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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed on preparations for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump, and they will maintain a channel of communication to resolve accumulated problems in US-Russian relations, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. If realized, this meeting could serve as the first step for thawing relations between Moscow and Washington, said Chinese experts, although they noted that key issues such as solving the strategic confrontation between Russia and Europe, and addressing US sanctions on Russia, among others, remain big obstacles.

Lavrov and Rubio agreed during a telephone conversation to hold regular communication on a variety of matters, including preparations for a meeting between Putin and Trump, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, according to Russian News Agency TASS.

Lü Xiang, an expert on US studies and a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out that how to deal with the US sanctions against Russia, especially energy sanctions, is an inevitable issue. He said that the US and Russia are competitors in the energy field. After the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, Europe depended heavily on US exported liquefied natural gas due to sanctions on Russia. Moscow hopes to have the energy sanctions lifted, but this would mean the US would be "undermining its own interests," Lü said.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University believes fundamental differences remain between Russia and US regarding a solution to the Ukraine crisis.

US and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to start talks aimed at ending the nearly three-year war in Ukraine, Reuters reported on Saturday.

Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and White House Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia, US Representative Michael McCaul told Reuters. It was not immediately clear who they would meet from Russia.

The news came after Trump made separate phone calls to Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on Wednesday.

Zelensky, who met with US Vice President JD Vance in Germany on Friday, said Ukraine was not invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia and Kiev would not engage with Russia before consulting with strategic partners, media reported.

The US' main goal is to seek a cease-fire, while Russia seeks to fundamentally solve the issue of the overall strategic confrontation between Russia and Europe, yet such fundamental divergences are difficult to resolve through partial negotiations, Li said, noting that "moreover, for the relationship between Russia and Ukraine to be repaired and build mutual trust, more problems will remain."

Europe, which is already shocked by Trump's call with Putin, might not even have a seat at the table for Ukraine peace talks, Trump's Ukraine envoy said on Saturday, after Washington sent a questionnaire to European capitals to ask what they could contribute to security guarantees for Kiev, Reuters reported.

But European leaders said they would not accept being shut out of the talks.

"There's no way in which we can have discussions or negotiations about Ukraine, Ukraine's future or European security structure, without Europeans," Finland's President Alexander Stubb told reporters in Munich.

Based on the situation, Europe stands to incur significant losses in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. This is not only because the continent has to shoulder the direct repercussions of the three-year-long crisis, but also from Europe's diminishing capacity to influence the trajectory of the situation, Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times.

China hopes all relevant parties and stakeholders involved in the Ukraine crisis will engage in the peace talks process at an appropriate time, and seek a political settlement through dialogue and consultation, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday when answering questions following his keynote speech at the "China in the World" session of the Munich Security Conference, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Regarding China's stance on resolving the Ukraine crisis, Wang said that China has consistently advocated for settling global disputes and conflicts through dialogue, consultation and political means, which applies equally to the Ukraine issue.

China welcomes all efforts dedicated to peace in Ukraine, including the recent agreement reached by the United States and Russia to start peace talks, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said on Monday.

In remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on Ukraine, Fu said China has consistently advocated for settling global disputes and conflicts peacefully through dialogue and consultation in accordance with the UN Charter, and this applies equally to the Ukraine issue.

He recalled that 10 years ago, the parties concerned with the Ukraine issue reached the Minsk Agreements through negotiations, and that the agreements were subsequently endorsed by the Security Council in its Resolution 2202, which "represents the right direction of resolving differences and disputes through dialogue and negotiation."

"Regrettably, after the conclusion of the agreements, most of the provisions were not fully and effectively implemented," the ambassador said, adding that the situation that should have gradually deescalated has instead become even more tense, ultimately leading to the full escalation of the crisis and a large-scale conflict that continues to this day.

"The failure of the Minsk Agreements is deplorable, and its historical lessons warrant deep reflection," Fu said.

He stressed that from the day after the crisis broke out, China has called for a political solution through dialogue and consultation, noting that the four-point proposal -- the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries given due regard, and all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis supported -- is China's fundamental guidance on the Ukraine issue.

China has been actively engaged in diplomatic mediation and maintains contact with relevant parties, including Russia and Ukraine, has had in-depth participation in the consideration of the Ukraine issue under the framework of the United Nations and its Security Council, and plays a constructive role in promoting ceasefire and political settlement, Fu said.

China has also partnered with Brazil and other countries in creating the Group of Friends for Peace to garner the collective wisdom of the countries of the Global South and form an important force for peace, said the ambassador. "The evolving situation has proven that China's proposal is objective, fair, rational, and pragmatic, reflecting the broad consensus of the international community."

Fu pointed out that at present, the Ukraine issue is about to reach a critical moment for a negotiated settlement, and "the ultimate resolution of any conflict lies at the negotiation table, and history will undoubtedly deliver a just outcome."

He expressed the hope that all relevant parties and stakeholders involved in the Ukraine crisis will engage in the peace talks process, and reach a fair, lasting, and binding peace agreement acceptable to all parties.

"As the conflict has been unfolding on European soil, it is imperative for Europe to work for peace," Fu said.

"We hope the parties will jointly address the root causes of the crisis through negotiation and find a balanced, effective, and sustainable security framework for lasting stability in the region," he said.

In response to a foreign media question on China's response to Elon Musk's remarks questioning whether the US should allow platforms like TikTok to operate, claiming it has the potential to collect data on Americans and control the content broadcast to millions of people in the US, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday that China has always believed that internet companies should comply with local laws and regulations.

As for the Chinese government, we attach great importance to protecting data privacy and security in accordance with the law, and we have never and will never require companies or individuals to collect or provide data located abroad against local laws, Mao said. 

Also when asked by another foreign media reporter about the remarks made by Elon Musk on Sunday on X claiming that "the current situation where TikTok is allowed to operate in America, but X is not allowed to operate in China is 'unbalanced,' and something needs to change," Mao said on Monday that the Chinese government manages the internet in accordance with the law, and we welcome internet enterprises from all countries to develop in China as long as they comply with Chinese laws and regulations and provide safe and reliable products and services.

Chinese President Xi Jinping talked with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a video meeting on Tuesday, saying China and Russia should jointly defend the UN-centered international system and the outcomes of World War Two (WWII) victory.

Xi noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victories of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN).

China and Russia should take this as an opportunity to jointly defend the UN-centered international system and the victory of WWII, promote all countries' adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold the universally recognized basic norms governing international relations, and practice true multilateralism, Xi stressed.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Wednesday braved the cold to visit people affected by floods in a village in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Xi made the trip to the village of Zhujiagou, under the administration of Suizhong County, Huludao City, ahead of the Spring Festival, the most important festival for the Chinese people, which falls on Jan. 29 this year.

Huludao was one of the hardest-hit cities by summer floods in 2024.

Xi inspected the progress in post-disaster restoration and reconstruction.

Visiting the villagers who had moved into their new houses just before this winter, Xi inquired about the quality of the reconstructed homes and whether their daily living conditions were adequate.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Dutch leaders on Wednesday and Thursday in The Hague. The two sides agreed to jointly promote an open world economy, and strengthen cooperation in various fields including green development.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met separately with Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Prime Minister Dick Schoof, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Climate and Green Growth Sophie Hermans during his two-day visit.

Ding said that under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, the open and pragmatic partnership for comprehensive cooperation between China and the Netherlands has been steadily enhanced with fruitful cooperation in various fields, bringing benefits to the two countries and two peoples.

China is willing to further strengthen communication with the Netherlands to enhance mutual trust, push for greater development of bilateral relations and help the two countries accelerate the realization of their respective development goals, he said.

Stressing that both China and the Netherlands are beneficiaries and supporters of an open world economy, Ding said China is committed to high-quality development through high-standard opening-up, welcoming Dutch companies to expand cooperation with China.

It is also hoped that the Dutch side will continue to provide a fair, equitable and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies, safeguard common interests and maintain a stable and unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, and realize the two sides' complementary advantages, shared opportunities and common development, Ding said.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the European Union (EU). The vice premier said China is willing to strengthen dialogue and deepen cooperation with the EU to promote the sound and stable development of the China-EU relations, and hopes the Netherlands will play a constructive role in this regard.

King Willem-Alexander said that the Dutch side cherishes mutual trust and friendship and is willing to deepen cooperation with China to jointly push for continuous progress in the Netherlands-China relations.

In the face of the current geopolitical conflicts, countries should communicate frankly, seek consensus, work together and jointly address global challenges, the King added.

Schoof said the Dutch side admires China's development achievements and regards China as a stable partner, adding that the Netherlands is willing to strengthen dialogue with China, enhance understanding and mutual trust, and expand practical cooperation in various fields such as water conservancy, green development, and medical and health care.

Schoof also noted that the Netherlands is ready to work with China to safeguard free trade and promote openness and cooperation.

Hermans congratulated China on its achievements in environmental protection and green development, and appreciated China's contributions to the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

The Dutch side is looking forward to promoting cooperation with China in areas such as clean energy, green transition, circular economy, and climate adaptation, Hermans said. 

"If you have ever suffered for my sweetness, I am willing to live as your wish. May it not be in vain, may we move forward bravely, in this prosperous world every day..." The chorus of As You Wish resonated in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, or Qiniandian, at the Temple of Heaven on Thursday. However, passersby were surprised to find that the performers of this Chinese song were a children's choir from the US called One Voice Children's Choir. The children's beautiful singing was recorded in a video and quickly went viral on social media platforms.

After the final performance of their China tour on Saturday evening, One Voice founder and conductor Masa Fukuda expressed in an exclusive interview with the Global Times that he felt "very, very honored" to receive so much attention. He stated that "everyone in the choir had a wonderful experience in China." Fukuda believes that despite cultural differences, everyone can relate to the same messages.

Fukuda introduced that One Voice was just singing casually and having fun at the Temple of Heaven at that time. Once they started singing, many people gathered around, and the video subsequently spread on social media platforms. When a reporter from the Global Times informed him that the video had received over a million likes, Fukuda appeared very surprised.

"I believe As You Wish is a song that ties family together," said Fukuda. "Although our cultures may be different, there is so much that… we can all relate to those same messages. I hope that no matter what people are going through, the content conveyed by the song will touch and inspire them."

The One Voice Children's Choir, from Utah, the US, is made up of a group of children who met while singing at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. This tour marks One Voice's return to China after 2023, with performances in cities such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Beijing.

In addition to As You Wish, Tomorrow Will Be Better is also a signature song for One Voice. Fukuda introduced that during this year's tour, One Voice performed Tomorrow Will Be Better alongside two other English songs, Heal the World and We Are the World. "Last year, Tomorrow Will Be Better received a warm welcome from Chinese audiences. This year, we are combining the three songs because they convey the same message... Even though we speak different languages, we share the same goals, dreams, and emotions," said Fukuda.

During the final performance on Saturday evening, Fukuda and the children couldn't help but shed tears, continuously waving goodbye to the Chinese audience. "This is our last performance in China. The warm welcome from the Chinese people has moved us deeply, touching our hearts and making every child shed tears... We love China and we love the Chinese people."

The wildfires in Los Angeles County continue to rage, with the death toll from the two most severe blazes - Palisades and Eaton - rising to 24 as of press time, with some local media predicting the wildfires among "the costliest natural disasters in US history."

Nearly 33,000 homes and businesses across Los Angeles County remained without power on Sunday night, Forbes reported, citing the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The department said its crews were "assessing the fire-affected areas" and power restoration work will begin after the assessments are completed, Forbes reported.

The raging wildfires across Los Angeles are projected to be among the costliest natural disasters in US history, AP reported, citing a private meteorological firm.

A preliminary estimate by AccuWeather put the damage and economic losses so far between $135 billion and $150 billion. By comparison, AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic losses caused by Hurricane Helene, which tore across six southeastern states last fall, at $225 billion to $250 billion, the AP report said.

The wildfires have forced a host of TV productions to temporarily stop filming. More than a dozen LA-based shows, ranging from Grey's Anatomy to The Price Is Right, have paused production, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will take the lead in investigating the exact cause of the multiple fires, according to Fox 11. 

As officials try to determine the cause of a wildfire that has burned an estimated 7,000 structures in and around Altadena, investigators keep returning to one place: an electrical transmission tower in Eaton Canyon, according to LA Times. 

Meanwhile, utilities are required to report to the California Public Utilities Commission when they know of "electric incidents potentially associated with a wildfire." On Friday, Southern California Edison filed a report related to the Eaton Fire in the hills near Pasadena, an area the utility serves, the FOX 11 report said.

John Abatzoglou, a professor of Climatology at the University of California, told the Global Times on Monday via email that there are many other places globally that burn with more regularity than California, but the fires in the state have certainly been noteworthy for their intensity, size, and impacts. 

Abatzoglou believed the specific causes for this year's wildfires "are still unknown right now, but are all human-caused fires," without further elaboration.

"California has the perfect climate for fires," he said, explaining that typically 6-9 months of rain-free conditions during the warm season contribute to long curing periods for vegetation to become receptive to igniting and carrying fire. The large year-to-year variability in precipitation allow for abundant grass and shrubs to flourish during the good years and become fuel during dry times, he said. 

Topography that favors mountain fire weather features like downslope Santa Ana winds that bring fire from the wildlands downhill into communities, and plenty of ignitions given the population, he said. 

California accounts for about 15 percent of all burned area in the contiguous US, but 75 percent of direct population exposure to wildfire, which results in "people living with a fire footprint," Abatzoglou added.

Wang Hongwei, a professor from the Renmin University of China's school of public administration and policy, who frequently took part in emergency response events in China, told the Global Times that from his point of view, local weak disaster relief efforts, such as the shortage of firefighters in the initial phase of rescue and fire hydrants that ran dry, also fuel such large-scale fires in California.

At a national prosecutors' meeting on January 13, prosecutorial authorities decide to deepen efforts to promote the lawful governance of cyberspace. They will collaborate with public security and other agencies to strictly crack down on telecom and online fraud, particularly cross-border telecom fraud. 

Efforts will be made to solidly advance the special campaign against fraud originating from northern Myanmar, strengthen comprehensive enforcement across the entire chain, and promote source-based prevention and governance, according to the meeting. 

The meeting underscored the importance of rigorously punishing cybercrimes in accordance with the law. Prosecutorial organs were called upon to actively engage in the special campaign to foster a clean online environment, focusing on crimes involving the misuse of the Internet to infringe on citizens' personal information and acts of cyber violence.

To tackle prevalent issues in the digital realm, such as breaches of personal information, false advertising, and consumer fraud, prosecutorial organs will enhance efforts in handling public-interest litigation. These measures aim to harness the power of the rule of law to maintain a fair, secure, and upright cyberspace.

"I felt extremely grateful when I received the greeting card from President Xi," said Brian Suy, an 11th grader from the Lincoln High School in the U.S. state of Washington.

On Jan. 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, replied to a New Year card from representatives of middle school teachers and students from Washington state.

In their reply card, the couple expressed their hope that the youth of China and the United States will continue to participate in China's initiative of inviting 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs in a five-year span.

Earlier, the U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association, as well as representatives of teachers and students from Lincoln High School and Stadium High School, who have visited China through the initiative, sent a New Year card to Xi, Peng and the Chinese people.

"I am willing to be a successor to keep the relations of the people of China and America strong and close," Suy told Xinhua. "I believe that the world will ultimately be a better place if future generations strengthen these connections."
BRIDGE OF FRIENDSHIP

After having received New Year cards twice from Xi and his wife in reply to their greetings, teachers and students from Washington state are greatly encouraged, said Zhou Shuqi, co-chair of the U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association.

In February 2024, Xi and Peng extended their good wishes for the Year of the Dragon in their card to Lincoln High School, inviting students to visit China more often, including through the "50,000 in five years" initiative.

These cards are a token of U.S.-China friendship and a bridge that connects young people, which "motivate us to move forward," said Zhou.

Over a year, about 14,000 American youths have visited China for exchanges and study.

"Our experience in China was incredibly rich and rewarding," Stadium High School Principal Shannon Marshall said. "This experience has created long-lasting friendship between American students and Chinese students."

"We would love to send more students in 2025 and are so thankful for the opportunities," she said.

"It was a privilege to have been able to sign a greeting card for President Xi," said Lucy Arceno, a student from Lincoln High School.

Recalling her China trip, she said what impressed her the most was the hospitality of the Chinese people. "I made quite a few Chinese friends," she said. "One of my Chinese friends had this to say after we got to know each other, 'gradually it dawned on me that we are of no difference.' I found this to be a very beautiful statement about friendships."

"People-to-people exchanges -- direct communications between Chinese people and their foreign counterparts in all walks of life -- form part of the foundation of President Xi's international way of thinking," Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, told Xinhua.

"President Xi puts extra emphasis on people-to-people exchanges" in the development of bilateral relations, Kuhn said.
FRIENDSHIP THAT ENDURES

For Lincoln High School, warm interactions with Xi have been maintained for long. As early as in 1993, Xi visited the school as then secretary of the Fuzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China.

In September 2015, he revisited the school with Peng during his first state visit to the United States as Chinese president, and encouraged students to travel to China to become more familiar with the country.

During their stay, the couple enjoyed in the school's auditorium a choir performance by students from both countries. Lynn Eisenhauer, a music teacher at the school, was present.

"I have had the amazing opportunity to travel throughout China three times during 2024," she told Xinhua in a recent interview. "Many of my friendships with Chinese teachers and students have begun while learning to do calligraphy together, singing side by side, or doing Tai Chi with each other."

Eisenhauer was amazed that when she joined a group from Washington state to visit China last year, an opportunity came for the group to perform again before Peng during a China-U.S. youth exchange activity in Beijing, which was "a truly magical memory."

"One of the ways our friendships continue to grow is through these shared experiences and the common bonds they help us to create," Eisenhauer said. "Peaceful connections and enduring friendships can make the world a better place for all of us."

Maurice Chong from Washington state participated both in the choir in 2015 and the youth exchange activity in 2024. Now an exchange student at Peking University, Chong said he was inspired by Xi to study abroad back in 2015, when the Chinese president encouraged them with a Chinese adage: "Read 10,000 books and travel 10,000 miles."

Xi's initiative to invite American students to China "will indeed have a big effect on people-to-people relations between the U.S. and China, and that's what we need," said Elyn MacInnis, founder of "Friends of Kuliang," a group gathering descendants of U.S. families who once lived in Kuliang, Fujian Province.

Communication is a good bridge to build trust, "and trust is very important for friendship," MacInnis said.
"LONG LIVE PEACE"

The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

During World War II, China and the United States fought together for peace and justice, and the friendship between the two peoples stood the test of blood and fire and is growing ever stronger, Xi and Peng said in their New Year card.

The couple's words were in response to the U.S. students' card to them, which paid tribute to this part of history.

"'Long Live Peace; Eternal Friendship.' We wrote this wish in our card," said David Chong, founder and president of the U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association.

"We want to convey the significance of maintaining world peace and the longing for future peace to young people of both countries, and encourage them to inherit this precious friendship," Chong said.

Among those sending the card was William Felagai, a 12th grader from Lincoln High School, who recalled hearing about the bilateral friendship from a Flying Tiger veteran. During World War II, a U.S. air squadron composed of pilots from the United States Army Air Corps, Navy, and Marine Corps helped the Chinese fight Japanese invaders. They are better known as the Flying Tigers.

"He talked about how U.S. soldiers and pilots found refuge with Chinese villagers who were willing to risk not only themselves and their families' lives but their whole village from destruction by the Japanese military," Felagai said.

Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, said that Xi has recalled the epic of the Flying Tigers on many occasions, including in a reply letter to the foundation in 2023.

The foundation has launched a Flying Tigers Friendship School and Youth Leaders Program, with the participation of dozens of Chinese and U.S. middle schools and universities. The program brought students from 11 U.S. states to visit China in 2024, and will be expanded in the new year, Greene said.

"I'm very proud of the way that they've all understood the importance of what happened between China and the United States 80 years ago," he said. "What they learn is that there's tremendous opportunity for cooperation between the Chinese people and the American people in the future."