On the evening of January 17, President Xi Jinping took a phone call from U.S. President-Elect Donald J. Trump.

President Xi congratulated Trump on his reelection as President of the United States. President Xi noted that they both attach great importance to their interactions, and both hope for a good start of the China-U.S. relationship during the new U.S. presidency. President Xi expressed his readiness to secure greater progress in China-U.S. relations from a new starting point.

President Xi stressed that the two great nations of China and the United States are pursuing their respective dreams, and are both committed to delivering a better life to their people. Given the extensive common interests and broad space of cooperation between the two countries, China and the United States can become partners and friends, contribute to each other’s success, and advance shared prosperity for the good of the two countries and the whole world.

President Xi pointed out that it is natural for two big countries with different national conditions to have some disagreements. The important thing is to respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, and find a proper solution. The Taiwan question concerns China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The U.S. side needs to approach it with prudence. The bilateral economic ties are essentially mutually beneficial and win-win. Confrontation and conflict should not be an option for the two countries. The two sides should follow the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, work more closely together, do more big, practical and good things that benefit the two countries and the world, and keep the two giant ships of China and the United States sailing forward along the route of steady, sound and sustainable development.

President-Elect Trump thanked President Xi for the congratulations, and said he values his great relations with President Xi. He hoped they would keep talking to each other, and looked forward to meeting with President Xi soon. As the most important countries in the world, the United States and China should get along well for years and beyond and work together for world peace.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and other major international and regional issues of mutual interest.

The two leaders agreed to set up a channel of strategic communication to keep in regular touch on major issues of shared interest.

https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xw/zyxw/202501/t20250117_11538172.html

The U.S. politician proposes reconsidering Chevron’s License in this South American country. On Wednesday, Republican Senator Marco Rubio presented his confirmation hearing as the next U.S. Secretary of State, a position he is expected to assume after Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

Known as one of the most hostile U.S. politicians toward independent governments, he suggested that Washington should reconsider the oil licenses granted to energy companies to operate in Venezuela. The next chief of U.S. diplomacy criticized President Joe Biden for negotiating with President Nicolas Maduro, whom Rubio baselessly accused of ‘fostering migratory flows’ toward the U.S.

Although the Biden administration reversed sanctions relief against Venezuela in April 2024, the transnational company Chevron continues to operate in this South American country thanks to an individual license. During his presentation, Rubio also accused Russia of having a strong presence in Venezuela, even going so far as to suggest that “the Iranians are already starting to build drone factories.” This claim, too, was unsupported by any evidence.

Despite the barrage of threats and false information, “Rubio’s aggressive statement against Venezuela does not signal a shift in foreign policy toward Caracas under Trump 2.0,” said political analyst William Serafino. “The next U.S. Secretary of State is not an organic politician within the MAGA universe. While this ideological current is more radicalized compared to Trump’s first term, it views Venezuela as a second- or third-tier issue,” he explained, and argued that Rubio is “a hawk by design” who generates mistrust even within the political bloc led by the future U.S. president.

“For Trump, revisiting the ‘Venezuelan swamp’ that the Guaido project represented and exposing himself to a new punitive interventionist adventure against Venezuela, as Rubio wants, would mean betraying everything he said during the campaign about the U.S. relationship with the world,” Serafino believes.

The correspondent of teleSUR, Elena Rodríguez, has pointed out that Noboa’s election campaign has been marked by irregularities, which adds a complicated context to his re-election. The Electoral Dispute Tribunal (TCE) of Ecuador has admitted to trial case number 008-2025, filed by Jorge Escala, the presidential candidate of the Popular Unity movement, against the current president, Daniel Noboa. The complaint focuses on possible electoral violations committed by the President during his campaign.

Judge Joaquín Viteri, who was in charge of the case, based his decision on Articles 90 and 208 of the TCE Procedural Rules, as well as Article 278, paragraph 3 of the Democracy Code, which defines electoral offenses. According to the complainants, Noboa committed offenses considered serious and very serious, as stipulated in Articles 278 and 279 of the aforementioned code.

Daniel Noboa, who is again running for the presidency on behalf of the National Democratic Action (ADN) movement, has been at the center of controversy since the beginning of the election campaign. On his first day of activities, January 5, the president addressed his supporters from the balcony of Carondelet Palace, promising an imminent election victory. He has also been carrying out proselytizing activities in various provinces, such as Santa Elena and Guayas, accompanied by members of his cabinet.

The correspondent of teleSUR, Elena Rodríguez, has pointed out that Noboa’s election campaign has been marked by irregularities, which adds a complicated context to his re-election. The TCE’s acceptance of this case opens a new chapter in Ecuadorian politics, where accusations and scrutiny over the president’s electoral conduct could have significant implications for the country’s political future.

The graduate and ambassador Coronoto Godoy has been appointed as its head, with the mission of centralizing and coordinating all institutions related to international trade in Venezuela. In a move that could redefine Venezuela’s foreign trade, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced a series of reforms aimed at modernizing and streamlining export processes. With the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI), the time required to complete export formalities will be drastically reduced from 51 to only 10 days.

This transformation is part of a decree that seeks to simplify and unify the protocols for entrepreneurs, marking a milestone in the country’s commercial history. The creation of a new ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Trade, will be key to this initiative. The graduate and ambassador Coronoto Godoy has been appointed as its head, with the mission of centralizing and coordinating all institutions related to international trade in Venezuela.

This approach seeks not only to facilitate the processes but also to strengthen the country’s export vocation, which has faced significant challenges in recent years.

In addition, the modernization of foreign trade is complemented by the creation of the Venezuelan National League for Entrepreneurship. This new entity emerges after an extensive consultation process involving more than 3.5 million citizens through 160,000 assemblies, reflecting a participatory approach in economic policy formulation. The League will act as a catalyst for business development, providing entrepreneurs with mentoring programs, connections to both national and international sectors, access to credit, expert advice, and promotion of their brands.

These measures not only represent a significant technological advance but also demonstrate a commitment by the Venezuelan government to revitalize its economy through entrepreneurship and innovation. By integrating AI into business processes, Venezuela is seeking to position itself in an increasingly competitive global market where efficiency and speed are crucial.

Turning to the humanitarian crisis, [Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs] noted that 12.7 million people will require assistance this year and urged the international community to fully support the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. The attacks “have also made the situation increasingly dangerous for the diplomatic community and international organizations,” she pointed out, stressing that diplomatic and international personnel and assets must be protected.

The Council also heard from Ukraine’s delegate, who stressed the need to counteract the Russian Federation’s “aggressive, imperialistic policies”. Recalling that one of Russian Federation President Vladimir V. Putin’s closest accomplices recently expressed the hope that “Ukraine will cease to exist in 2025,” he said this destructive ambition has guided that country’s policy for decades. It is essential to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence capabilities and dry up the Russian Federation’s oil and gas revenue streams by strengthening sanctions. That country’s “war budget for 2025 is 25 per cent bigger than last year’s”, he said, adding: “If we want to stop the war, we should cut off Putin’s cash flow.”

However, the representative of the Russian Federation said that things are quickly unravelling for Kyiv. Many high-level officials are fleeing the country, he said, adding that those speaking out against Ukraine’s regime face torture. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are being pushed back, and losing thousands of soldiers. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is nervous about the danger of having fresh elections, and the fact that the United States Government could audit assistance to Ukraine and examine the scope of the corruption in his country, he said, adding that there are rumours in Kyiv that the regime is preparing a large-scale provocation for which Russian Federation will be blamed.

As for the “Washington puppeteers” of the Kyiv regime, he said, they are worried that their investment in the “anti-Russia project” is going to collapse, similar to what happened with the United States in 2021 in Afghanistan. The rhetoric of the United States and its satellites here has changed considerably, he went on to say. “Initially, they were talking about the need to ensure that Ukraine is victorious,” he said. Then they moved on to supporting the Kyiv regime as long as it takes for the Russian Federation not to be victorious. And today, the idea is to ensure that the “Ukrainian sinking ship” has a strong negotiating position, he said.

The representative of the United States countered this, stressing that “in more than 1,000 days of this reckless war of choice, Putin has failed to achieve any of his goals in Ukraine; instead, he has left Russia’s power and influence greatly diminished”. Some 700,000 Russian soldiers are dead or injured. Meanwhile, Ukraine remains “strong and defiant” as a free and sovereign democracy.

The Russian Federation’s forces have systematically attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, “weaponizing winter” by leaving thousands of households without power, she said. They have abducted Ukrainian children and tried to erase their identities. And yet China’s exports continue to directly fuel the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine and its attacks against civilian infrastructure. “This support makes China the decisive enabler of Russia’s war,” she added.

But, China’s delegate described this as “downright lies through and through” adding that, if his country had really provided military supplies to the Russian Federation, the situation would not be where it is now. His Government has repeatedly emphasized respect for the sovereignty of and territorial integrity of all countries. The United States has used the Ukraine situation to advance its own geopolitical strategy, wanting “nothing more than a weakened and defeated Russian Federation”, he said.

The representative of the Republic of Korea said the testimonies of two soldiers from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, captured in the Kursk Oblast, clearly demonstrate that troops from that country “are engaged in combat and being dissipated as expendables”. The two soldiers were unaware of being deployed for the war against Ukraine, he said, adding that they were told they were participating in combat simulation drills. “As a native Korean speaker, I can definitively tell that those two soldiers spoke in Korean with North Korean accents,” he said. “Despite Pyongyang’s efforts to muzzle any rumors,” he said, soldiers’ families in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are fearful that their “sons and brothers are being used as slave soldiers and mere cannon fodder”.

Speakers also highlighted the humanitarian suffering, with the representative of Denmark noting that “Each passing day brings further death, destruction and hardship,” for Ukrainians. Millions struggle to secure heating, water and electricity in the cold winter months. “These are not just abstract words in a statement; these represent human lives,” she added. Somalia’s delegate stressed the need to ensure humanitarian aid, noting that 2 million children require “multisectoral assistance”, while Panama’s representative demanded that humanitarian personnel be protected. “They make herculean efforts to provide assistance to the thousands of civilians unjustly affected,” he added. Pakistan’s delegate stressed that “the solution lies in dialogue and negotiations and not on the battlefield”.