CCTV: The second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) opened yesterday with the theme “Connecting the World for a Shared Future.” The proportion of foreign exhibitors is higher than the first CISCE. The event is widely welcomed by companies from all countries and exhibition booths are once again in high demand. Can you share more with us on that?
Mao Ning: The second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) opened in Beijing yesterday. Premier Li Qiang had a dialogue with exhibitors and delegates, and Vice President Han Zheng attended and addressed the opening ceremony. This year’s CISCE attracted close to 700 exhibitors from 69 countries and international organizations. Over 60 percent of the exhibitors are Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders, and the proportion of foreign exhibitors rose from 26 percent at the first CISCE to 32 percent.
As President Xi Jinping noted, maintaining the resilience and stability of global industrial and supply chains is a vital guarantee for promoting the development of the world economy. In global industrial and supply chain cooperation, China has long been not only a participant and beneficiary, but also a staunch defender and contributor. We have made positive contributions to the growth of the world economy. Currently, the world economic growth remains anemic and moves of protectionism and overstretching the concept of security disrupt global industrial and supply chains, increasing the costs of companies, lowering economic efficiency and hindering common development.
China will continue to take concrete actions to keep global industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded, and work with all countries to jointly build an open world economy.
Reuters: Sweden is asking a Chinese ship to return to Swedish waters to help facilitate the Swedish investigation into a recent damage to undersea fiber optic cables in Baltic Sea. Does China plan to send the Yi Peng 3 back into Swedish waters?
Mao Ning: As we’ve noted before, China has unimpeded communication channels with relevant parties, including Sweden. Let me say again that China always advocates working with other countries to keep global undersea cables and other infrastructure safe and secure in accordance with international law.
Rudaw Media Network: China has expanded its visa-free policy allowing visitors from a variety of countries into China without a visa. When will China issue tourist visa to Iraqi passport holders and when will Iraqi passport holders can travel to China without a visa?
Mao Ning: China attaches high importance to cross-border travel and stands ready to, on the basis of visa facilitation policies and measures announced previously, continue providing more facilitation for foreign nationals, including Iraqi citizens, to travel to China.
Dragon TV: China recently rolled out measures to facilitate cross-border travel. Last week, a new batch of countries were added to the visa-free list. We noticed that China is becoming an increasingly popular destination for foreign tourists. Places in China have become trending searches on multiple tourism platforms, and the number of reservations for tours to China surged on many foreign e-commerce tourism platforms. Can you give us more details?
Mao Ning: China has extended the visa-free policy to 38 countries since the end of last year and so far has realized comprehensive mutual visa exemption with 25 countries in total. We have also made Chinese visa application more efficient and easier by improving the visa application form, canceling visa reservation, expanding the scope of fingerprinting exemption, lowering visa fees and other measures.
While streamlining the procedure of travelling to China, we are also committed to making life and work in China more convenient and comfortable for foreign friends. Places including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong Province improved payment services, including by mobile devices, bank cards and cash, to make online shopping and transportation more problem-free for foreign friends. Chinese telecom providers, by opening new shops, improving foreign language services and launching new packages, have enabled foreign friends to access and use 5G network more conveniently. More cities have set up special windows to provide one-stop service to help foreign nationals to get work permit and residence permit faster.
We will make continued effort to facilitate cross-border travel. We welcome friends from all countries to visit China, experience the country’s glamour and share in the dividends of China’s development.
AFP: A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon took effect on Wednesday after more than a year of fighting that has killed thousands of people. Does China have a comment on this?
Mao Ning: China is closely following the current situation between Lebanon and Israel, and has always been calling on all parties to earnestly abide by UN Security Council Resolution 1701. We support all efforts conducive to deescalating the tensions and realizing peace, and welcome the ceasefire agreement reached by relevant sides. In the meanwhile, China believes that the protracted fighting in Gaza is the root cause of this round of turmoil in the Middle East, and all parties need to work together to realize a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza at an early date.
Xinhua News Agency: The G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Statement said the group seeks constructive and stable relations with China and stands ready to cooperate with China to address global challenges. In the meantime, the group asks China to stop supporting Russia’s defense industry, plays up the allegation of China’s “overcapacity” and makes irresponsible remarks on issues related to the East China Sea, the South China Sea, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang and Hong Kong. Do you have any comment?
Mao Ning: Since the beginning of this year, we’ve made clear China’s solemn position on the G7’s erroneous remarks related to China on multiple occasions. Given that the G7 members say they seek constructive and stable relations with China and stand ready to cooperate with China to address global challenges, they should champion the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit and act on their words accordingly rather than smear and attack China.
China has been objective and just on the Ukraine crisis and actively promoted talks for peace. China has never provided weapons to parties to the conflict and strictly controls the export of dual-use articles, even drones for civilian use, and opposes using civilian drones for military purposes. The normal economic ties and trade between China and Russia should not be disrupted or coerced by any third party. The so-called allegation of China’s overcapacity has been proved a false one by a large number of informative facts and statistics. We hope relevant countries will keep an open mind and pursue fair competition. China’s position on issues related to the East China Sea, the South China Sea, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang and Hong Kong is consistent and clear-cut. We firmly oppose the G7 undermining China’s sovereignty and interfering in China’s internal affairs. We urge G7 countries to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations and look after their own affairs.
As we speak, changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace in our world and international peace and development are facing unprecedented challenges. As a responsible major country, China always upholds fairness and justice, advocates openness and inclusiveness and brings benefits to the world through its development. We hope the G7 countries will stop indulging in geopolitical games, discard the narrow zero-sum mindset and make concrete contributions to international solidarity and cooperation.
AFP: Trump said on Monday he would be slapping China with a 10 percent tariff above any additional tariffs. Does the Foreign Ministry have any additional comments on this?
Mao Ning: The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson has responded to that yesterday, which you may refer to, and I have nothing more to add.
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