At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Premier of the State Council and Co-chair of the China-Türkiye Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee (ICC) mechanism Zhang Guoqing, Turkish Minister of Treasury and Finance and ICC Co-chair Mehmet Şimşek will visit China from November 6 to 8. The two sides will co-chair the second meeting of the ICC.
Dragon TV: The seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened in Shanghai this morning. Premier Li Qiang attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. Can you share more details? We’ve learned that 3,496 exhibitors from 152 countries and regions participated in this year’s CIIE, both numbers exceeding those of last year. Also, among the exhibitors there are 297 Fortune Global 500 enterprises and leading firms in the industries, hitting a record high. How do you see the significance of CIIE to China’s high standard opening up?
Mao Ning: Hosting CIIE is an important step China takes to expand open cooperation. Over the past seven years, CIIE has become a window for China’s new development paradigm, and a platform of promoting high-standard opening up. It shows China’s sincerity and inclusiveness in seeking common development with the world. As Premier Li Qiang stressed in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the seventh CIIE this morning, as de-globalization, unilateralism, and protectionism are on the rise, it is all the more important that China stays committed to, expands, and upgrades opening up.
Premier Li Qiang stressed that we should build strong consensus for openness by keeping to our commitment. Only when all parties keep to the pledge of openness with concrete actions can we jointly create a sound atmosphere for open cooperation, and truly make openness a prevailing consensus. On advancing and expanding opening up, China has all along honored its commitment. We will further expand institutional opening up, actively align with international high-standard trade rules, upgrade pilot free trade zones, and sign high-standard free trade agreements and investment agreements with more countries. Throughout China’s opening up, we will always honor our words with deeds. Premier Li Qiang stressed that we should broaden the space for opening up by pursuing mutual benefit. Openness based on shared interests is more efficient and sustainable. Zero-sum or winner-takes-all mentality will achieve nothing but hinder development. China is ready to further open up its mega-sized market, including taking unilateral opening up measures, to share its development opportunities with all countries, and make the big market of China a great opportunity for the world. Premier Li Qiang stressed that we should better fulfill the mission of opening up by embracing our shared future. No country can stay immune to the difficulties in global development, and no country can handle them all by itself. China actively advocates and practices multilateralism, firmly upholds the WTO-centered multilateral trade system, and supports developing countries in better sharing in the dividends of globalization.
Premier Li Qiang said that after a batch of incremental policies were rolled out, major economic indicators rebounded across the board, market confidence was significantly boosted, social expectations markedly improved, and many positive changes were seen in the economic performance, showing a sound momentum. This shows that China’s sound economic fundamentals are not changed, and the Chinese government has the capability of continuing to grow its economy. We are full of confidence in China’s economic prospects.
Opening up is a basic national policy of China. No matter how the international landscape may evolve, China will not change its commitment to expanding high-standard opening up and deeply integrating itself into the world. And we will not stop our efforts. China is ready to work with all parties to jointly build an open world economy.
Antara: President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto will pay a state visit to China from November 8 to 10. Are there any specific agreements that will be signed or any specific topics that will be highlighted by the leaders when they meet this week?
Mao Ning: China and Indonesia are good neighbors facing each other across the sea and good partners with a shared future. Under the strategic guidance of the heads of state of the two countries, China-Indonesia relations have maintained a robust momentum of growth and entered a new phase of building a community with a shared future.
President Prabowo Subianto visited China in his first overseas trip right after he was elected in March and again chose China as the first country to visit after taking office. This speaks volumes about the great importance he attaches to the growth of China-Indonesia relations and the strength of the bilateral ties. President Xi Jinping will hold a welcoming ceremony for President Prabowo Subianto, and the two heads of state will hold talks. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji will meet with him respectively. China stands ready to work with Indonesia through the visit to cement high-level political mutual trust, deepen all-round strategic cooperation and elevate the building of the China-Indonesia community with a shared future to a new level, so as to inject strong impetus to our two countries’ respective modernization process, and boost regional and global development and prosperity.
On the specifics of the visit, we will release timely information. Please stay tuned.
China News Service: The Chinese side announced today that Italy’s president will visit China. Could you share with us the program and China’s expectation for the visit? How does China view its current relations with Italy?
Mao Ning: During President Sergio Mattarella’s visit to China, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with him to draw up a blueprint for the growth of bilateral relations. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress will meet with him respectively.
Both China and Italy are ancient civilizations and important economies in the world. The friendly cooperation between the two countries enjoys profound public support, serves the common interests of both sides and is also conducive to promoting the sound growth of relations between China and the EU and the stability and prosperity of the world. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy. The visits of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella underline the robust growth of China-Italy relations. Guided by the common understandings of the leaders of the two countries, China stands ready to work with Italy to further deepen political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation and cultural and people-to-people exchanges, promote mutual learning among civilizations, and provide more stability for a changing and turbulent world.
Al Jazeera: Lebanon’s Health Ministry said on Monday that more than 3,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, which doubles the death toll of the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. What’s China’s comment? Can China play a role in the negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah?
Mao Ning: China is following closely the situation in Lebanon. We oppose acts that violate Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, oppose and condemn all moves that harm innocent civilians, and call on relevant parties to take immediate measures to ease tensions and prevent further escalation in the region. China will continue playing a constructive role together with the rest of the international community to cool down the situation.
AFP: Leader of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing will travel to China for a meeting this week. Will he pay a state visit to China? What is China’s expectation for his visit?
Mao Ning: Myanmar is an important country in the region, and has actively participated in regional cooperation mechanisms. As a usual practice, China invited the leader of Myanmar to the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit. As for the specifics, we will release timely information. Please stay tuned.
AFP: US presidential candidate Donald Trump just said he would impose tariffs on China over fentanyl. Do you have any comment?
Mao Ning: We have no comment on campaign rhetoric.
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