A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Friday slammed the United States for frequently denying visas and restricting the freedom of movement of diplomats from certain countries, saying such actions violate diplomatic protocol, obligations under international law and basic humanitarian principles.
Speaking at a meeting of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said obtaining visas and enjoying freedom of movement is an inherent right of diplomatic personnel of all countries' permanent missions to the United Nations.
Safeguarding this right is an international obligation that the United States, as the host country of the United Nations, must fulfill. It is also a legal commitment the United States made by signing the United Nations Headquarters Agreement, said Geng.
He said the U.S. actions run counter to the spirit of multilateralism, disrupt the normal functioning of the United Nations, and reveal a hegemonic and bullying mindset.
The Chinese envoy urged the United States to fulfill its obligations as the host country, heed the legitimate concerns of the member states of the United Nations, and safeguard the security, dignity, and ability of all permanent missions to the United Nations and their personnel to perform their duties.
China slams US for denying visas to diplomats from certain countries
The new China-Mongolia cross-border railway is expected to serve as a new bridge for boosting connectivity between the two countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said in Beijing on Thursday.
China and Mongolia held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday to mark the official launch of construction on the Gantsmod–Gashuunsukhait rail project, which will be the second cross-border rail link between the two countries.
Lin said at a regular press briefing that the railway would inject new momentum into the development of China-Mongolia bilateral relations.
"On May 14, China and Mongolia held a ceremony to mark the official groundbreaking of the Gantsmod-Gashuunsukhait cross-border railway, which is the second cross-border railway between the two countries. Expanding cooperation in key areas such as economy and trade, energy, mining and connectivity is an important common understanding between President Xi Jinping and Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh. In February this year, Premier Li Qiang and Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene jointly witnessed the exhibiting of the cooperation agreement on the Gantsmod-Gashuunsukhait railway and coal trade," said Lin.
"The construction of this cross-border railway is not only a concrete step of implementing the important common understanding between the presidents of the two countries, but also an important action to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and Mongolia's Steppe Road Program. We hope this railway will serve as a new bridge for China-Mongolia connectivity, fostering deeper development integration, promoting industrial synergy, and expanding visits and exchanges, thereby injecting new impetus in to the building of a China-Mongolia community with a shared future," he said.
New cross-border railway to enhance connectivity between China, Mongolia: FM spokesman
