40 countries denounce Israel for attacking UN peacekeepers in Lebanon

Forty countries that contribute troops to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) issued a joint statement on Saturday to condemn Israel for its recent attacks on UN peacekeepers.

The UNIFIL reported on Saturday that another peacekeeper was wounded by gunfire on Friday night.

The joint statement, issued through Poland's Permanent Mission to the UN on social media, said that the assaults on peacekeepers must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated.

The nations reaffirmed their full support for UNIFIL's mission and activities, saying its principal aim is to bring stabilization and lasting peace in south Lebanon as well as in the Middle East.

They urged the parties of the conflict to respect UNIFIL's presence, which entails the obligation to guarantee the safety and security of its personnel at all times.

On Thursday, UNIFIL said that an Israeli tank fired on a watchtower at its headquarters in Naqoura, injuring two personnel. UNIFIL has around 10,000 peacekeepers stationed in south Lebanon.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Hanoi on Saturday for an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.

Li was greeted by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son at the airport.

Noting the steady development of China-Vietnam relations, Li said China is ready to work with Vietnam to deepen the building of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future and achieve solid progress, so as to bring more benefits to the people of both countries.

Vietnam is the second stop of Li's ongoing Asia tour. Prior to this, he visited Laos, where he attended a series of leaders' meetings on East Asia cooperation and paid an official visit to the country.