International
Xi Jinping encourages Latin American and Caribbean countries to reject “external interference”
Chinese President Xi Jinping declared on Tuesday his “support” for Latin American and Caribbean countries to “refuse external interference” and “to follow a path of development according to their national conditions.”
“China supports the nations of the region to defend their national sovereignty and independence,” the president said during his opening speech at the IV China-Celac Meeting of Ministers.
The meeting in Beijing is attended by foreign ministers and representatives of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) and, in an unprecedented way, the presidents of Brazil, Chile and Colombia, the latter country that exercises the rotating presidency of the bloc.
According to the Chinese leader, his country and those of Latin America and the Caribbean are “important members of the Global South” and that they must “remain united in the face of growing geopolitical tensions, confrontations between blocs” and the “growing currents of unilateralism and protectionism”.
“We will work with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to firmly safeguard the international system and speak with one voice in international and regional affairs,” he stressed.
“Development and revitalization are our inherent rights, and equity and justice are our common aspirations” in the face of “geopolitical turbulence and confrontation,” said Xi, who highlighted the joint work “to practice true multilateralism, safeguarding equity and international justice and promote the reform of the global governance system to promote multipolarity.”
The president recalled that last year the trade volume between China and the region exceeded 500 billion dollars for the first time and said that his country wants to continue developing mutual support with Latin America and the Caribbean on issues that affect their “main interests and concerns”.
Thus, he said that his country will provide credits to the region worth 9 billion dollars and will strengthen cooperation in security and law enforcement.
“We must strengthen exchanges in the various areas and strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional issues of importance,” said Xi, who announced that in the next three years Beijing will annually invite 300 leaders of political parties from the CELAC member countries to visit China to “exchange experiences on governance”.
After the inauguration, Xi will offer a lunch to the attendees, which will be followed by the plenary session of the meeting, which will be held behind closed doors and will end with the adoption of a joint statement.
The main topics of the meeting will be ‘Electrical Interconnection and Renewable Energies’ and ‘Trade Integration’, two headings that align with two key objectives of China in Latin America: to promote its New Silk Roads (BRI) initiative and ensure access to valuable natural resources in the region such as lithium, rare earths, oil or copper.
The Chinese president declared that “intimidating and arrogant practices only serve to isolate himself” in his first statements after the tariff reduction agreement reached between his country and the United States to stop the trade war.
Xi insisted during his inaugural speech at the IV Ministerial Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) that “there are no winners in a trade war”, a day after Washington and Beijing announced a truce that includes the reduction to 30% and 10% of the levies.
“Faced with a situation of multiple intertwined risks, only through solidarity and cooperation can peace and global stability be protected,” said the Chinese president in the presence of the presidents of Brazil, Chile and Colombia, who attend the meeting.
The statements come after China and the United States closed an agreement in Switzerland to reduce their mutual tariffs by 115% for 90 days, a step seen as the beginning of a process to repair their trade differences.
The United States agreed to reduce its tariffs for Chinese products from 145% to 30%, while China agreed to lower them to 10% compared to the 125% that was in force.
This reduction will come into force next Wednesday, May 14, and in principle for a period of 90 days, in which both countries will try to resolve other outstanding issues of their economic and trade relations.
Likewise, US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the relationship with China is “very good” and assured that he would talk to his counterpart Xi, “perhaps at the end of the week.”
International
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Ecuador’s Armed Forces carried out an operation on Monday — including airstrikes — against illegal mining in the town of Buenos Aires, in the country’s north, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo reported.
The mountainous, gold-rich area has been a hotspot for illegal mining since 2017, located in the Andean province of Imbabura.
In 2019, former president Lenín Moreno deployed around 2,400 soldiers to the region in an attempt to curb the illegal activity. “The operation began with mortar fire, followed by gunfire and bombing runs by Supertucano aircraft,” Loffredo said in a video released by the Defense Ministry.
He added that the operation would continue on Tuesday with patrols across the area to locate possible members of “irregular armed groups that may have crossed from the Colombian border.”
The Armed Forces stated on X that the intervention focused on the “complete elimination of multiple illegal mining tunnels” in the areas known as Mina Nueva and Mina Vieja.
The operation coincided with the deployment of a military and police convoy into Imbabura, which has been the epicenter of protests against President Daniel Noboa since September 22, following his decision to scrap the diesel subsidy.
International
Caracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win
Venezuela has announced the closure of its embassy in Norway, just days after opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Venezuelan diplomatic mission provided no explanation for its decision on Monday.
“It is regrettable,” a ministry spokesperson said. “Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue with Venezuela open and will continue to work in that direction.” The ministry also emphasized that the Nobel Committee operates entirely independently from the Norwegian government.
In its announcement, the Nobel Committee stated that Machado met the criteria established by Alfred Nobel, “embodying the hope for a different future, where the fundamental rights of Venezuelans are heard.”
International
Sheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains
Thousands of military personnel and civilians in Mexico worked tirelessly on Tuesday to clear roads blocked by the torrential rains of recent days, which have left more than 300 communities cut off across central and eastern regions of the country. Authorities also launched mass fumigation efforts in several affected areas to prevent the spread of dengue fever.
The official death toll remains at 64, though dozens of people are still missing. President Claudia Sheinbaumacknowledged that the government does not yet know the full situation in many of the isolated villages, which range in population from 500 to 1,000 inhabitants.
“The reopening of roads is one of the greatest urgencies,” Sheinbaum said. “It’s essential to guarantee air bridges, food supplies, clean water, and a proper census of the isolated communities so we can determine the condition of every person living there.”
Private construction companies are also assisting the effort with heavy machinery and technical support to help reopen highways and reconnect rural areas.
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Caracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win
Sheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International1 day agoMexico reports 64 dead, 65 missing after devastating central region floods
-
Central America1 day agoGuatemala arrests first escaped gang member after Barrio 18 prison break
-
International4 days agoMaría Corina Machado calls 2025 Nobel Peace prize a victory for venezuelan people
-
International1 day agoVenezuela calls for continued global pressure to secure ‘just peace’ for Palestine
-
International1 day agoPope Leo XIV to skip COP30 in Brazil but plans future visit, Lula confirms
-
International4 days agoNetanyahu says Trump deserved 2025 Nobel Peace prize
-
International3 days agoPeruvian president Jerí leads prison raids to tackle organized crime
-
International3 days agoVenezuela launches ‘Independence 200’ defense plan amid U.S. naval presence
-
Central America2 days agoFraijanes II prison in Guatemala reports gradual escape of 18th Street gang inmates
-
International11 hours agoSheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains
-
International2 days agoHeavy rains leave dozens dead in Hidalgo, Puebla, and Veracruz
-
International11 hours agoArmed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
-
International11 hours agoVenezuelan media faces fresh restrictions after reporting on opposition leader’s Nobel win
-
International11 hours agoCaracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win