Rescue and relief efforts have been carried out in a timely and orderly manner after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, said a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.
The strong earthquake struck Dingri County in the city of Xigaze Tuesday morning, leaving 126 dead and 188 others injured.
"Relevant authorities of the Chinese government has launched a level-II emergency service response and the disaster response and relief work is proceeding in a timely and orderly way. As we speak, the first batch of relief supplies sent by the central government has arrived in the quake-hit region; all roads damaged by the earthquake in Dingri County have been repaired and able to be open to traffic; power has been restored to the county center and multiple towns and villages of Dingri County; and telecommunication has been restored in the region affected by the disaster," said spokesman Guo Jiakun at a regular press briefing in Beijing.
"We believe that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the people there will overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes," continued Guo.
Earthquake relief efforts carried out in timely, orderly manner in Xizang: spokesman
China's sharp countermeasures against U.S. "reciprocal tariffs" demonstrate the country's zero tolerance towards actions that undermine the global multilateral trading system, according to an expert.
Amid widespread opposition, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order on the so-called "reciprocal tariffs", imposing a 10-percent "minimum baseline tariff" on all imported goods and higher rates on certain trading partners. The order took effect from Saturday.
For China, it faces a 34-percent tariff from the United States. That was on top of the existing tariff of 20 percent.
Following the U.S. decision to impose "reciprocal tariffs" on Chinese exports to the United States, China's Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council said Friday that the move taken by the U.S. does not conform to international trade rules, seriously undermines China's legitimate rights and interests, and represents a typical act of unilateral bullying.
It also announced that China will impose additional 34-percent tariffs on all products imported from the United States starting from April 10.
Wang Yaojing, assistant professor of economics with Peking University, pointed out that China's countermeasures shows its clear stance in opposing unilateralism and protectionism.
"China's countermeasures clearly demonstrate zero tolerance against actions that seek to undermine the global multilateral trading ecosystem. These harmful moves have far-reaching consequences for the global economy. And China's countermeasures are both well-prepared and timely," Wang emphasized.
China’s countermeasures show zero tolerance towards US unilateralism, protectionism: expert
