China News Service: Recently some African figures, such as former Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission Erastus Mwencha, and Director of the Diplomatic Society Kirtan Bhana, noted that in a world fraught with changes and instabilities, both Africa and China face complex challenges, and it is important that the two sides jointly uphold multilateralism, safeguard world peace and development, and contribute wisdom and strength to improving global governance. However, some in the West commented that by leveraging the concerns of the Global South about the current international system, China aims to challenge the “liberal world order.” What is your comment?
Lin Jian: China and African countries both advocate and work for safeguarding international peace and security and promoting global development and prosperity. China and Africa endured colonialist and imperialist suppression and invasion. We supported each other and fought together on the road of anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism, and won independence of our countries and liberation of our nations. Therefore, we deeply cherish independence, self-determination, fairness and justice; we agree on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence; we are committed to building an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization; and we both aim to make the international order more just and equitable.
China and Africa practice true multilateralism, uphold the international system with the UN at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter as the basis, and reject colonialist approaches and hegemonic moves. We firmly support each other’s core interests and uphold developing countries’ just position. We work to build an open world economy, tear down walls rather than erect walls, seek openness rather than exclusion, and enable developing countries to better share the benefit of economic globalization. We stand for bridging the gap between rich countries and poor ones, reject all forms of interference by big powers and economic coercion, and ask developed countries to face up to their historical responsibilities and deliver on their development commitments. We are committed to promoting the political settlement of international and regional hotspot issues, advocate dialogue to bridge differences and cooperation to resolve disputes, and call for ceasefire of the Ukraine crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We firmly support efforts of transcending cultural estrangement through exchanges and promoting inclusiveness and mutual learning among civilizations. We advocate that the representation and say of developing countries, especially African countries, need to be increased in the international governance system. China is the first to support the African Union’s full membership in the G20 and welcomes more African countries to join the big family of BRICS.
China and Africa are the staunch forces for defending the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, upholding the purposes of the UN Charter, and safeguarding multilateralism and international fairness and justice. At the upcoming FOCAC Summit next week, the two sides will enhance unity and cooperation among developing countries to augment the strength of the Global South, jointly champion international fairness and justice, and advance the peace and development of the world.
Phoenix TV: On August 29, a Hong Kong court convicted Stand News and relevant persons of conspiring to publish seditious articles. The US, the UK and the European Union said the conviction was an attack on Hong Kong’s media freedom. What’s the Foreign Ministry’s comments?
Lin Jian: China deplores and opposes a handful of countries and institutions exploiting the judicial case in the Hong Kong SAR to vilify Hong Kong and interfere in China’s internal affairs.
Let me stress that the rights and freedoms Hong Kong residents enjoy in accordance with law, including freedom of press, are fully protected. This is an undeniable fact. Meanwhile, Hong Kong upholds the rule of law where to abide by the law and bring lawbreakers to justice is a basic principle. Freedom of press is by no means a shield for illegal activities. We firmly support the judicial authorities of the Hong Kong SAR in performing duties in accordance with law and urge relevant countries and institutions to abide by the principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations, respect China’s sovereignty and the rule of law in the Hong Kong SAR, and stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs, which are China’s internal affairs, in any form.
Reuters: The second six-month extension to the US-China science and technology agreement expired on Tuesday. Will China like to see this decades-old pact renewed? Are negotiation talks underway or has China no hope of tech cooperation with the US from now on?
Lin Jian: The two sides are in communication on the China-US science and technology cooperation agreement. I’d refer you to competent authorities on the specifics.
Dragon TV: The New Zealand Business Roundtable in China (NZBRiC) recently published the NZBRiC Business Outlook Report 2024, which says that 76 percent of respondents have a positive view for the Chinese economy in the coming year and 93 percent indicate this for the next three years. The report also shows that 84 percent of respondents say their company has increased or maintained total investments in China over the past three years, 88 percent also intend to increase or maintain China investments in the coming three years, and 61 percent anticipate increasing their China-based headcount in the next three years. What’s your comment?
Lin Jian: We noted the report released by the New Zealand institution. The report categorized the survey in the New Zealand business community with three themes: opportunity, confidence and cooperation. It attests to the opportunities brought by China’s development, reflects the confidence in China’s economic outlook and highlights the aspiration for China-New Zealand cooperation. The report serves as another evidence that China’s development is an opportunity not a challenge to New Zealand, and that China-New Zealand economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature.
China is further deepening reform across the board and advancing Chinese modernization, which will generate more opportunities for China-New Zealand cooperation. China stands ready to work with New Zealand to actively respond to the aspiration of various sectors in the two countries, deliver on the important common understandings reached by leaders of the two countries as well as the outcomes of Premier Li Qiang’s visit this June, carry forward the spirit of “striving to be the first,” deepen and expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and further upgrade the comprehensive strategic partnership to deliver more benefits to the two peoples.
AFP: Some media in Myanmar have reported that the Chinese side has warned the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) to stop fighting in the North close to the Chinese border. Can you confirm that China has told the TNLA to stop fighting and what is the situation on the border at the moment?
Lin Jian: China is closely following the situation in Myanmar and the developments of the conflict in northern Myanmar, and has been working to promote peacetalks and ceasefire. As Myanmar’s biggest neighboring country, China has all along sincerely hoped that Myanmar will achieve stability and development, and has worked actively to this end. China will continue to play a constructive role for Myanmar’s peace and reconciliation process and promote the deescalation in northern Myanmar.
Bloomberg: The Philippines’ top military official said that the deployment of the US missile system in the country was mainly for training. China has been in the past said that the weapon system could be destabilizing. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comments on the recent comments by the Philippines’ military chief?
Lin Jian: On the US deployment of Mid-Range Capability missile system in the Philippines, China has made clear our opposition more than once. This move by the US and the Philippines incites geopolitical confrontation, escalates tensions in the region, and harms regional peace and stability. It has aroused high vigilance and concerns of countries in the region. The Philippines needs to have a clear understanding of the real intention of the US, respond to the common concerns of regional countries, avoid acting as the cat’s paw for the US at the expense of its own security interest, and quickly pull out the missile system as publicly pledged.
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