At the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, from August 20 to 23, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council will travel to Russia to chair the 29th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government and visit Russia and Belarus.
CCTV: You just announced Premier Li Qiang’s upcoming visit to Russia and Belarus. Could you share with us the background, the program and China’s expectation of the visit?
Mao Ning: This year marks the 75th anniversary of the China-Russia diplomatic ties and is the first year of the China-Russia Years of Culture. Under the strategic guidance of the two presidents, the China-Russia relations have overcome external disturbances and maintained sound and stable growth. The regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government is an important mechanism for delivering on the common understandings between the two presidents and promoting practical cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges in a coordinated way. The meeting has been held annually since its launch in 1996. During the visit to Russia, Premier Li Qiang and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will co-chair the 29th regular meeting of the mechanism and have in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations, practical cooperation and important issues of mutual interest.
China and Belarus are all-weather comprehensive strategic partners. In recent years, under the personal guidance and with the commitment of both presidents, the China-Belarus relations have maintained a sound momentum of growth. Our political mutual trust has been consolidated and Belt and Road cooperation has borne fruitful results. During the visit to Belarus, Premier Li Qiang and Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko will hold talks together to have in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields.
ARD German Television: Since the revised Counterespionage Law of the People’s Republic of China came into force in July 2023, the German pharmaceutical sector has feared that the GMP (good manufacturing practice) inspectors who come to China could be punished. How do you think about it? On these concerns, what kind of guarantee can China give to the medical sector in Germany?
Mao Ning: China is firmly committed to promoting high-standard opening up and providing Chinese and foreign companies with a world-class pro-business environment that is market-oriented and law-based. China’s Counterespionage Law targets the very few spying activities that are harmful to China’s national security, not normal business and investment activities. As long as businesses operate lawfully and their personnel abide by the law, there’s no need for concern.
Reuters: According to China Coast Guard, the Philippine Coast Guard vessels deliberately collided with the Chinese Coast Guard vessel. What measures will the Foreign Ministry take? How will the incident impact the stability in the South China Sea?
Mao Ning: On August 19, two Philippine coast guard vessels, without permission from the Chinese government, intruded into the adjacent waters of Xianbin Jiao of China’s Nansha Qundao and, in disregard of China Coast Guard’s dissuasion and warning, acted dangerously by deliberately ramming the China Coast Guard vessel that was carrying out law enforcement operation. The responsibility of causing the collision fully lies with the Philippines. China Coast Guard took necessary measures in accordance with domestic and international law. Its maneuvers at the scene were professional, restrained and appropriate.
I would like to stress that Xianbin Jiao is part of China’s Nansha Qundao. It has always been China’s territory and uninhabited. The Philippines sent coast guard vessels to intrude into waters of Xianbin Jiao in an attempt to send supplies to the Philippine coast guard vessel anchoring in the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao and seek long-term presence there. The Philippines’ move seriously infringes on China’s sovereignty, violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and threatens the peace and stability in the South China Sea. China firmly opposes it and will continue to take resolute measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and uphold the sanctity of the DOC.
Bloomberg: Just on that point, would you say that despite an interim pact between the two countries last month, the new collision suggests that the maritime conflict between the two countries remains elevated?
Mao Ning: China is committed to handling maritime disputes with the Philippines properly through dialogue and consultation. We hope the Philippines will honor its commitment, earnestly observe the understandings and arrangement reached with China, refrain from taking actions that may complicate the situation, and work with China to get the situation at sea under control.
Xinhua News Agency: We noted that in recent years China and Viet Nam forged closer connectivity. In the first seven months of this year, the monthly cargo volume carried by China-Viet Nam fast clearance freight train set new record three times, reaching a historical high of 1,922 TEUs. General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President To Lam started his visit to China yesterday. Will the two sides talk about further enhancing connectivity cooperation?
Mao Ning: The China-Viet Nam freight train service, launched in November 2017, opened a new logistics channel between China and Viet Nam. In recent years, the China-Viet Nam freight train service has significantly shortened transportation time with higher border clearance efficiency. It is serving better as a key transportation route in the region and carrying more categories of goods across borders, becoming a “fast lane” for economic and trade exchanges.
China and Viet Nam are both socialist countries and neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President To Lam is on a state visit to China. Leaders of the two parties and two countries will have in-depth exchange of views on cooperation in various areas. We believe this visit will further advance connectivity cooperation between the two countries, promote more solid progress in the building of the China-Viet Nam community with a shared future and deliver more benefit to the peoples of the two countries.
Reuters: Two German military vessels plan to transit through the Taiwan Strait next month. What’s the Ministry’s comment?
Mao Ning: The Taiwan question is China’s internal affair. The key to keeping the Taiwan Strait peaceful and stable lies in firmly opposing “Taiwan independence.” China opposes attempts to undermine China’s territorial sovereignty and security in the name of freedom of navigation.
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