China will always be Tajikistan's trustworthy friend, reliable partner, close brother: Xi

China will always be Tajikistan's trustworthy friend, reliable partner and close brother, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in the Tajik capital Dushanbe on Friday.

Xi, who is paying a state visit to the Central Asian country at the invitation of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, made the remarks during large-group talks with his Tajik counterpart on Friday afternoon.

"It has been five years since I last visited your country, and I see a more prosperous Tajikistan. As a friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner, China is sincerely glad to see this," Xi told Rahmon.

"Under the new circumstances, China is ready to develop a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Tajikistan in the new era and build a China-Tajikistan community with a shared future from a higher starting point. No matter how the international situation changes, China will always be Tajikistan's trustworthy friend, reliable partner and close brother," Xi added.

Rahmon extended a warm welcome to Xi, and expressed his belief that the visit will help deepen cooperation between the two sides.

"We consider you a loyal friend and reliable partner of our people. Gathering with good neighbors and old friends is always a particularly important and pleasant occasion for us. I believe that the results of your visit will open up new causes for the development of our long-term cooperation in the new era," he said.

China will always be Tajikistan's trustworthy friend, reliable partner, close brother: Xi

China will always be Tajikistan's trustworthy friend, reliable partner, close brother: Xi

China will always be Tajikistan's trustworthy friend, reliable partner, close brother: Xi

China will always be Tajikistan's trustworthy friend, reliable partner, close brother: Xi

China will always be Tajikistan's trustworthy friend, reliable partner, close brother: Xi

Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Thursday that the group is willing to consider a ceasefire proposal if it includes guarantees for a truce in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

A member of Lebanese parliament from the Hezbollah coalition made the statement at a news conference in Beirut.

He criticized Israel's strike on a Beirut health care facility that killed at least five people, and warned the international community against Israel's continuous violations of international law.

"The world is facing a challenge. Can they find one humanitarian or international law that Israel hasn't violated? All U.N. charters, U.N. Security Council resolutions, Israel has violated them. Isn't it enough that it tore the U.N. Charter? Isn't it enough that it declared the [U.N.] secretary general an undesirable person, a Persona Non Grata" said Ibrahim Al Moussawi, an Hezbollah official and member of the Lebanese parliament.

The group also vowed to continue their fight until it sees a realistic proposal for a ceasefire.

"The decision for a ceasefire is left to those in the battlefield. We consult with those in the field, and we who deal with politics when we receive an offer that is realistic and would also achieve a ceasefire in Gaza as well. Only then we can consider making a deal," said Ibrahim.

The Israel Defense Forces have been carrying out an unprecedented, intensive air attack on Lebanon, dubbed "Arrows of the North", since Sept. 23, after nearly a year of low-intensity cross-border exchanges of fire with Hezbollah. And in another sign of escalation, the country has launched a ground incursion into Lebanon since early Tuesday.

The Israeli air and ground raids have since killed 1,974 people, including 127 children, wounded 9,350 others, and forced more than 1.2 million civilians to flee their homes, according to the Lebanese health minister.

Hezbollah willing to consider ceasefire proposal if it includes guarantees for truce in Gaza: official