Beijing Daily: The Spring Festival of this Year of the Snake was unfolding with strong vitality and a festive atmosphere. We noted that people around the world celebrated the Chinese New Year with colorful celebration activities and China Travel kept trending as foreign visitors came to China to experience the festivity firsthand. Some commentators said that the Spring Festival has gained worldwide popularity. Do you have any comment on this?
Lin Jian: This Spring Festival is the first one since the inscription of the festival on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list. We’re glad to see that as China puts more countries on the visa-free list and fully relaxes and improves visa-free transit policy, the Chinese New Year is becoming a worldwide celebrated festival, with nearly 20 countries designating the Spring Festival as an official holiday and Spring Festival customs celebrated in almost 200 countries and regions. The festival was celebrated around the world with joy in such activities as traditional temple fair, dragon and lion dance, float parade, Hanfu clothing experience, lit-up of landmarks in Chinese red, and “a taste of China.” Meanwhile, foreign friends have shown growing enthusiasm for visiting China during the Chinese New Year. Data from third-party platforms indicate that inbound arrivals during this year’s Spring Festival leaped by 150 percent year on year, hitting a new high.
In Chinese culture, the snake symbolizes agility, wisdom and vitality. In this Year of the Snake, we will forge ahead with an enterprising spirit, focus on China’s development and join hands with other countries in building a bright future featuring win-win cooperation. The joyful Chinese New Year is a celebration of hope and new beginnings. We hope that the spirit of harmony and inclusiveness as well as vibrancy and prosperity will serve as a force for unity and inspiration for the world in the year to come.
BBC: President Trump has said that he is in no hurry to speak to President Xi after the announcement of tariffs and China’s retaliation. When will the two leaders talk? And what will China say to the United States?
Lin Jian: China noted the reports. In the telephone conversation between the two presidents on January 17, the Chinese side has made our principled position clear and the two sides have reached common understandings in principle on engaging in mutually beneficial cooperation. What is needed now is not unilateral tariff hikes, but equal-footed dialogue and consultation with mutual respect.
CNN: To follow up on the trade and tariffs issue between the United States and China, does China feel the United States will act in good faith moving forward?
Lin Jian: China firmly deplores and opposes the move of the U.S. to levy a 10 percent additional tariff on Chinese imports under the pretext of the fentanyl issue. The measures China has taken are what’s needed for safeguarding our legitimate rights and interests.
Trade and tariff wars have no winners. Putting pressure on China or threatening China will lead nowhere. China urges the U.S. to correct its wrongdoings, address each other’s concerns through equal-footed consultation, and promote the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relationship.
Anadolu Agency: U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. will “take over” and “own” the Gaza Strip after resettling Palestinians living there to neighboring countries, like Jordan and Egypt. What’s China’s comment?
Lin Jian: China has all along believed that “the Palestinians governing Palestine” is the fundamental principle of post-conflict governance of Gaza. We oppose the forced displacement of the people in Gaza, and hope that relevant parties will take the opportunity of the ceasefire and post-conflict governance in Gaza to bring the Palestinian question back to the right track of a political settlement based on the two-State solution, so as to realize lasting peace in the Middle East.
Rudaw Media Network: My first question, is the “Iraqi Development Road” a part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative or does it make any impact on your project? My second question, what is the trade value between China and Syria? Are there some changes or any change after December 8, 2024? What is China’s opinion on the rights of nations, including the rights of Kurds in Syria?
Lin Jian: On your first question, Iraq is an important partner of China in Belt and Road cooperation. China is ready to form closer synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Iraqi Development Road and work for new progress of the practical cooperation between China and Iraq.
On your second question, the trade volume between China and Syria in 2024 was US$389 million. As for your specific question about any changes in trade volume, I’d refer you to competent authorities for further information.
On your third question, the future of Syria should be decided by the Syrian people. We support Syria in advancing its domestic political process under the “Syrian-led, Syrian-owned” principle and find a nation-reconstruction plan that meets people’s aspirations through inclusive dialogue.
Yonhap News Agency: At the invitation of Chairman Zhao Leji of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the ROK’s National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik is visiting China today. During the visit, Mr. Speaker will attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Winter Games in Harbin. Will President Xi Jinping meet with the Speaker? Could you confirm it?
Lin Jian: At the invitation of Chairman Zhao Leji of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the ROK’s National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik is leading a delegation to visit China from February 5 to 8. China released relevant information, which you may refer to. On the meeting you mentioned, please stay tuned.
Bloomberg: We reported that Panama is considering canceling its contract with the Hong Kong-based company to operate ports near the Panama Canal. Do you have any comment on this? And what is your view on the contract with the ports?
Lin Jian: The government of the Hong Kong SAR has made a response regarding relevant Hong Kong company operating the ports near the Panama Canal. Panama is a popular destination for international investment and has been renowned for its sound rule of law and transparent business environment. We believe it will provide a fair and just environment for companies from all countries and regions, including China’s Hong Kong SAR.
Reuters: The United States Postal Service announced Tuesday that it had temporarily stopped accepting packages from China and Hong Kong, hours after an order by President Trump that took effect that ended duty-free handling of many of these parcels. Is there any comment from the Foreign Ministry?
Lin Jian: I’d refer you to competent authorities for anything specific. We call on the U.S. to stop politicizing and weaponizing trade and economic issues, and stop groundlessly going after Chinese companies. China will also continue to take necessary measures to firmly defend the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.
Anadolu Agency: I want to follow up on the Panama issue. Panama announced it will not renew Belt and Road cooperation agreement with China after President Trump’s threat to reclaim ownership of the Panama channel alleging China’s control and influence over the channel violates its international neutrality. What is China’s comment?
Lin Jian: Recently, the US has made irresponsible remarks on the Panama Canal issue, and intentionally distorted, attacked and mischaracterized relevant cooperation. China firmly opposes it and made stern démarches to the US side.
Since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed in 2013, its cooperation areas and scope have kept expanding and it has become a popular international public good and international cooperation platform with extensive participation. Over the past decade and more of Belt and Road cooperation, parties have upheld the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, followed the principle of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, worked for fruitful outcomes in Belt and Road cooperation, and contributed to enhancing the friendship and promoting the economic and social progress of relevant countries, which is widely welcomed by these countries and people.
Currently, cooperation between China and Panama under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative is carrying out normally and has achieved fruitful outcomes. We hope relevant party will strengthen confidence, resist external interruption, and make the right decision while keeping in mind the overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the people of the two countries.
Reuters: The U.S. has imposed additional 10 percent tariffs on Chinese products due to fentanyl issues and China has imposed counter tariffs of 10 to 15 percent on some U.S. products. Is there space for China to do more to crack down on the illegal export of narcotics? And will China do more to address the United States’ fentanyl concerns?
Lin Jian: China is one of the world’s toughest countries on counternarcotics both in terms of policy and its implementation. Fentanyl is an issue for the U.S. and the root cause lies in the country itself. China has given support to the U.S. response to the fentanyl issue in the spirit of humanity. At the U.S. request, China announced back in 2019 the decision to officially schedule fentanyl-related substances as a class. We are the first country in the world to do so. In recent years, China has conducted practical counternarcotics cooperation with the U.S. side in a broad-based way. The achievements we have made are there for all to see in such fields as the scheduling of drug-related substances, intelligence sharing, cooperation on individual cases, removal of online ads, exchange on drug testing technology, and multilateral interaction.
Regardless of our achievements in the counternarcotics cooperation, the U.S. is bent on levying a 10 percent additional tariff on Chinese imports under the pretext of the fentanyl issue. China firmly deplores and opposes this move and has taken necessary measures to defend its legitimate rights and interests. Scapegoating others cannot solve problems. Trade and tariff wars have no winners. Pressuring or threatening China is not a right way to engage with us. Reducing domestic demands for drugs and enhancing law enforcement cooperation is the fundamental solution to the fentanyl crisis in the U.S. China will firmly defend its legitimate rights and interests.
Reuters: The Thai Prime Minister is visiting China. Has Beijing asked the Thai government to send back the 48 Uyghur men detained in Thailand since 2014?
Lin Jian: I’m not familiar with the specifics. China’s position on illegal migration is consistent and clear. We firmly fight any form of illegal migration and oppose any move that emboldens or even supports illegal migration. China upholds the rule of law. We will step up international law enforcement and security cooperation to solve relevant issues.
Reuters: Overnight, the President of the European Commission said that Europe would keep de-risking its economic relationship with China, but that there is room to engage constructively and “find solutions in our mutual interest” and even find agreements that could expand trade and investment ties. The question is that is this a change in tone on China by normally hawkish von der Leyen and will China consider stepping up talks with the EU to resolve outstanding trade and economic issues as the global trade environment becomes more competitive?
Lin Jian: With changes unseen in a century rapidly unfolding, and the world turning into a less stable and certain place, risks of division, fragmentation and disorder are looming large. Against this backdrop, China-EU relations have more strategic significance and global influence.
China attaches great importance to its ties with the EU and views the EU as its comprehensive strategic partner and an important and independent pole in the multipolar world. We hope the EU will also become China’s trustworthy cooperation partner. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two sides. We are at a crucial time as the relationship goes into the next chapter. China stands ready to work with the EU to implement the important common understandings between the leaders of the two sides, make the celebration of the 50th anniversary and high-level interactions a full success, strengthen strategic communication and policy coordination, enhance mutual trust, expand cooperation, properly handle differences, respond to global challenges, promote the sound development of China-EU relations and turn the world into a more stable and certain place.
Bloomberg: I have two further questions. One is on the visit of the Thai Prime Minister. She’s visiting this week and in the last 24 hours, Thailand has cut off electricity, internet access and fuel supplies to some areas of Myanmar, which are suspected of housing the cyber scam operations. Does China welcome this action of law enforcement from the Thai government and what will you talk about with the Thai PM when she is here? My second question is a Chinese national, who is a software engineer at Google, is facing new charges on economic espionage. He was indicted on Tuesday. Do you have any comment on these new charges?
Lin Jian: On Thai Prime Minister’s visit to China, we will release relevant information in due course. Please stay tuned.
On the recent string of cross-border telecom fraud and other vicious cases along the Thailand-Myanmar border, China attaches great importance to it and made persistent effort to ask relevant countries to jointly find solutions through consultation. China welcomes the robust measures by relevant country. We stand ready to work with Thailand and other countries to beef up law enforcement cooperation, crack down on online gambling and telecom fraud, protect the safety of Chinese citizens overseas and their lawful rights and interests, and keep normal cross-border exchanges between China and relevant countries in order.
On your last question, I am not familiar with what you mentioned. As a principle, let me stress that China attaches great importance to and actively protects intellectual property rights, and upholds the lawful rights and interests of IP owners both at home and abroad in a just and fair way. In the meanwhile, we oppose the US abusing state power to go after Chinese companies and citizens. China will take what is necessary to safeguard the lawful and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens.
