Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Maria Fernanda Espinosa, a candidate for the next United Nations (UN) secretary-general, in Beijing on Tuesday, expressing China's support for the UN in better playing its central and leading role in global governance.
Espinosa, who is also former president of the United Nations General Assembly as well as former foreign minister and defense minister of Ecuador, said that China is an indispensable force on the international stage.
She expressed firm adherence to the one-China principle, support for the four major global initiatives proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and willingness to work with the international community to play a greater role in addressing common challenges facing humanity.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the election of the next UN secretary-general concerns the future direction of the UN's reform and development, and more importantly, the vital interests of its member states.
China will participate in the election process in a responsible manner and support the UN in better playing its central and leading role in global governance, Wang said.
China supports UN to better play central, leading role in global governance: top diplomat
Since the deadly earthquakes struck Venezuela last week, the Domingo Luciani Hospital in the capital Caracas has been operating at full capacity to handle a massive influx of injured patients, with staff working around the clock to save lives.
In the aftermath of the quakes, as rescuers race against time to pull survivors from the rubble, virtually all hospital staff -- from coordinators and ambulance drivers to nurses and surgeons -- have remained steadfast at their posts. Many have not had a single day off.
"We've been working nonstop since the earthquake hit on the 24th. The quake was so severe that countless people needed medical care, so we've just kept going without ever stopping. Every doctor in our hospital, from the inpatient ward physicians to the specialists, has remained at their post. We have 35 residents and 40 specialists, and not a single one has asked to leave. Everyone is here. Day and night, we have people on duty, fully committed to treating the victims," said a doctor.
Moroni Rosales, head of hospital logistics, has been working at the hospital since the earthquake struck. His family moved in to stay close by his side.
"I've been working at the hospital ever since the earthquake hit. My family came here to stay with me. We live on the 15th floor, and with all the aftershocks, I just couldn't bear to leave my wife and kids at home. Having them by my side has given me the strength to keep working around the clock," he said.
Numerous volunteers have also joined the hospital's relief efforts, working wholeheartedly to ensure that the facility keeps running smoothly. A volunteer known as Sandra says she has spent four straight days recording the information of patients treated at the hospital.
"I've recorded information on 407 quake victims admitted to this hospital," she said.
Gonzalez, a fire and rescue worker, has been braving relentless aftershocks to sift through the rubble and pull survivors to safety.
"We've been pushing forward step by step to rescue lives in the affected area," he said.
Two powerful earthquakes, both measuring above magnitude 7.0, struck the country's north in rapid succession, killing over 1,700 people and leaving some 5,000 others injured.
Caracas medical workers race against time to treat earthquake victims
