Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning on April 8, 2024
Presided over the regular press conference
CRI's Chinese Global Program Center: We have noticed that since April, Southeast Asian countries have set off a wave of high-level visits to China. Indonesian President-elect Prabowo chose China as the first stop on his first foreign trip. Last week, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Laos Salunxay, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, and Foreign Minister of Timor-Leste Ben Di Tuo in Guangxi. This week, Thailand's Princess Sirindhorn, Vietnamese National Assembly President Ong Dinh Hue, and Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat visited China. Can you tell us more about that?
Mao Ning: The recent visits to China by leaders and foreign ministers of a number of Southeast Asian countries show that relevant countries attach great importance to the development of relations with China.
China and Southeast Asian countries are good neighbors, good friends and good partners who share a common destiny. In accordance with President Xi Jinping's concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and tolerance, China has carried out friendly cooperation with neighboring countries to enhance understanding and mutual trust for common development and revitalization. China and ASEAN have been each other's largest trading partners for four consecutive years. In the first two months of this year, the total trade volume between China and ASEAN reached 993.2 billion yuan, an increase of 8.1 percent. Southeast Asian countries are important partners in the Belt and Road Initiative, and a large number of cooperation projects, such as the China-Laos Railway, the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway, and the China-Malaysia "Two Countries, Two Parks" project, have promoted regional growth and benefited the people of the region. China has achieved visa exemption with Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges will hold a series of colorful activities to promote mutual understanding between the two peoples.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the publication of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. We are ready to work with neighboring countries to inherit and carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, practice the concept of amity, sincerity, benefit and tolerance, deepen the convergence of interests, and work together to build an Asian home of peace, tranquility, prosperity and beauty, and friendly coexistence.
Bloomberg: According to Bloomberg, the US recently warned its allies about China's increased support for Russia, saying that China has provided Russia with satellite imagery for military purposes, microelectronics and machine tools for tanks, and materials for missiles, and that China and Russia have strengthened space cooperation. Does the foreign ministry have any comment?
Mao Ning: On the Ukraine issue, China has always upheld an objective and fair position, actively promoted peace talks, and promoted a political settlement. China is not the creator and party to the Ukraine crisis. We don't and won't do anything out of it.
China has always controlled the export of dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations. Relevant countries should not smear and attack the normal state-to-state relations between China and Russia, should not harm the legitimate rights and interests of China and Chinese companies, and should not shift the blame to China and provoke bloc confrontation.
Reuters: There were recent reports that the US-UK-Australia Trilateral Security Partnership (AUKUS) is about to start formal talks on admitting new members including Japan. Has China taken note of the relevant reports and has you responded to them?
Mao Ning: We have noted relevant reports. Ignoring the widespread concerns of regional countries and the international community about the risk of nuclear proliferation, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia have continuously signaled the expansion of the so-called "trilateral security partnership", lured some countries into joining the partnership, intensified the arms race in the Asia-Pacific region, and undermined regional peace and stability. China is gravely concerned about this. We oppose the cobbling together of exclusive "small circles" and bloc confrontation among the countries concerned. In particular, Japan should profoundly draw lessons from history and be cautious in its words and deeds in the field of military security.
RIA Novosti: In an interview with the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper in Tokyo, US Army Pacific Commander Charles Flynn said that the US intends to deploy medium-range missiles in the Indo-Pacific region in the near future. Finding ways to counter China's missile modernization is a key responsibility for U.S. ground forces. Do you have any comment?
Mao Ning: China adheres to the path of peaceful development and firmly pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. We have no interest in competing with any country for military power.
China has always firmly opposed the deployment of medium-range missiles by the United States in the Asia-Pacific region in pursuit of unilateral military superiority, and the strengthening of forward deployment at China's doorstep. We urge the US to earnestly respect the security concerns of other countries and stop undermining regional peace and stability.
China News Service: It is understood that some Chinese students and scholars have been interrogated and forcibly repatriated when they entered the US at Washington Dulles Airport and Dallas Airport recently. When asked about the reason for the repatriation, the US law enforcement officer bluntly said that "it is because the United States and China have bad relations." Do you have any comment?
Mao Ning: The US has been broadening the concept of national security and arbitrarily canceling visas, banning entry and forcibly repatriating Chinese students without conclusive evidence, causing great harm to the parties concerned and creating obstacles to China-US people-to-people exchanges. A number of recent cases have shown that the repatriation of US law enforcement officers for the sole purpose of repatriation is a typical political, discriminatory and selective law enforcement.
The US should immediately stop unwarranted harassment, interrogation, and repatriation of Chinese citizens, immediately stop beating and persecuting Chinese students, and take concrete actions to fulfill its commitment to support and facilitate people-to-people exchanges and people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States. China will take resolute measures to safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens.
AFP: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in Guangzhou on Saturday that Chinese companies that aid Russia in the war in Ukraine will face significant consequences. What message will Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov send to him during his visit to China?
Mao Ning: At the invitation of Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will pay an official visit to China today and tomorrow. The two sides will exchange views and coordinate positions on the development of bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields, and international and regional issues of common concern in the context of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. We will keep you informed of the details of the visit in a timely manner.
On the Ukraine issue, China is committed to playing a constructive role in a ceasefire, cessation of hostilities, and a political settlement of the crisis. Relevant countries should not attack and smear the normal state-to-state relations between China and Russia, and should not harm the legitimate rights and interests of China and Chinese enterprises. China will take resolute measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.
Bloomberg: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has been blunt about China's bank-Russia relations, saying that any bank that facilitates major transactions, such as the delivery of military or dual-use goods to Russia's defense industrial base, is likely to be sanctioned by the US. Does the foreign ministry have any comment?
Mao Ning: For specific questions, I recommend that you seek advice from the competent authorities. As a matter of principle, normal cooperation between China and Russia should not be interfered with or restricted, and China has always opposed illegal unilateral sanctions.
People's Daily: China has announced that Surinamese President Shan Dorjee will pay a state visit to China.
Mao Ning: This year marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the strategic cooperative partnership between China and Suriname, and China welcomes President Shan Dorjee's visit to China at this special moment. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will hold a welcoming ceremony for President Shan Dorjee, hold talks and jointly attend the signing ceremony of relevant cooperation documents. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Wang Huning will meet with President Shan Dorjee respectively. The two sides will have an in-depth exchange of views on Sino-Soviet relations and issues of common concern.
Suriname is an important country in the Caribbean and a strategic partner of China in the region. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Soviet Union, bilateral relations have developed well and fruitful cooperation in various fields has been fruitful. China attaches great importance to its relations with the two countries and is ready to work with Suriname to continuously enhance political mutual trust and expand friendly exchanges and practical cooperation in various fields for the benefit of the two countries and peoples. It is believed that President Shan Dorjee's visit will further promote the new development of Sino-Soviet relations and reach a new level.
AFP: The leaders of Japan and the Philippines will travel to the US this week to attend the US-Japan-Philippines summit, and the three sides are expected to strengthen defense ties. How does China's foreign ministry view the summit and the deepening relationship between Japan, the Philippines and the United States?
Mao Ning: Defense cooperation between any country should be conducive to regional peace and stability. We oppose the cobbling together of exclusive "small circles" and bloc confrontation in the region.
UNA: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is visiting China. Does the Chinese leadership plan to communicate with the Ukrainian side and make efforts to promote the cessation of the Russia-Ukraine war?
Mao Ning: On the Ukraine crisis, China is committed to playing a constructive role in a ceasefire, cessation of hostilities, and a political settlement of the crisis. We will continue to promote peace talks in our own way, maintain communication with relevant parties, including Russia and Ukraine, and promote an early political settlement of the crisis.