Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong met with Ali Shahbana, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
On April 11, 2024, Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong met with the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Ali Shahbana in Beijing.
Sun Weidong said that ESCAP, as the most important regional cooperation mechanism of the United Nations in the Asia-Pacific region, has made important contributions to promoting the economic and social development of the Asia-Pacific region. China attaches great importance to the role of ESCAP and stands ready to work with ESCAP to firmly uphold multilateralism, jointly advance the Global Development Initiative, build high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and promote the building of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.
Ali Shahbana thanked China for its strong support to ESCAP and expressed his willingness to strengthen communication and coordination with China, deepen cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and jointly promote the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.
Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li met with German Ambassador to China Fu Rong
On April 11, 2024, Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li met with German Ambassador to China Fu Rong, and the two sides exchanged views on China-Germany relations and the next stage of high-level exchanges.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning on April 11, 2024
Presided over the regular press conference
Xinhua News Agency: According to reports, Palestine formally asked the UN Security Council to reconsider its application for full membership in 2011. On 8 July, the Security Council held a meeting and referred the application to the Committee on the Admission of New Members for consideration. The U.S. side said it would continue to oppose Palestine's formal entry into the United Nations in the absence of a broader agreement with Israel. What is China's position on this?
Mao Ning: The current round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is still dragging on, causing a serious humanitarian crisis, which once again reminds the international community that only by fully implementing the two-state solution, realizing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and correcting the long-standing historical injustices suffered by the Palestinian people, can we completely get out of the vicious circle of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. China supports Palestine becoming a full Member of the United Nations and the Security Council taking action as soon as possible.
NBC: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is visiting the US, and the two sides are focusing on expanding the security relationship to counter China, including enhancing missile systems and the possibility of Japan joining the US-UK-Australia Trilateral Security Partnership. President Biden also invited Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos to attend the U.S.-Japan-Philippines summit. What is China's view on the Indo-Pacific strategic alliance, and what do you see as the potential consequences?
Mao Ning: In disregard of China's grave concerns, the US and Japan have smeared and attacked China on Taiwan, maritime issues and other issues, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, and seriously violated the basic norms governing international relations.
U.S.-Japan relations should not target or harm the interests of other countries, and should not undermine regional peace and stability. China resolutely opposes the Cold War mentality and the practice of engaging in small-group politics, and resolutely opposes words and deeds that create and intensify contradictions and undermine the strategic security and interests of other countries.
I would like to stress that one China is a historical fact and an international consensus. The Taiwan issue is purely China's internal affair and brooks no interference by any external forces. The US and Japanese governments have both made solemn commitments to China on the Taiwan issue, and in particular, Japan bears serious historical responsibility for Taiwan's aggression and colonial rule. We urge the US side to implement President Biden's commitment that the US will not support "Taiwan independence" into action.
China's activities in the East and South China Seas are fully in line with international law and are beyond reproach. Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have been China's inherent territory since ancient times, and China will resolutely respond to illegal acts that infringe on China's sovereignty. China has indisputable sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and its adjacent waters, and China is willing to continue to properly handle maritime issues with relevant parties through dialogue and consultation, so as to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea. At the same time, China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests brook no infringement, and China's determination to safeguard its legitimate rights is unwavering.
The real threat to regional peace and stability is that the United States and Japan distort facts and truth, seriously undermine China's territorial sovereignty, and seriously violate international law and basic norms governing international relations.
Finally, I would like to stress that China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. China will never allow any country to interfere in China's internal affairs, undermine China's interests or tarnish China's image, and will resolutely defend its sovereignty, security and development interests, and strive to maintain peace, stability and lasting prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
Bloomberg: When you mentioned that you have lodged solemn representations with the relevant parties, do you mean the US and Japan?
Mao Ning: We lodged solemn representations with relevant parties because the joint statement issued by the US and Japan smeared and attacked China on Taiwan, maritime issues, and grossly interfered in China's internal affairs.
Yonhap News Agency: How does China view the victory of the opposition camp in the National Assembly election held yesterday? What impact does China think this outcome will have on ROK-China relations?
Mao Ning: The election of members of the National Assembly is an internal affair of South Korea, and I will not comment on it. China and the ROK are important neighbors and cooperative partners of each other. It is in the common interest of both sides to promote the sound and steady development of China-ROK relations. It is hoped that the ROK and China will work together in the same direction and make positive efforts to this end.
Reuters: US Commerce Department officials said yesterday that the US has blacklisted four Chinese companies for exporting AI chips for assisting the Chinese military. At the same time, the United States has imposed export restrictions on Chinese companies that assist in Russia's military activities. Do you have any comment?
Mao Ning: We firmly oppose the US's misuse of export control tools such as the Entity List to contain and suppress Chinese companies, and urge the US to stop politicizing, instrumentalizing and weaponizing economic, trade, and technological issues. China and Russia have the right to carry out normal economic and trade cooperation, and such cooperation should not be interfered with or restricted. We have always opposed the illegal unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States. China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
Press Trust of India: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a recent interview with Newsweek that India-China relations are very important and significant. The two sides urgently need to resolve the long-standing border issue in order to overcome the extraordinary disruption in bilateral relations. The peaceful and stable development of India-China relations is important to both countries and the region, and it is hoped and believed that the two countries can restore peace and tranquility in the border areas through active and constructive contacts at the diplomatic and military levels. What is China's response to this?
Mao Ning: China has taken note of Prime Minister Modi's remarks. Healthy and stable Sino-Indian relations are in the common interests of both sides and are conducive to peace and development in the region and the world at large. The border issue is not the whole story of China-India relations, and it should be properly managed in an appropriate position in China-India relations. At present, China and India are maintaining close communication through diplomatic and military channels on resolving issues related to the border situation and have made positive progress. It is hoped that the Indian side will work with China in the same direction, grasp bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, persist in enhancing mutual trust, persist in dialogue and cooperation, and properly handle differences, so as to promote the development of bilateral relations along a sound and stable track.
Dragon TV: According to reports, Biden met with Fumio Kishida on November 10 and issued a joint statement. The statement said that the United States and Japan are determined to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons in a realistic and pragmatic manner. China's acceleration of its nuclear arsenal without transparency and meaningful dialogue is a concern for global and regional stability. Do you have any comment?
Mao Ning: The so-called concerns expressed by the US and Japan over China's nuclear policy are completely false narratives that are divorced from facts and have ulterior motives, and China firmly opposes and will never accept them.
China pursues a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, is committed not to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States or nuclear-weapon-free zones, maintains its nuclear forces at the minimum level required for national security, and refrains from participating in any form of arms race. As long as no country uses nuclear weapons against China, it should not feel threatened by China's nuclear weapons.
The United States has the world's largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal, but it stubbornly adheres to the policy of first use of nuclear weapons, tailors nuclear deterrence to other countries, invests huge sums of money in upgrading the "three-in-one" nuclear forces, wantonly breaks treaties and withdraws from the group in the field of arms control, strengthens the NATO nuclear alliance, and expands advanced military-technical cooperation with its allies. As a victim of the nuclear explosion, Japan has not only demanded US nuclear disarmament, but has relied on the US "nuclear umbrella" to develop advanced missile offensive and defensive capabilities and coordinate with the forward deployment of US strategic forces. The relevant negative moves by the United States and Japan have undermined the global and regional strategic balance and stability, hindered the process of international arms control and disarmament, and disrupted regional peace and tranquility. The international community has reason to be gravely concerned about this.
Those who are righteous must first correct themselves. The United States and Japan should reflect on themselves, correct their attitudes, stop undermining the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, earnestly reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national and collective security policies, and give the international community a responsible account.
AFP: Reporters Without Borders said a representative of the organization tried to enter Hong Kong yesterday to attend the trial of Jimmy Lai. However, upon arrival in Hong Kong, the representative was denied entry and subsequently deported. Can the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explain this, and is this incident further evidence that press freedom is being eroded in Hong Kong?
Mao Ning: I don't know about the specific situation you mentioned. With regard to press freedom in Hong Kong, what I can tell you is that in the more than 26 years since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, freedom of speech and the press has always been fully protected by Hong Kong's Basic Law and other laws. It is an objective fact that the number of international media and journalists in Hong Kong has increased unabated in recent years.
China Daily: We noted that this week, China, the United States and the European Union held a ministerial meeting on consumer product safety in China. Can you tell us more about that?
Mao Ning: Yesterday, the General Administration of Customs of China, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumer Affairs (DGJ) of the European Union held the 8th China-US-EU Tripartite Ministerial Conference on Consumer Product Safety in Hangzhou. It is understood that the meeting deeply discussed the new path of strengthening cooperation on consumer product safety under the new situation, reached a new consensus on further deepening tripartite cooperation, and adopted the "Joint Statement". The three parties believe that they should seek to build common standards for consumer product safety, explore more effective regulatory models and smarter regulatory paths, deepen joint supervision of consumer product safety, focus on the joint protection of consumer rights and interests, and safeguard the common safety of consumer products.
The Chinese government has always attached great importance to the safety of imported and exported consumer goods, and has always been committed to improving the capacity and level of consumer product safety governance, continuously promoting the regulation of consumer product safety in line with international rules, firmly promoting the disclosure of consumer product safety information, and creating a market-oriented, law-based and international first-class business environment.
President Xi Jinping pointed out that "only win-win cooperation can accomplish big, good and long-term things". China, the United States and Europe are both important forces in the international community and important partners in the trade of consumer goods, so exchanges and cooperation should be strengthened. China is ready to work with partners in other countries to build consensus on cooperation and synergy in governance, continuously improve the safety of global consumer goods, promote global trade facilitation, and enhance the well-being of people in all countries.
Reuters: According to Hong Kong media reports, the Chinese leader will visit Australia. Can you confirm that?
Mao Ning: I don't have any information to provide for your specific question. What I can tell you is that with the joint efforts of both sides, exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia at all levels and in various fields have gradually resumed in recent years. Last year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid a successful visit to China, and the leaders of the two countries reached an important consensus on further improving and developing China-Australia relations. We stand ready to work with the Australian side to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen practical cooperation, enhance understanding and mutual trust, and promote the development of the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership on a more mature, stable and fruitful track.
Global Times: Recently, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he was shocked that the Duterte administration had reached a "gentlemen's agreement" with China on the Ren'ai Jiao issue, and was seeking clarification of the so-called agreement. Marcos also expressed his willingness to maintain communication with the Chinese side at all levels and make every effort to ease the situation. Do you have any comment?
Mao Ning: First of all, I would like to stress that Ren'ai Jiao is part of China's Nansha Islands, and China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Islands, including Ren'ai Jiao, and its adjacent waters. China has been committed to working with the Philippines to manage the situation on the ground through dialogue and consultation. The reasons for the current situation at Second Thomas Reef are clear and clear. First, the Philippine side violated its commitments and refused to tow away the warship illegally beached at Ren'ai Jiao; second, it categorically denied the "gentlemen's agreement" reached with China during the Duterte administration and wantonly infringed on and provoked at sea; third, it arbitrarily abandoned the internal understanding reached between the current administration and China on the Ren'ai Jiao issue and insisted on transporting construction materials to the illegal "beached" warship at Ren'ai Jiao, in an attempt to repair and reinforce it on a large scale in order to achieve permanent occupation of Ren'ai Jiao.
If the Philippine side really wants to ease the situation at Ren'ai Jiao through dialogue and communication, it must keep its promises, abide by consensus and stop provocations. On how to deal with the current situation at Second Thomas Shoal, China's position is clear and unambiguous.
First, the Philippines violated China's sovereignty by sending "warships" to "beach" at Ren'ai Jiao for a long time, and violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, especially Article 5, which stipulates that no habitation of uninhabited islands and reefs should be carried out. The Chinese side demands that the Philippine side immediately tow away the ship and restore the original status quo of Ren'ai Jiao as if it were unoccupied and without facilities.
Second, if the Philippines needs to provide daily necessities to the ship's occupants before the Philippines tows away the beached warship, China is willing to allow the Philippine side to carry out the transportation and replenishment on humanitarian grounds, after informing the Chinese side in advance and conducting on-site verification, and the Chinese side will monitor the whole process.
Third, if the Philippines transports a large amount of building materials to the ship and tries to build fixed facilities and permanent outposts, China will never accept it and will resolutely block it in accordance with laws and regulations, so as to safeguard China's sovereignty and the seriousness of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
Chinese International Channel of China Central Channel: According to reports, China and Georgia signed an agreement on mutual visa exemption for ordinary passport holders on the 10th, adding another country to the number of overseas destinations for Chinese citizens who are ready to go. When will the agreement come into force? What other measures will China take to facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries? In addition, we have also noted that the latest report of the United Nations Tourism Organization (UNWTO) shows that the openness of global visa policies has increased significantly, and the Asia-Pacific region is more open to international tourism. Do you have any comment?
Mao Ning: China and Georgia yesterday signed the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Georgia on Mutual Visa Exemption for Holders of Ordinary Passports. It is believed that the agreement will come into force and be announced to the public in a timely manner after the completion of the respective domestic legal procedures, which will further facilitate people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields.
In order to serve high-quality development and high-level opening-up, the Chinese government has successively introduced a number of measures to facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries, providing better conditions for countries to share China's development opportunities. As Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, we hope to work with more countries to build a fast network for cross-border people-to-people exchanges, so that Chinese citizens can leave as they say and foreign friends can feel at home.
Shimbun: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK) said that the date of the ROK-Japan-China summit is being finalized. Earlier, Japanese media reported that the meeting would be held on May 26-27. What is China's plan for this?
Mao Ning: China attaches great importance to China-Japan-ROK cooperation and hopes that the three sides will work together to create conditions for the summit.