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
The China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC-USA) on Thursday hosted the annual Chinese New Year gala in New York, bringing together diplomats and business leaders to celebrate the ongoing China-U.S. collaboration across industries.
Chairman of CGCC-USA Hu Wei and Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng, among others, attended the event.
"We want to deliver the message to the business community, to the policymakers of the two sides, and to the heads of state of the two sides. We do believe that the synergy between the two sides is there, especially in the business side. So, we do have opportunities to expand that market. So that's why we gather here. We try to get together to a brighter future," Hu said.
"In 2025, President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump spoke on the phone four times, exchanged several letters, and held a successful summit in Busan, recalibrating the course of the giant ship of the China-U.S. relationship," Xie said.
The event honored companies driving investment, innovation, and cross-border cooperation.
"I think that in general, companies like to do business with people where they can have relationships wherever they're from. And over the years, decades actually, in Vornado, we've had outstanding relationships with many of the Chinese banks, and they've been great supporters, partners. And so, I think as you get to know people and you go through the ups and downs on the life cycle of deals, you develop that shared friendship. And as we get through it, [we will] still do business many, many years later," said Michael Franco, president and CEO of Vornado Realty Trust, a real estate investment trust based in New York.
As the Year of the Horse draws close, CGCC emphasized that momentum and partnership remain key to strong China-U.S. relations.
"[No] one can tell the future, but the only certain solution for us is to enhance communication and cooperation. So, it's the only, the best solution for all of us," said Zhang Jianyu, vice chair of CGCC-USA.
CGCC hosts Chinese New Year gala in New York to celebrate China-US collaboration across industries
