Zhuhai Port handles over 5.2 mln Hong Kong single‑plate vehicle trips

More than 5.2 million Hong Kong single-plate vehicle crossings have been recorded at the Zhuhai Port via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao (HKZM) Bridge since the "northbound travel for Hong Kong vehicles" scheme was launched, according to Gongbei Customs in Zhuhai City, south China's Guangdong Province.

The highest single-day record reached 17,800 vehicle crossings at the Zhuhai Port. So far this year, the number of vehicles entering and exiting under the scheme has increased by 24.3 percent compared with the same period last year.

The "northbound travel for Hong Kong vehicles" scheme was officially launched on July 1, 2023, marking a crucial step towards stronger connectivity and integrated development within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

With tensions resurfacing barely two weeks after the United States and Iran signed a peace memorandum of understanding (MoU), an Iranian political expert has warned the U.S. is adopting a contradictory posture -- pursuing negotiations while continuing military pressure.

Fresh clashes have raised serious doubts about the durability of the fragile truce, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

The U.S. conducted strikes on Iranian targets on Friday and Saturday, citing "continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping" in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by striking U.S. military positions in the region.

During an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Foad Izadi, an associate professor at the University of Tehran, argued that Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz are in line with the MoU, contrary to U.S. accusations.

"Article 1 is very clear that a ceasefire means ceasing fire. The United States has violated that with regard to Iran. The excuse they have is that Iran is trying to manage the Strait of Hormuz in terms of the passage of ships. But apparently, they have not read Article 5, because based on Article 5 of the MoU, that is what Iran is supposed to do, at least for the next 60 days. And the management of the Strait of Hormuz is going to be decided between the two coastal states. That is Iran and Oman," he said.

Izadi warned that the U.S. actions undermine the possibility of genuine diplomacy, though Iran keeps that on the table.

"Diplomacy can work if the United States wants it to work. If they want to have these talks to keep oil prices low, because if these talks break down, it may affect oil prices. They don't want to do that. They want to keep oil prices low, and they want to attack Iran at the same time, and they don't want to do what they are supposed to do under the agreement. You see, they are already violating Articles 1 and 5 of the agreement. So they want to have it both ways. They want to have these negotiations, but they don't want to engage these negotiations seriously, and they are preparing for their next attack. This is something that Iranian officials realize," he said.