayors, deputy mayors, and mayoral representatives from cities across the globe, including Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Türkiye, focusing on the ice and snow economy, cultural integration, smart city development, heritage preservation, and urban governance.

The event featured a main dialogue and a scenario-based dialogue salon to foster in-depth exchanges and spark new ideas. Guests are invited to visit iconic sites such as the Harbin Ice and Snow World and attend the opening ceremony and trade events of the Harbin Ice and Snow Economy Expo, which are showcasing Harbin's achievements in building an ice and snow economy brand, strengthening international exchanges and cooperation, and inheriting ice and snow culture.

Harbin, called China's "ice city", has turned its long, cold winters into a major tourist attraction. Last winter, it welcomed a record 90.36 million visitors, generating 137.22 billion yuan (about 19.44 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue, a year-on-year increase of 16.6 percent.

International mayors gather in Harbin to explore ice and snow economy