Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has been appointed as the country's special representative for China affairs, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Sunday.
The appointment, made on the proposal of the Iranian President and approved by the Supreme Leader, gives Ghalibaf responsibility for coordinating the relevant affairs and cooperation between Iranian government departments and China, a source told China Central Television (CCTV).
The position was previously held by Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Iran's current ambassador to China, and Ali Larijani, former secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, who was killed in a U.S. and Israeli strike in March.
Ghalibaf served as Iran's chief negotiator in peace talks with the United States following the April 8 ceasefire after 40 days of fighting.
Parliament Speaker appointed Iran's special representative for China affairs
One person died and nine remain missing after a pickup truck plunged into a river Saturday night in Huanjiang Maonan autonomous county, Guangxi, local authorities said Sunday.
According to the statement, a report was received at 9:08 pm that a pickup carrying 15 people had fallen into the water while crossing a low-water bridge in a village. By 2 am, rescuers had pulled six people from the river. Five were reported to be out of life-threatening danger, while one was confirmed dead.
The rescue operation involved 65 fire rescue personnel and 12 vehicles. Teams were equipped with sonar detectors, diving gear, and mobile lighting, China Central Television reported.
Searches were coordinated across 12 locations along the river. The bridge where the pickup plunged measures roughly four meters wide by 100 meters long, according to personnel on site, it added.
Local public security, emergency management, firefighting, and maritime affairs departments have been mobilized for the all-out rescue effort. The forward command center designated the core search zone based on rapid water flow conditions and rising water levels caused by heavy rainfall in the area. The incident took place after an employer had organized 28 workers to plant sweet potatoes locally. After work concluded, 13 workers returned independently, while the remaining 15 boarded the pickup truck.
Relevant individuals to the incident have been placed under legal control. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
The Office of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Sunday dispatched a working group to Guangxi to assist with and guide the ongoing search and rescue operations.
Search and rescue underway after pickup truck plunges into river
