At the invitation of the Mexican government, President Xi Jinping’s special envoy and Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Tie Ning will attend Mexico’s presidential inauguration ceremony in Mexico City on October 1.
CCTV: We noted that Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently attended an event themed “Global Development Initiative Supports the Global South—China in Action” at the UN Headquarters. What does China hope to achieve through this event and what actions will be taken to support the development of Global South countries?
Lin Jian: On September 25 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the event themed “Global Development Initiative Supports the Global South—China in Action” at the UN Headquarters in New York. President of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly Philemon Yang, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN and ministerial officials from over 20 countries attended the event.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed out in his address that the Global Development Initiative (GDI) has evolved from China’s proposal to an international consensus, and from a cooperation concept to joint action, contributing China’s solutions and providing China’s strength for the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Over the past three years since the GDI was put forward, more than 100 countries and over 20 international organizations have actively supported and participated in the initiative. In total, 82 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI, and more than 70 countries and international organizations have become part of the Global Development Promotion Center Network. GDI mechanisms are becoming more well-rounded. We have set up over 30 cooperation platforms in the eight priority areas and the Global Development Promotion Center, and are working actively for the establishment of a Global South research center, to help boost the development of the Global South. As of today, the 32 practical measures announced at the High-level Dialogue on Global Development have been basically delivered on, over 1,100 projects have been rolled out under the framework of the GDI, and over 600 projects have been implemented under the Global Development Project Pool. China has also hosted over 2,000 sessions of capacity-building programs, and trained over 60,000 personnel in various fields for developing countries. The increasingly deeper and more substantive cooperation on the GDI has benefited the Global South.
Realizing prosperity and development is the common dream of Global South countries. Without modernization of the Global South, there will be no global modernization. Supporting Global South countries in achieving development and prosperity is the priority of the GDI. China is committed to deepening cooperation with Global South countries, advance the modernization of the Global South and the wider world through Chinese modernization, and share the benefit of Chinese modernization with every country and every person.
NHK: Shigeru Ishiba was elected as president of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan in today’s party election, and will become the country’s new prime minister. Ishiba’s campaign proposals included the creation of an “Asian NATO.” What’s China’s comment on his election and what’s China’s expectation for Japan-China relations going forward?
Lin Jian: We noted the election results. This is Japan’s internal affairs, and we have no comment on that. The sustained, sound and steady development of China-Japan relations is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples and is the only right choice. China hopes that Japan will learn from history, follow a path of peaceful development, abide by the principles and common understandings established in the four political documents between the two sides, have an objective and right perception of China, take active and rational China policy, take concrete efforts to comprehensively advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit, and work with China to promote the sustained, sound and steady development of China-Japan relations.
Kyodo News: In August this year, Shigeru Ishiba visited Taiwan and met with leader of Taiwan. How do you view the relationship between Japan and Taiwan after Ishiba’s election?
Lin Jian: Taiwan is a province of China and there is no “leader of Taiwan.” China has made clear its position concerning your question. China is always firmly opposed to Japanese political figures visiting China’s Taiwan region. This position is crystal clear.
TASS: It’s reported by Politico in its European edition that Ukraine has taken some measures at UNGA in New York to dissuade other countries from embracing the six common understandings issued by China and Brazil for the settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Ukrainian diplomats circulated a document among participants to express concerns on the China-backed plan for ceasefire because it’s on terms favorable to Russia. What’s China’s comment?
Lin Jian: I’m not familiar with what you mentioned. China and Brazil jointly issued the six common understandings in order to raise the balanced, objective and rational voice, create conditions for a ceasefire, build momentum for dialogue and negotiation, and build up efforts for peace. The common understandings have received positive response from over 110 countries, which demonstrates the prevailing expectation of the international community. China stands ready to maintain communication with relevant parties and jointly create conditions for the political settlement of the crisis.
China News Service: I’ve learned that the 2024 International Humanitarian Demining Training Course hosted by China concluded in Nanjing. Could you share more details with us?
Lin Jian: The 2024 International Humanitarian Demining Training Course hosted by the Chinese government held its closing ceremony in Nanjing today. Representatives from the UN, ASEAN, Cambodia, Laos and the International Committee of the Red Cross attended the ceremony. During the training course, China provided Cambodia and Laos with a batch of supplies for mine detection and clearance. Relevant parties spoke highly of what the training course offered, and commended China for its contribution to international mine action.
Engaging in international demining cooperation and assistance is an important part of China’s effort to implement the Global Security Initiative and build a community with a shared future for mankind. For a long time, China has helped relevant countries in their capacity-building in mine action through supplies assistance, personnel training, on-the-ground guidance, aid to victims, mine risk education, among others. In recent years, China has successfully hosted nearly 30 international humanitarian demining training courses, and trained a good number of excellent deminers for other countries.
China stands ready to continue mine action cooperation with countries interested in doing so and take concrete actions to boost international cooperation on mine action.
News 1 Korea: This year marks the “China-DPRK Friendship Year” and the 75th anniversary of China-DPRK diplomatic ties. In April this year, the two countries held the opening ceremony of the “China-DPRK Friendship Year.” Can you share with us the arrangement for the closing ceremony of the “China-DPRK Friendship Year?”
Lin Jian: China and the DPRK are close neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. The two sides enjoy a solid foundation for bilateral ties and have closely intertwined interests. China attaches great importance to its relationship with the DPRK and stands ready to continue working with the DPRK to follow the important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries and to maintain, consolidate and develop our traditional friendship and cooperation. On relevant activities of the “China-DPRK Friendship Year” closing ceremony, we will release timely information when it’s available.
AFP: It’s reported that Myanmar’s military government invited armed groups that oppose its rule to stop the fighting and hold dialogue. What’s China’s response? Did the military government have discussion and negotiation with China before sending the invitation?
Lin Jian: China stays firmly committed to the Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led peace and reconciliation. We hope relevant parties in Myanmar will stop the fighting and hold peace talks, properly settle differences through dialogue within the framework of the Constitution, and resume the democratic transition process.
AFP: I want to ask a question that has been raised yesterday. Indian media have reported that a team of Indian mountain climbers has summited a previously unclimbed and unnamed peak in the region of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as part of southern Xizang. The Indian climbers have named the peak after the 6th Dalai Lama. What’s China’s comment?
Lin Jian: I answered this question yesterday. The area of Zangnan is Chinese territory, and it’s illegal, and null and void for India to set up the so-called “Arunachal Pradesh” in Chinese territory. China’s position on this issue is consistent and clear.
TASS: In his meeting with Chief Advisor to the President of Brazil on the margins of the UNGA in New York, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China, Brazil and other Global South countries will create a “Friends of Peace” platform on the Ukraine crisis. Could the Foreign Ministry share more details with us?
Lin Jian: The Ukraine crisis is still dragging on and the risks of escalation and spillover are on the rise. The international community is widely concerned over it. Not long ago, China and Brazil jointly issued the six common understandings on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, which received positive response and support from the international community.
Recently, there has been a louder call for peace talks in the world, and more and more Global South countries are standing together to actively create atmosphere and accumulate conditions for peace. China, Brazil and other like-minded Global South countries are going to set up a “Friends of Peace” platform on the Ukraine crisis as part of their efforts to pursue peace. It is not an exclusive grouping that seeks competition and confrontation, but an open platform for inclusive dialogue. The platform is for peace and should be welcomed by the international community. It will send out an objective and rational voice, and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.
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