Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov in Beijing on Wednesday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that the establishment of the China-Azerbaijan comprehensive strategic partnership has led bilateral relations into a new stage of high-quality, comprehensive development.
He called on both sides to maintain exchange at all levels, deepen their sharing of governance experience, promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples.
Wang said the two countries should strengthen the alignment of their development strategies, and use high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as a guide to explore further areas of converging interest and foster new cooperation growth points.
As the world has entered a period of turbulence and transformation, China and Azerbaijan, both as Global South countries, should join hands to practice true multilateralism, uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, and promote the establishment of a more just and equitable global governance system, Wang said.
"China and Azerbaijan should be strategic partners that prioritize each other, remain reliable, and achieve win-win cooperation. Regardless of how the international situation changes, China will view the development of China-Azerbaijan relations from a strategic perspective and advance bilateral and multilateral cooperation based on the long-term interests of the two peoples," said Wang.
For his part, Bayramov said that the elevation of bilateral relations last year has added strong momentum to the strategic cooperation between the two countries. Azerbaijan supports the four major global initiatives put forward by China and is willing to join the Group of Friends of Global Governance, he added.
Reiterating Azerbaijan's firm adherence to the one-China principle, Bayramov said the Azerbaijani side is ready to maintain close, high-level exchange with China, enhance inter-party communication, and expand cooperation on the economy, trade, investment, connectivity, education, tourism, science and technology between the two countries.
"Next year we are celebrating the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and all these years we have observed the extremely positive trajectory in our relations," said Bayramov.
He also pledged to deepen coordination with China within multilateral frameworks, advance Azerbaijan-China relations further, and make greater contributions to regional peace and prosperity.
Chinese FM holds talks with Azerbaijani counterpart
More than three weeks after U.S. strikes on military sites in Venezuela, many Caracas residents said the psychological scars remain deep, even as people push forward with everyday routines.
The strikes on January 3 focused on military targets in Caracas, including Fort Tiuna, a major military installation in southwestern Caracas, which includes command centers, and civilian neighborhoods built by the government for low-income families.
The strikes left parts of the complex in ruins, with civilians living nearby experiencing intense fear and disruption.
Yesenia Acevedo, who runs a small convenience store in the residential area of Fort Tiuna, described how business has declined after the attack. Her shop, which had enjoyed steady customers for three years, was forced to close for a week due to safety concerns.
"After the bombing, this area was designated as a war zone. Everyone was forced to evacuate. After the airstrikes on January 3, the number of customers dropped sharply. Some of them were regulars. I think they're afraid and won't come back. If they personally experienced the bombing that day, it must have been a nightmare," said Acevedo.
Emma Chavez, owner of a bakery in the neighborhood, was out of the city when the strikes occurred. Family and employees called to alert her to the chaos.
"When I returned, I felt the vibe here was very strange, full of uncertainty. Everyone was talking about it [the bombing]. Many people came back because they had nowhere else to go, they had to return. Their hearts are filled with fear, even now. But everyone has to look forward and continue with normal life," said Chavez.
Both Acevedo and Chavez condemned the U.S. strikes as illegal and inhumane, while emphasizing the resilience of Venezuelans in the face of adversity.
"It's not so much about believing we can get through the hard times; it's that we have to keep living normally. We have no other choice. Venezuelans are very resilient, we can endure any adversity. Of course, we're afraid, because we don't know what the future holds. Everyone knows the United States is a warlike country, and war is a business for the U.S. But we Latin Americans love peace. For us, war is something from games or movies. I think it's inhumane, I can't imagine anyone thinking it's justified," said Chavez.
"I think all of America's actions toward Venezuela are illegal. The raid has become a turning point in our lives. It's hard to say our lives can return to normal right away, because the psychological trauma is still there. But Venezuelans are tough and unyielding; we always keep moving forward," said Acevedo.
Caracas residents struggle to rebuild life amid lingering trauma from US strikes
