Hubei Media Group: The Spring Festival has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Could you share more with us about the events that the Chinese Foreign Ministry has planned for overseas Chinese to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival of the Year of the Snake?
Mao Ning: The Spring Festival symbolizes peace, amity and harmony in the Chinese tradition, and embodies people’s reverence and gratitude for nature, as well as aspiration for family reunion and a better life. The inscription of the Spring Festival on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list shows that this is a festival unique to China and enjoyed by the world. Since 2023, the Ministry and our embassies and consulates have held the “Embracing the Chinese New Year” special program every year around the Spring Festival, which has been welcomed by overseas Chinese. During the upcoming Spring Festival of the Year of the Snake, our Ministry will continue to bring warmth and best wishes to overseas Chinese through our embassies and consulates, and hold events to celebrate the Spring Festival with overseas Chinese and friends from other countries around the world, where they will get to experience the Spring Festival culture and the charm of the Chinese civilization.
We wish all overseas Chinese and friends around the world a happy and prosperous Year of the Snake!
Reuters: The Guardian reported that Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting the U.K. next month. Could you confirm that and provide any other information about the trip?
Mao Ning: China and the U.K. are both permanent members of the UN Security Council and major economies in the world. It is in the common interest of both sides and the international community for the two countries to enhance strategic communication, deepen political mutual trust and advance mutually beneficial cooperation. Recently between China and the U.K., the leaders have held meetings, dialogue mechanisms have been resumed, and various sectors are encouraged by and full of expectation for the sound and steady growth of the bilateral relations. As for the specific visit you asked about, I have no information to share at the moment, but you may stay tuned.
Sky News: Donald Trump has said China is behind the supply of fentanyl chemicals to Mexico and Canada. What’s your response to that and what is China doing to crack down on the selling of precursors?
Mao Ning: China is one of the world’s toughest countries on counternarcotics both in terms of policy and its implementation. 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. China has given support to the U.S.’s response to the fentanyl issue in the spirit of humanity and goodwill, and conducted counternarcotics cooperation with the U.S. side in a broad-based and in-depth way. The achievements we have made are there for all to see. We hope the U.S. will work to continue the hard-won positive dynamics in the counternarcotics cooperation.
Shenzhen TV: It’s reported that the 2025 Business Sentiment Survey Findings Report released days ago by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong shows that American companies in Hong Kong are more confident in the business environment there, and they view Hong Kong’s national security laws in a more objective way. What’s the Foreign Ministry’s comment?
Mao Ning: I noted the report. It mentioned that 75 percent of respondents viewed Hong Kong as an international commercial center in Asia, 90 percent reported that foreign businesses were still welcomed in Hong Kong, and 83 percent responded they were confident in Hong Kong’s rule of law. These numbers say a lot about American businesses’ confidence in Hong Kong’s development prospects and business environment there.
The Law on Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance provide a solid footing for efforts to protect national security in Hong Kong and enable Hong Kong to foster a more stable society and a better investment environment. Foreign investors’ lawful rights and interests in Hong Kong are now under better protection. We are fully confident that more American and other foreign companies will invest and do business in Hong Kong and share the benefits of Chinese modernization and the practice of “One Country, Two Systems.”
Bloomberg: Yesterday, the Central Intelligence Agency in America said that they now believe that the COVID-19 pandemic likely originated from lab leak rather than from a natural source. Does the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs have any response to this new development?
Mao Ning: Origins-tracing is a matter of science and any judgment on it should be made in a science-based spirit and by scientists. It is “extremely unlikely” that the pandemic was caused by a lab leak—this is the authoritative conclusion reached by the experts of the WHO-China joint mission based on science following their field trips to the lab in Wuhan and in-depth communication with researchers. The conclusion has been widely acknowledged by the international community, including the science community.
The US needs to stop politicizing and weaponizing origins-tracing at once, and stop scapegoating others. The U.S. should respond as quickly as possible to the international community’s legitimate concerns, voluntarily share its data with the WHO about suspected early cases in the U.S., clarify the questions concerning relevant U.S. biological labs, and give a responsible explanation to the world.
Xinhua News Agency: We have learned that President Xi Jinping’s special representative, Vice President Han Zheng received high-level reception when attending President Trump’s inauguration not long ago. Meanwhile, some Taiwanese media outlets reported that Taiwan’s so-called “Legislative Yuan” said recently that its so-called “president” Han Kuo-yu got reception from the U.S. at an unprecedented high level when he led a delegation to the inauguration. What is China’s comment on this?
Mao Ning: On January 20, President Xi Jinping’s special representative, Vice President Han Zheng attended the inauguration ceremony of President Donald Trump at U.S. invitation. He was seated on the dais of Capitol Rotunda, the main venue of the inauguration ceremony, and exchanged greetings and spoke with leaders of relevant countries and U.S. political dignitaries there.
China is firmly opposed to any form of official interactions between the U.S. and the Taiwan region. As for the so-called “high-level reception” relevant person of the Taiwan authorities got from the U.S., it is apparently disinformation self-bestowed by Taiwan authorities for self-consumption.
Bloomberg: Yesterday, Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Colombia unless they took back Colombian citizens who are in the U.S. without documentation. And then a few hours ago, the U.S. withdrew that threat as they said the Colombians now agreed to take back those migrants. My first question is what is China’s view on this 24 hours between the U.S. and Colombia? My second question is does China intend to take back all the Chinese nationals who are in the U.S. illegally or without documentation?
Mao Ning: On your first question, this is a matter between the U.S. and Columbia. We hope that the two countries will properly resolve it.
On your second question, I’d refer you to competent authorities for anything specific. Let me say more broadly that the Chinese government firmly opposes any form of illegal migration. We have conducted practical cooperation with the migration and law enforcement departments of the U.S. and other countries, which has been productive. As far as repatriation is concerned, China’s principle is to receive the repatriates who are confirmed as Chinese nationals from the Chinese mainland after verification.
China Daily: It’s reported that protests recently took place in Serbia. On January 25, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić held a big rally where he delivered remarks to review the unprecedented socioeconomic development in Serbia in recent years, and stressed that Serbia must not stop going forward. What’s China’s comment?
Mao Ning: China noted the media reports. In recent years, under the leadership of President Aleksandar Vučić, Serbia has upheld independence and achieved remarkable progress in socioeconomic development. China always respects Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and supports Serbia in upholding national stability and development interests. As Serbia’s ironclad friend, we believe that Serbia has the wisdom and capability to keep its society stable and maintain the sound momentum of development.
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During the Spring Festival holiday, there will be no regular press conference from Tuesday, January 28 to Tuesday, February 4. The regular press conference will be resumed on Wednesday, February 5. During this period, questions can be submitted to the Spokesperson’s Office via fax, email or WeChat.
The first Spring Festival as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage is just around the corner. Around the world, people will celebrate the festival with various events. We also welcome international tourists to come to China to enjoy the festivities.
We wish all Chinese and foreign journalists and friends who have followed and supported Chinese diplomacy a happy Spring Festival. We wish you all every happiness and auspiciousness in the Year of the Snake! We have prepared gift candy for every journalist present today and wish you a sweet and joyful Chinese New Year.
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