12 | Thursday, January 28, 2021 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY WORLD Xi salutes foreign Briefly UNITED STATES Double firsts as leaders on reelections Yellen sworn in Janet Yellen was sworn in on By CAO DESHENG Tuesday as the nation’s 78th Trea­ [email protected] sury secretary and the first wom­ an to hold the office. She was President Xi Jinping on sworn in by Vice­President Kama­ Wednesday sent a message to Mar­ la Harris, the first woman elected celo Rebelo de Sousa, congratulat­ to the position, at a ceremony per­ ing him on his reelection as formed outside on the East Wing Portuguese president. Marcelo Rebelo Yoweri entrance to the White House in Xi said in the message that since de Sousa Museveni view of the department Yellen will last year, China­Portugal relations now lead. Yellen’s husband, have stood the test of the COVID­ started, the two countries have George Akerlof, winner of the 19 pandemic, and the traditional been supporting and assisting 2001 Nobel prize in economics, friendship between the two coun­ each other, writing a chapter of and their son Robert, also an tries has gained new momentum. friendship and solidarity in the economist, were present for the Partnership in fighting the pan­ joint fight against the virus, Xi said. ceremony. Yellen, 74, on Monday demic and in the health field has Saying he considers relations became the third of President Joe made great strides and pragmatic between China and Uganda as Biden’s Cabinet nominees to win cooperation has made new greatly important, Xi expressed Senate approval. progress, the Chinese leader said. willingness to work with Museve­ Xi said he attaches great impor­ ni to advance the development of Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell leaves the floor of the Senate on Tuesday. Senate Republicans ISRAEL tance to developing relations with bilateral ties to make new voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday against moving forward with Donald Trump’s historic second Army chief sends Portugal and stands ready to work achievements to deliver more impeachment trial. SAMUEL CORUM / GETTY IMAGES VIA AGENCE FRANCE­PRESSE US signal on Iran with the Portuguese president to benefits to the two countries and advance the bilateral ties for new the two peoples. Israel’s top general said on Tues­ achievements to benefit the two Uganda’s Electoral Commission day that its military was refresh­ countries and the two peoples. announced on Jan 16 that Museve­ GOP united against Trump trial ing its operational plans against In the presidential elections ni had won the country’s presiden­ Iran and that any US return to a held on Sunday, incumbent presi­ tial elections with 58.64 percent of By CHINA DAILY of the few times in Washington where the first impeachment trial of a 2015 nuclear accord would be dent Rebelo de Sousa from the cen­ the tallied votes. The 76­year­old a loss is actually a victory,” he said. former president in the country’s “wrong”. The remarks are an ter­right Social Democratic Party beat his main rival, the 38­year­old The Democrats’ efforts to convict Two­thirds of the Senate, or 67 sen­ history. apparent signal to US President won with an overwhelming major­ Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Donald Trump at his impeachment ators, must vote to convict Trump. If The trial of Trump, who was Joe Biden to tread cautiously in ity, securing 60 percent of the votes Wine, a musician turned politi­ trial suffered a fresh blow on Tues­ convicted, a separate majority vote impeached by the Democratic­ma­ any diplomatic engagement with polled. cian. Kyagulanyi got 34.83 percent day when almost all Republican in the Senate will decide on possible jority House for an unprecedented Iran. Such comments by Israel’s Also on Wednesday, Xi congrat­ of the total votes tallied. senators backed dismissing the punishments which include Trump second time, is to begin the week military chief of staff on US poli­ ulated Yoweri Museveni on his ree­ Observers say this has been one case, underlining the former US being barred from holding federal starting on Feb 8. cymaking are rare. “A return to lection as Uganda’s president. of Uganda’s most contested elec­ president’s continuing hold over office in the future. Trump is report­ the 2015 nuclear agreement ... is In a message to Museveni, Xi tions, pitting the young against the the party. edly considering running for presi­ Political muscle bad and wrong from an opera­ said China and Uganda maintain a old generation. The US Senate voted 55­45 to go dent again in 2024. Trump — winner of 74 million tional and strategic point of view,” traditional friendship and they Museveni won the elections with ahead with Trump’s second Patrick Leahy, the 80­year­old votes in his loss to Biden on Nov 3 Lieutenant­General Aviv Kohavi have been supporting and trusting the slogan, “securing your future”. impeachment trial, but only five senator presiding over the trial, was and reportedly sitting on nearly $70 said in an address to a think tank. each other with fruitful coopera­ His win extends his rule for another Republican senators voted with briefly hospitalized after Tuesday’s million in campaign funds — wants tion in various fields. five­year term for the African coun­ Democrats. proceedings during which he Republican senators to consider MOZAMBIQUE Since the COVID­19 pandemic try since he came to power in 1986. But the result confirmed Demo­ sounded hoarse and unwell as law­ their own futures before they dare 250,000 affected by crats will struggle to persuade 17 makers were sworn in as jurors. cross him, news agency Agence Cyclone Eloise Republican senators — the number “The Attending Physician recom­ France­Presse said. needed for the required two­thirds mended that he be taken to a hospi­ Trump’s main way of applying A tropical cyclone that pummeled majority — to vote to convict Trump. tal for observation,” his spokesman pressure while out of office is to central Mozambique last week­ Republican Senator Rand Paul said. Leahy was released later in the threaten disloyal legislators with end has affected 250,000 people, a raised a point of order to hold a vote evening. support for their challengers in par­ UN official said on Tuesday. Myrta Biden signals on the constitutionality of the Leahy, who was elected in 1974, is ty primary votes ahead of the 2022 Kaulard, the UN’s resident coordi­ impeachment trial as Trump has presiding as he is the senior senator midterm elections. nator in Mozambique, also said left office. of the party with the majority in the Trump’s endorsement on Monday 18,000 people had been internally Democrats then called for a vote to Senate, currently the Democrats. of his former White House press sec­ displaced after Cyclone Eloise kill the point of order, winning 55­45. The US House of Representatives retary Sarah Sanders in her bid to made landfall in the early hours Paul said afterward: “Forty­five on Monday presented a single arti­ become governor of Arkansas was a of Saturday, adding that 76 health tougher line centers had been damaged, as Senators agreed that this sham of a cle of impeachment to the upper first flexing of this political muscle. ‘trial’ is unconstitutional. ... This ‘tri­ chamber accusing Trump of incit­ well as hundreds of school rooms. al’ is dead on arrival in the Senate. ing the storming of the Capitol ear­ Agencies and Ai Heping in in Putin call “We’re excited about it. It was one lier this month, setting in motion New York contributed to this story. AGENCIES—XINHUA Thorny issues raised alongside pledge Doubts raised over medical backup for Games on arms pact, a move hailed by China By WANG XU in Tokyo and others have died on their way [email protected] to hospital,” Tsujimoto said. By REN QI in Moscow Security Council permanent mem­ “Given the current situation of [email protected] bers.” Japanese lawmakers and the pub­ our medical system, isn’t it impossi­ Zhao Lijian, Chinese Foreign lic grilled the government over ble to hold the Tokyo Olympics in US President Joe Biden and Rus­ Ministry spokesman, said Beijing plans to recruit 10,000 medical per­ its complete form?” sian leader Vladimir Putin held welcomes the treaty extension. sonnel for the Summer Olympics as Japanese Prime Minister Yoshi­ their first conversation as counter­ The New START will help boost hospitals in Japan come under hide Suga avoided a direct answer parts on Tuesday in a phone call global peace and safety, and it mounting pressure from a rising but reiterated his longtime conven­ that underscored troubled rela­ meets the international expecta­ number of COVID­19 patients. tional response to the issue. tions and the delicate balance tion, Zhao said. Japan’s Olympic Minister Seiko “We would like to prepare for the between the two countries. As the US and Russia have more Hashimoto said in a parliamentary Olympics while taking measures White House spokeswoman Jen than 90 percent of the world’s session on Tuesday the government against coronavirus in a perfect, safe Psaki confirmed the phone call at nuclear weapons, they should ful­ is committed to a plan to secure way,” Suga said. her daily news conference. It came fill their priority responsibility for thousands of medical staff for the However, Suga also apologized for as Biden adjusts US policy in a nuclear disarmament, Zhao said. Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. the government’s failure to provide more robust way toward Russia Moscow had reached out last “We are trying to secure necessa­ sufficient medical care under the than the one taken by his predeces­ week to request the call, according ry medical staff of around 10,000, strain of the pandemic. sor Donald Trump. to US officials familiar with the on the premise of asking doctors A man walks on the Odaiba waterfront in Tokyo on Tuesday as Olympic According to Japan’s police During their talks, Psaki said, matter but not authorized to dis­ and nurses that each of them work rings are seen in the background. KOJI SASAHARA / ASSOCIATED PRESS department, nearly 200 people topics included Biden’s proposal to cuss it publicly, The Associated about five days during the Games with coronavirus had died outside extend the Strategic Arms Reduc­ Press reported. Biden agreed, but period,” she said. Japan’s healthcare system since tion Treaty, better known as the he wanted first to prepare with his Hashimoto’s remarks provoked be overwhelmed anytime before the of thousands of Japanese with COV­ March last year. New START, with Russia for five staff and speak with European an immediate storm of protest from Olympics open on July 23. ID­19 were stuck at home because of Japan’s Health Ministry’s data years and “strong (US) support for allies, including the leaders of Brit­ opposition politicians, as well as the Kiyomi Tsujimoto, a lawmaker of medical staff shortages. showed more than 35,000 COVID­ Ukraine’s sovereignty”. ain, France and Germany. public, because the country’s medi­ Japan’s Constitutional Democratic “Many infected people cannot be 19 carriers in the country were car­ She said the pair agreed to have Aside from the European lead­ cal community had voiced alarm for Party, questioned Hashimoto’s deci­ hospitalized. People have died ing for themselves at home due to their teams work to complete the ers, Biden also phoned NATO chief months, fearful that hospitals could sion and pointed out that hundreds alone at home without hospital care hospital bed shortages. extension of the deal by Feb 5, Jens Stoltenberg before the Putin when the current one expires. call. He pledged to uphold the US Russian Deputy Foreign Minis­ commitment to the alliance. ter Sergey Ryabkov said the two leaders had agreed on the exten­ ‘Frank and businesslike’ US vows to restore relations with Palestinians sion of the New START “without While the presidents’ readouts preconditions, without any addi­ from the two capitals emphasized UNITED NATIONS — US Presi­ unprecedented support to Israel, Also at the UN meeting, Russian Biden, with its hands full with press­ tions, without any appendices different elements, they both sug­ dent Joe Biden’s administration recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ing internal matters and unfavora­ whatsoever, as Moscow insisted”. gested that US­Russia relations announced on Tuesday it was capital, moving the US embassy backed a Palestinian proposal for a ble political conditions in the Middle Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Pes­ will be guided — at least at the restoring relations with the Pales­ from Tel Aviv and slashing financial peace conference, saying it could be East, might change Washington’s kov said Putin and Biden beginning of the Biden adminis­ tinians and renewing aid to Pales­ assistance for the Palestinians. held at ministerial level in spring or approach to the peace process. expressed satisfaction following tration — by a desire to do no harm tinian refugees, a reversal of his Israel captured East Jerusalem summer with about 10 participants. “There will never be a more pro­ an exchange of diplomatic notes even if there is no urgency to predecessor Donald Trump’s cutoff and the West Bank in the 1967 Mid­ settlement plan coming out of the on an agreement to extend the repair existing damage. and a key element of its new support dle East War. The international com­ 10-party conference American government. It never treaty. According to the White House, for a two­state solution to the dec­ munity considers both areas to be They would include Israel, the happened before and will never “Sides will finalize, within days, Biden also raised concerns about ades­old conflict between Israelis occupied territory. Palestinians, the four members of again,” said Jonathan Rynhold, a procedures needed to ensure fur­ the arrest of opposition figure Alex­ and Palestinians. “Under the new administration, the so­called Middle East diplomatic professor with the Political Studies ther functioning of this major ei Navalny. The Kremlin, mean­ Richard Mills, acting US ambas­ the policy of the United States will be quartet (Russia, the United Nations, Department at Bar Ilan University. international mechanism on recip­ while, said the leaders also sador to the United Nations, made to support a mutually agreed two­ the United States and the European Nimrod Goren, head of the Israeli rocal limitation of nuclear missile discussed other “acute issues on the the announcement of Biden’s state solution, one in which Israel Union), along with four Arab states Institute for Regional Foreign Poli­ arsenals,” Peskov said. bilateral and international agenda”. approach to a high­level virtual lives in peace and security alongside — Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan and the cies, said: “These were years when “International topics included The Kremlin described the talk Security Council meeting, saying a viable Palestinian state,” Mills said. United Arab Emirates, Lavrov said. the chances of peace dwindled. the United States’ unilateral with­ as “frank and businesslike” — often the new US administration believes Before Mills spoke, Palestinian “It would also be important to Trump took steps that undermined drawal from the Open Skies Treaty, a diplomatic way of referring to this “remains the best way to ensure Foreign Minister Riad Malki criti­ invite Saudi Arabia, which is behind the international consensus on the problems of keeping in place the tense discussions. It also said Putin Israel’s future as a democratic and cized the Trump administration for the Arab peace initiative,” he said. two­state solution, weakened a Joint Comprehensive Plan of congratulated Biden on becoming Jewish state while upholding the using “the US might and influence But according to some Israeli moderate Palestinian leadership Action on the Iranian nuclear pro­ president and “noted that normali­ Palestinians’ legitimate aspirations to support Israel’s unlawful efforts experts, it is unlikely that Israelis and gave Israelis the feeling that the gram, Ukrainian settlement, as zation of ties between Russia and for a state of their own and to live to entrench its occupation” and reit­ and Palestinians will inch closer to issue is no longer relevant.” well as Russia’s initiative to call a the US would serve the interests of with dignity and security”. erated hopes “for the resumption of solving their conflict in the near summit of the United Nations both countries”. Trump’s administration provided relations and positive engagement”. future as the new administration of AGENCIES—XINHUA