Welcome to the first regular press conference of the Foreign Ministry in the new year. It is my great pleasure to unveil the logo of China’s SCO presidency. First, let me invite you to watch a short video clip. (Video clip was shown.)
The logo combines the SCO logo with unique Chinese features. It contains China’s SCO presidency slogan “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move” in Chinese, Russian and English, circled by interlocking traditional Chinese decorative patterns resembling cloud, thunder and dragon found on bronze ware of China’s pre-Qin period (before 221 BC) to symbolize never-ending hope. The earthy and golden colors of the outer circles indicate that the SCO is solidly rooted and enjoys a golden future, a combination of determination and dynamism.
CGTN: You mentioned just now that the slogan of China’s SCO presidency “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move” is integrated into the logo. Can you brief us on China’s considerations behind the slogan?
Mao Ning: China is the initiator of the Shanghai Spirit and a doer in translating the Shanghai Spirit into action. By making “action” a key word in the work of China’s presidency, we are committed to taking more practical steps and being more proactive in further enhancing SCO cooperation in the political, security, economic and people-to-people and cultural domains, improving SCO mechanism, building a SCO community with a shared future and opening up new space for win-win development.
As we enter the year of 2025, China is advancing its work of SCO presidency at a faster pace. China will host a SCO summit featuring friendship, solidarity and fruitful outcomes, as well as more than 40 institutionalized meetings. Besides, China will hold major events, including the SCO Political Parties Forum, Forum on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development, Forum on People-to-People Friendship and the Forum on Friendship Cities, and SCO International Investment and Trade Expo, as well as flagship events including the SCO Film Festival, Television Festival, Art Festival, Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, Chinese Calligraphy Competition, Sculpture Tournament and SCO Summer Event. You are welcome to stay tuned and cover the events.
Hubei Media Group: Recently, after the earthquake in Vanuatu, China dispatched disaster relief supplies and expressed willingness to offer further relevant support in light of the need of Vanuatu. Could you share more details?
Mao Ning: After the earthquake, China immediately extended emergency humanitarian assistance to Vanuatu. To better support Vanuatu’s disaster relief work, a chartered plane sent by the Chinese government carrying emergency disaster relief supplies arrived in Vanuatu’s capital city Port Vila today. This shipment, weighing approximately 35 tonnes and 235 cubic meters in volume, includes tents, folding beds, water purification equipment, solar lights, emergency food provisions, medical supplies and so on. Chinese post-disaster assessment engineers have been carrying out intensive work in Vanuatu, providing support to the local government and people of Vanuatu in their efforts to respond to the disaster.
China and Vanuatu are good friends, good partners and good brothers that support each other in overcoming difficulties. China will continue to do what we can to help with the relief and reconstruction effort in light of the damage and the need of Vanuatu. We believe the people of Vanuatu will overcome the difficulties and rebuild their homes soon.
Kyodo News: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said at the end of last year that it is extremely important for the Japanese Prime Minister to visit China. What is China’s comment?
Mao Ning: During their meeting in Lima, Peru, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed to maintain high-level exchanges between the two countries. Recently, the two countries have had continued high-level interactions in various forms and bilateral relations have kept the momentum of improvement and development. China stands ready to work with Japan to continue the dialogue and communication at various levels and in various fields to enhance political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, properly manage and control differences, and make joint effort to comprehensively advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit and build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship fit for the new era.
China Review News: In 2024, confronted by a complex and volatile international environment, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) focused on development and demonstrated its unique advantage and great strength. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said that Hong Kong has emerged from the COVID pandemic and regained economic vitality. Hong Kong’s business environment has continued to improve and the driving force for economic growth is getting stronger. Do you have any comment on this?
Mao Ning: In the year of 2024, with the support of the central government, the HKSAR government forged ahead with a keen sense of responsibility and a pragmatic attitude, stayed focused on economic development, strengthened exchanges and cooperation with the outside world, and continued to consolidate the sound momentum of stability and development. Hong Kong was ranked as the world’s freest economy and rose to the third place globally in Global Financial Centres Index, and the total assets under management in Hong Kong topped US$4 trillion. Hong Kong welcomed 44 million tourist arrivals in 2024, up by 30 percent year on year. The city also attracted around 170,000 talents through its talent admission schemes. By the end of last year, the total number of companies from China’s mainland and overseas based in Hong Kong was nearly 10,000 and the number of startups was close to 4,700, both hitting new highs.
We have full confidence in a better future for Hong Kong. We welcome businesses from across the world to operate in Hong Kong and share the dividends of Hong Kong’s development and One Country, Two Systems.
AFP: In the US, a man drove a car into a crowd of people in New Orleans yesterday. The attack has killed at least 15 people. First, what’s your reaction? Second, are any Chinese nationals among the victims?
Mao Ning: We are shocked at the violent attack. We express condolences over the lives lost and sympathies to the families of the victims and the injured. China opposes all violent terrorist acts targeting civilians.
Based on the information gathered by the Chinese Embassy in the US, no Chinese deaths or injuries have so far been reported.
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