UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is gravely concerned by the renewed exchanges of fire overnight between the United States and Iran, his spokesman said Wednesday.
Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, said the secretary-general reiterates his call for an immediate cessation of military action, and urges all concerned to exercise restraint and refrain from actions and rhetoric that could further escalate already high tensions.
"The Secretary-General is deeply alarmed by reports of civilian casualties, including in a strike that reportedly hit a wedding ceremony in Iran. The Secretary-General condemns all attacks against civilians. He recalls that all parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution," said Dujarric.
The escalation in the Middle East has had a devastating impact on civilians and added further pressure on humanitarian needs and operations across the region and beyond. In a region already facing many humanitarian crises, the escalation in the Gulf risks further deterioration at a time when humanitarian operations are already overstretched and underfunded, said Dujarric.
"The Secretary-General urges the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran to return urgently to diplomacy. A comprehensive and durable settlement can be achieved only through dialogue and negotiations," said the spokesman.
UN chief voices concern over latest US-Iran exchanges of fire
UN chief voices concern over latest US-Iran exchanges of fire
The ongoing ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) provides an excellent opportunity for Norwegian companies to showcase their products to Chinese consumers, said Norwegian Minister of Industry and Commerce Cecilie Myrseth.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Myrseth attributed the strong bilateral trade relationship between Norway and China to mutual familiarity and sustained diplomatic dialogue.
"I think what makes this relationship a steady and long-lasting one is because we know each other, and we have dialogue also on political levels, but also the Chinese and the regional industries—they know each other. They have been doing this for a long time, and they have been sharing knowledge and confidence, and we are in the Chinese market with a lot of our products, as the Chinese know, and I hope they know our products as good, healthy, and that you can trust in the regional industries, and that is the ingredients you need for building a healthy and long-term relationship, as we have been doing," said Norwegian Minister of Industry and Commerce Cecilie Myrseth.
Turning to the role of the expo itself, Myrseth said entering a new market requires understanding its consumers and industries, and that the CIIE gives Norwegian companies a valuable platform to promote their products and build that understanding.
"If you want to get into a new market, as for some, the Chinese market is new, then you have to know the market. You have to know the people, you have to know the industry, you have to spend time to also understand what the Chinese want. So this is a great opportunity for Norwegian companies, and there are more and more companies coming to actually be able to promote their products. So I think it's been a wonderful experience for me as well to come here as the minister responsible for this in Norway and see how the companies are doing. I think this is an excellent opportunity for Norwegian companies to come here and make sure that their products are being known," said Myrseth.
This year's CIIE runs from Nov. 5 to 10. Launched in 2018 as the world's first national-level expo dedicated to imports, the CIIE has become an important gateway for foreign businesses seeking access to China's vast consumer and industrial markets.
CIIE key platform for Norwegian products in China, says minister
