Tens of thousands of Cuban people rallied in Havana on Friday to pay tribute to 32 soldiers killed during the U.S. military attacks on Venezuela.
They gathered at the Jose Marti Anti-Imperialist Tribune outside the U.S. Embassy. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz attended the event.
"There is no possibility of surrender or capitulation, nor any kind of agreement based on coercion or intimidation. Cuba will not make any political concessions, nor will that ever be on the table for negotiations for an agreement between Cuba and the United States," said Diaz-Canel.
Then the demonstrators, chanting slogans, waving national flags of Cuba and Venezuela, and holding placards demanding the release of Venezuelan President Nicola Maduro, marched along the Malecon waterfront boulevard to show their solidarity and unyielding will against U.S. pressure.
"I'm here once again supporting our brothers who sacrificed their lives in Venezuela for our revolution. To be free, to live free, we are not afraid of the United States. We are ready and will always be at the forefront of our revolution," said Oslaida Valdes, a demonstrator.
The remains of the fallen soldiers arrived at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport on Thursday. They will be buried in the Fallen for the Defense cemeteries in their respective hometowns.
On Jan 3, the U.S. government carried out military attacks on Caracas and other localities in Venezuela, resulting in 100 fatalities, according to the official tally. The 32 Cubans were carrying out missions on behalf of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Interior Ministry.
Cubans rally to mourn soldiers killed in US attacks on Venezuela
Cubans rally to mourn soldiers killed in US attacks on Venezuela
China's 15th Five-Year Plan proposal sends a strong signal of the country's commitment to upholding openness and cooperation, which will promote further development for the country and the world, said officials and scholars around the world.
The draft 15th Five-Year Plan, the blueprint that will guide the world's second-largest economy from 2026 to 2030, is central to steer China to move toward modernization amid technological disruption, demographic shifts and an increasingly fractured global order, according to the scholars.
"China's 15th Five-Year Plan is not a rigid model; it is more like benchmarks for growth targets and focal points. Chinese economists and economic decision-makers are not just focusing on qualitative growth, but also on innovative development. We're witnessing new transportation methods, robotics and artificial intelligence," said Andrey Denisov, first deputy chair of Russia's Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Russian Ambassador to China.
"The 15th Five-Year Plan is of great importance to China's development. The country is poised to make remarkable advancements in various sectors, including artificial intelligence, high-end manufacturing and infrastructure construction. Given the shifting global context and China's transition towards high-quality development, I am confident that this plan will herald a new era for China's development," said Kamel Mansari, news director of the French-language daily Le Jeune Independent.
Scholars also noted that China's commitment to high-quality development and high-level opening-up will promote win-win results and benefit the world.
"China has emerged as a key partner for most countries worldwide, and a preferred partner due to its closeness and integration with global communities, as well as its strong humanitarian perspective. The Chinese economy has not only benefited itself; it has helped many economies worldwide flourish through its partnerships," said Dirgham Muhammad Ali, an Iraqi economic expert.
China's National People's Congress (NPC) is scheduled to open in Beijing on Wednesday, with lawmakers set to approve the 15th Five-Year Plan.
15th Five-Year Plan to guide China's development, benefit world: scholars
