On November 9, Ambassador to Qatar Zhou Jian held a press conference to promote the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, comprehensively expounding the important political achievements and historical significance of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, profoundly explaining the scientific connotation, Chinese characteristics and essential requirements of Chinese-style modernization, actively introducing China's practical path and world significance in promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, depicting the bright future prospects of China-Qatar relations in a panoramic picture, and reiterating China's firm support for Qatar's successful hosting of the World Cup. Nearly 10 local mainstream media including Qatar News Agency, The Banner, Gulf Times, Oriental Newspaper and Al Jazeera, as well as reporters from Xinhua News Agency and China Central Radio and Television Station attended the meeting. On the 10th, relevant media reported on the special press conference on the front page or in large pages, introducing the important achievements and significance of the 20th CPC National Congress, appreciating China's firm support for the Qatar World Cup, and looking forward to the bright prospects of China-Qatar cooperation. The transcript of the press conference is as follows:
Welcome to this year's press conference of the Chinese Embassy in Qatar. This year is a significant year for China and Qatar, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has just been successfully held, and Emir Tamim immediately sent a congratulatory message to General Secretary Xi Jinping. The Qatar World Cup football tournament is about to open, and next year will usher in the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Qatar, and China-Qatar relations are standing at a new historical starting point.
Today, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you the results of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, send a clear signal of firm support for the Qatar World Cup, and look forward to the bright prospects of China-Qatar relations in the future. First of all, I would like to introduce the relevant situation of the 20th National Congress from three aspects:
First, the 20th National Congress elected a new leadership collective for national rejuvenation. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China is a very important congress held at the crucial moment when China is embarking on a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country and marching towards the second centenary goal. The most important achievement of the congress was the election of a new central leadership collective with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, which promoted and practiced democracy throughout the process and gathered the consensus of the whole party and the people of the whole country. History has repeatedly proved that a strong leadership core and advanced theories that are scientifically effective are the keys to a country's development and growth. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is based on the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific conditions and with China's excellent traditional culture, and has opened up a new realm of Sinicization of Marxism, which we will fully implement and adhere to for a long time. We firmly believe that with General Secretary Xi Jinping continuing to steer and with the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will certainly be able to seize the opportunity, overcome various risks and challenges, and achieve the development strategy and goals established by the 20th National Congress. The giant ship "China" will definitely be able to break through the rapids, cross the dangerous beach, ride the wind and waves along the correct course, and travel steadily and far. China's highest level of political certainty fundamentally ensures the coherence of China's policy, which is self-evident for China and the world.
Second, the 20th Party Congress opened the way for China to realize modernization. The conference scientifically mapped out a roadmap and timetable for China's development in the next five years and beyond. The congress pointed out that from now on, the central task of the Communist Party of China is to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups in the country to build a modern and powerful socialist country in an all-round way, realize the second centenary goal, and comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization. To achieve this goal, the general strategic arrangement is to take two steps: basically realize socialist modernization from 2020 to 2035; From 2035 to the middle of this century, we will build the mainland into a prosperous, strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious and beautiful modern socialist power.
After decades of unremitting exploration, China has finally found a Chinese-style modernization path that suits it. This path has the common characteristics of modernization of all countries, and it has Chinese characteristics based on its own national conditions. This is the modernization of the huge size of the population. China's population of more than 1.4 billion people has entered a modern society as a whole, which is larger than the total population of existing developed countries, and the arduousness and complexity are unprecedented. We need to feed nearly 20% of the world's population with 9% of the world's arable land and 6% of its freshwater resources. We must think about problems, make decisions, and do things based on China's national conditions, and we cannot copy other countries' models and existing answers.
This is the modernization of common prosperity for all the people. We adhere to the people-centered development concept and resolutely prevent polarization. To achieve common prosperity, it is not to engage in egalitarianism, but to make the cake bigger and divide it well, and gradually achieve universal prosperity through bringing prosperity later, so that the fruits of development can benefit all the people more and more equitably.
This is a modernization that harmonizes material civilization and spiritual civilization. We have continuously promoted the all-round enrichment of materials and the all-round development of people, and created two miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability. On the one hand, we have continuously cultivated a modern material foundation and continuously consolidated the material conditions for the people's happy life. On the other hand, we have vigorously developed advanced socialist culture, strengthened education in ideals and beliefs, and inherited Chinese civilization.
This is the modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. We adhere to sustainable development and protect nature and the ecological environment as much as we protect our eyes. I remember 10 years ago, Beijing was often shrouded in smog in autumn and winter, but now Beijing has more blue skies, more people exercising on the roadside, and more birds on branches. Over the past 10 years, Chinese people have made great efforts and sacrifices to improve the ecological environment and made great contributions to the global ecological environment.
This is modernization along the path of peaceful development. Since ancient times, China has had the motto that "although a country is big, a good war will surely die", and it will never follow the old path of "a strong country must be hegemonic". China is the only country in the world that has written "adhering to the path of peaceful development" into its constitution, the only country among the five nuclear-weapon states that has committed not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and the second largest contributor to peacekeeping peacekeepers to the United Nations and the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. China is the country with the largest number of neighbors and the longest land border in the world, and it is also one of the countries with the most complex border situation. We insist on resolving disputes through dialogue and negotiation, pursue a defensive national defense policy, and no matter what level of development it has, China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion. China's development is the growth of world peace forces.
Third, the 20th Party Congress reaffirmed the strategic choice to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. At present, the century-old changes and the epidemic of the century are intertwined, the world economic recovery is struggling, local conflicts and regional crises are emerging one after another, the Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation dregs are rising, and problems such as food, energy and climate are emerging one after another. In this regard, China's choice given by the 20th National Congress is to promote world peace and development and promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.
The Communist Party of China is a party that seeks happiness for the Chinese of the people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, progress for mankind, and common cause for the world. China's foreign policy maintains continuity and certainty, that is, to safeguard world peace, promote common development, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China will continue to follow the path of peaceful development, adhere to the basic national policy of opening up to the outside world, firmly pursue the strategy of opening up for mutual benefit and win-win results, firmly pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, adhere to the development of friendly cooperation with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, promote the building of a new type of international relations, deepen and expand the global partnership of equality, openness and cooperation, actively participate in the reform and construction of the global governance system, and promote the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom for all mankind. We will continue to contribute Chinese wisdom, Chinese solutions and Chinese strength to promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. At the same time, we take a clear stand against all hegemonism and power politics, and unswervingly oppose any unilateralism, protectionism and bullying.
Journalist friends,
Secondly, I would like to share with you what the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China means for China-Qatar relations.
In the past decade, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Qatar relations have entered a golden period of great development. The political mutual trust between the two countries has reached a new height. President Xi Jinping and Emir Tamim met for the fourth time, drawing a strategic blueprint and injecting strong impetus into China-Qatar relations. The two sides formally established a strategic partnership and firmly supported each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns. The mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries has yielded new fruits. The two sides have gradually formed a cooperation pattern with oil and gas cooperation as the main axis, infrastructure construction as the focus, and financial investment and high-tech as new growth points. The bilateral trade volume between China and Qatar has more than doubled to more than US$18 billion, and China has become Qatar's largest trading partner, largest source of imports and largest export destination. People-to-people exchanges between the two countries have gained new vitality. The China-Qatar Cultural Year is splendid, and the comprehensive mutual visa exemption agreement between the two countries facilitates personnel exchanges. In particular, last month, two cute Chinese giant pandas, Jingjing (Suhaile) and Sihai (Sulana), arrived in Doha and will immediately meet the people of Qatar, becoming a new symbol of China-Qatar and China-Arab friendship.
The next five years are a crucial period for China to start building a modern socialist country in an all-round way, and it is also an important stage for Qatar to promote the realization of the "2030 National Vision". We should take the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Qatar next year as an opportunity to promote China-Qatar relations to a new journey and a new level.
We must be good brothers who trust and support each other. Political mutual trust has always been the distinctive background of China-Qatar strategic partnership, and it is also an important guarantee for promoting the stability and long-term development of China-Qatar relations. We should support each other on issues involving each other's core interests, support each other in independently exploring development paths suited to their national conditions, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries. We must work together to host three grand events of friendship: China will fully support Qatar in hosting the World Cup, and the Chinese Embassy is willing to communicate and cooperate closely with Qatar to present a wonderful football feast for Chinese fans. We will work together to contribute to the complete success of the first China-Arab States Summit, help build a China-Arab community with a shared future, and contribute to a higher level of China-Arab collective cooperation. We will also jointly welcome the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Qatar, hold colorful exchanges and celebrations, and create a better 35 years of China-Qatar relations.
We must be a good partner for mutual benefit and common development. China and Qatar have complementary industrial resources, similar development concepts, and close integration of interests, and the cooperation between the two sides has great potential and broad prospects. We need to deepen the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with the 2030 National Vision and accelerate the implementation of global development initiatives in Qatar. China is willing to actively participate in Qatar's post-World Cup development and construction, build a long-term and stable China-Qatar energy partnership, encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Qatar, actively participate in Qatar's infrastructure construction and free zone construction, and welcome Qatar to increase investment in China. China is willing to work with Qatar to actively carry out cooperation in green infrastructure, green finance, digital economy, clean energy, low-carbon technology cooperation and other fields, strive to build more environment-friendly projects, build a closer green development partnership between China and Qatar, and jointly build a community of human and natural life.
We must be a good example of inclusiveness, mutual learning and people-to-people bonds. Civilizations communicate through diversity, learn from each other through exchanges, and develop through mutual learning. China is willing to work with Qatar to expand cooperation in culture, education and tourism, and looks forward to reaching agreement on key projects such as the establishment of mutual cultural centers and the opening of Confucius Institutes in Qatar as soon as possible, so as to create a new platform for China-Qatar cultural cooperation and enable China and Qatar to develop and prosper together in the mutual learning of civilizations. We should work together to promote the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom for all mankind, oppose the "theory of superiority of civilizations" and the "theory of clash of civilizations", and make unremitting efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
Journalist friends,
Twelve years ago, the 22nd FIFA World Cup went to Qatar. The people of Qatar kept their promises, overcame many difficulties, and successfully completed the preparatory work related to the World Cup related infrastructure construction, transportation, safety and security, health and epidemic prevention, fan reception, publicity and promotion.
In 11 days, the World Cup, which has attracted the attention of fans around the world, will begin. It's a unique World Cup. The tournament was held for the first time in an Arab country and for the first time in a winter in the Northern Hemisphere, using semi-automatic offside techniques for the first time. It provides a platform for the people of Qatar to showcase their national culture and development achievements, and also provides a window for the people of the world to understand the Arab world. It's a World Cup of solidarity. As the three theme songs of this year's cup "Together", "Welcome" and "Light Up the Sky" sing, unity is our most powerful weapon to transcend ideological barriers and overcome common challenges. It is believed that the Qatar World Cup will surely inject more stability and positive energy into today's turbulent world through the platform of sports events. It's a green World Cup. For the first time, desalination and solar photovoltaic technology were applied on a large scale in the stadium, and a fully removable stadium was introduced for the first time. In particular, it is worth mentioning that the Lusail Stadium project undertaken by China has also been recognized as a five-star green building evaluation system designated by FIFA, becoming one of the stadium projects with the highest level of green construction, the most energy-saving and environmentally friendly in the world.
China firmly supports the Qatar FIFA World Cup and believes that Qatar has the ability to host a wonderful and unique Arab World Cup, injecting positive energy into this turbulent world with unity and forging ahead. China's support for Qatar is concrete and practical: from the Lusail Stadium to 1,500 new energy buses, from the stadium's communications and network equipment to the World Cup souvenirs and cultural shirts that can be seen everywhere, there are traces of China-built and Chinese-made everywhere. In a few days, the two cute giant pandas "Jingjing" and "Four Seas" will end their isolation and officially meet the Qatari people, adding another lively atmosphere to the festive atmosphere in Qatar. It can be said that the 1.4 billion Chinese people are sincerely happy for Qatar to host the World Cup and sincerely wish Qatar a complete success.
At the same time, we have also noticed that some political forces do not want to see the success of the Qatar World Cup, and they have engaged in a "diplomatic boycott" out of ideological prejudice and based on lies and rumors in an attempt to interfere with the Qatar World Cup. This reminds me of the same rumor-mongering at the beginning of this year when the Beijing Winter Olympics were smeared. Whenever there is a major event in developing countries, these people will jump out and engage in political manipulation under the banner of human rights, destroy the festive atmosphere, and block the local people. It can be seen that the so-called human rights issue is purely a crime intended to be added, but it is just a tool for some forces to interfere in the internal affairs of developing countries and suppress their development and progress. China resolutely opposes the politicization of human rights issues, the politicization of sports, interference in the internal affairs of other countries as a tool, and double standards. We appreciate Qatar's positive achievements in protecting labor rights and interests, and believe that Qatar is fully capable of hosting the World Cup successfully. Those who attempt to politically interfere in the World Cup in Qatar will end in failure.
Ambassador Zhou Jian also exchanged views with journalists on China-Qatar cooperation in various fields, international and regional situations, and China-Qatar giant panda conservation research cooperation.