Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng has called on China and Belgium to continue the tradition of mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, and to promote the sound development of China-Belgium and China-EU relations.
He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during his meeting with Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prevot at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday.
China and Belgium have established a close cooperative relationship featuring mutual benefits and win-win results since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations 55 years ago, He said, stressing that both sides have carried out fruitful and practical cooperation in the fields of medicine, the chemical industry, finance and logistics, which has helped the bilateral relations to move forward.
As both defenders of multilateralism and supporters of an open world economy, China and Belgium should continue the tradition of mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation to promote the sound development of China-Belgium and China-EU relations, he added.
Belgium and China are friendly cooperative partners on all fronts, Prevot said, stressing that Belgium is willing to take the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to promote the development of bilateral relations, strengthen cooperation in various fields such as economy and trade, and jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade.
Chinese vice premier meets Belgium's deputy PM on deepening cooperation
People in Yemen are struggling for survival as the country continues to grapple with a deepening labor crisis after more than a decade of war, with many lamenting the lack of opportunities which are leaving the livelihoods of many hanging in the balance.
As the world marks International Workers' Day on Friday, the situation in Yemen seems all the more poignant as millions of people are finding it increasingly hard to find any work at all.
In the crowded streets of the capital Sana'a, workers gather on street corners, waiting for jobs that may never come. Ahmed Muawadah is one of the many who are sitting here, watching passing cars, desperately hoping that one will stop and offer work.
"Our suffering is that we sit here without work. Sometimes we spend a whole month without working, except for one day, or just one day every two weeks. Work is very limited, almost non-existent. I have nine children, and I only work one day a month. I cannot support them. Jobs have completely disappeared. If opportunities were opened for us, I and all the workers would work," said Muawadah.
This individual story reflects a broader reality affecting an estimated eight million workers across Yemen. Many of them are hoping to receive a daily wage, but the challenges are mounting in an increasingly strained labor market.
Activity in key sectors such as construction and services has dropped sharply, largely due to the suspension of several international initiatives, including those backed by the World Bank. As a result, income opportunities have narrowed for those who rely primarily on daily wages.
Meanwhile, the widening impact of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and the disruption caused along the key Strait of Hormuz -- a key shipping route for global trade -- has brought more misery in recent weeks.
"There has been a significant decline in business activity as a result of the war, the blockade, and the disruption of work. Foreign capital has also left the country, and large companies have moved out of Yemen and stopped their operations. This is one of the main reasons," said Abdul Karim Al, secretary general of the General Federation of Trade Unions in Sana'a.
Yemen residents struggling to survive as work dries up amid deepening labor crisis
