FM says China supports Pakistan's role as mediator

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that China supports Pakistan in continuing to play its role as a mediator.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a phone conversation with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar at the latter's request.

Dar briefed Wang on the latest situation in Iran and the view of Pakistan.

Thanking China for supporting Pakistan's mediation efforts, Dar said that a ceasefire and restoring peace is the shared aspiration of all parties.

At present, it is a crucial moment to resume peace talks, and the international community should encourage the United States and Iran to return to the negotiating table and find effective ways to achieve peace, said Dar.

He also said that Pakistan and China have the same goal and position on this issue, and Pakistan looks forward to working with China to play an active role in promoting peace and ending the war.

Wang reaffirmed China's principled position, saying that China and Pakistan, strategic cooperative partners that firmly support and trust each other, take an objective and just position on this conflict and share generally the same view.

China appreciates Pakistan's unremitting efforts to cool down the situation and supports Pakistan in continuing to play its role as a mediator, Wang said.

Resuming peace talks is not an easy task, but only by doing so can more casualties and losses be avoided, and it is conducive to preventing the escalation and resuming normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, said Wang.

China is willing to enhance strategic communication and coordination with Pakistan and make efforts to promote peace and end the war, and strive for peace and stability in the region, Wang said.

The two sides agreed to jointly promote ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks, ensure the safety of non-military targets and waterways, and support the United Nations to play a major role.

They also exchanged views on the conflict between the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

FM says China supports Pakistan's role as mediator

Demonstrators rallied in the Venezuelan capital Caracas and other cities across the country on Thursday to voice support for President Nicolas Maduro, condemning the U.S. forcible seizure of the leader and his wife Cilia Flores, and refuting relevant U.S. charges.

The rallies took place on the same day when Maduro made his second appearance in a New York court. During his first arraignment on Jan 5, Maduro pleaded not guilty to all U.S. charges against him, including drug trafficking, and told the court that he was "kidnapped" from his Caracas residence and he remains president of Venezuela.

On Thursday, Maduro's lawyer continued pushing the judge to throw out the charges in court and argued that the United States is violating Maduro's constitutional rights by blocking Venezuelan government funds from paying for his legal fees.

Though doubting Washington's justification for barring Maduro from using Venezuela's funds to cover his legal defense, the judge denied the dismissal of the case.

"They knew 10 days ago that they had no evidence. No matter how much time passes, they have no evidence to charge Maduro and Flores, who have committed no crime," said Iris Varela, a member of the National Assembly of Venezuela.

On Jan 3, U.S. military forces launched a large-scale strike against Venezuela and forcibly seized Maduro and his wife before transporting them to New York. The U.S. attacks have shocked the international community, triggering a stream of condemnation and serious concerns worldwide.

Ramona Palma, the mother of a Venezuelan soldier killed in the U.S. attack on Jan 3, participated in the rally, demanding Maduro's release and condemning the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela.

"I lost my son. He sacrificed his life while defending our country. In his military boots, he fought for his motherland and devoted himself to the country that had witnessed his growth," said Palma.

According to Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, 47 soldiers of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces were killed in the U.S. assault.

Venezuelans rally to voice support for Maduro