At the invitation of President of Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang will pay an official visit to Indonesia from May 24 to 26.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, ASEAN’s rotating chair, Premier Li Qiang will attend the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur from May 26 to 28.

From May 23 to 29, upon invitation, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC Chen Wenqing will attend the 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues and the 10th Meeting of the China-Russia Law-Enforcement and Security Cooperation Mechanism in Russia and visit Russia and Hungary.

CCTV: The upcoming ASEAN-GCC-China Summit will be the first of its kind. What’s the special significance of the summit? What’s China’s expectation for the summit?

Mao Ning: ASEAN and GCC member states are emerging economies in Asia, important members of the Global South and key partners in Belt and Road cooperation. China supports Malaysia, ASEAN’s rotating chair this year, in proposing and hosting the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit. Given the current international and regional landscape, it is highly significant that the three sides are gathering together to discuss ways to enhance solidarity and cooperation for development and prosperity, and promote cross-regional cooperation of mutual benefit.

China looks to expand practical cooperation with ASEAN and GCC member states in various fields to leverage our respective strengths, pursue win-win results, jointly uphold the multilateral trading regime, and defend the common interests of the Global South.

Global Times: It is reported that on May 21, a bombing attack on a school bus in Khuzdar of Balochistan Province in western Pakistan killed at least five people including three children and injured at least 38 others. What’s China’s comment on this?

Mao Ning: China noted relevant reports and strongly condemns the attack on a school bus. We deeply mourn for the lives lost, and extend sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured.

China resolutely opposes all forms of terrorism and will continue to firmly support Pakistan in combating terrorism, maintaining social stability and keeping its people safe.

Antara: Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a meeting this week with Indonesia’s Chairman of National Economic Council Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. Furthermore, Premier Li Qiang is scheduled to make an official visit to Indonesia on May 24 to 26. With these frequent high-level exchanges between the two countries, what does China expect from Indonesia?

Mao Ning: China and Indonesia are friends and neighbors across the sea and close partners with a shared future. This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Indonesia diplomatic ties. The bilateral relations have maintained steady growth with fruitful practical cooperation and the traditional friendship between the two countries is deeply rooted in the people. President Xi Jinping and President Prabowo Subianto met twice last year and reached important common understandings on building the China-Indonesia community with a shared future that carries regional and global influence, lifting bilateral ties to new heights.

During the upcoming visit, Premier Li Qiang will meet and hold talks with President Prabowo Subianto and other Indonesian leaders for in-depth exchanges on deepening the robust all-round strategic cooperation between the two countries. He will also attend an event hosted by the business community. China hopes that through this visit the two sides will carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen solidarity and coordination, keep consolidating the cooperation paradigm with five pillars, namely political, economic, people-to-people and cultural, maritime and security cooperation, jointly advance toward modernization on our respective paths, enrich the China-Indonesia community with a shared future, and make greater contribution to regional and global peace, stability, development and prosperity.

AFP: Yesterday Israeli forces fired warning shots at a group of diplomats, which included Chinese ones in the West Bank. Does the Foreign Ministry wish to comment on this incident?

Mao Ning: China is closely following the incident. China firmly opposes any act that threatens the safety and security of diplomatic personnel, and calls for a full investigation and efforts to prevent such incident from happening again. Amid recent ongoing tension in the West Bank, China urges relevant parties especially Israel not to take any escalatory moves.

Beijing Youth Daily: The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development was held earlier this week. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the forum. Can you further brief us on the event? As the rotating SCO president, what will China do to promote SCO countries’ sustainable development?

Mao Ning: The SCO Forum on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development was held this week in Xi’an where parties had in-depth communication under the theme of “Sustained Poverty Reduction and Cooperative Development: Advancing Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development among SCO Countries”. President Xi Jinping in his congratulatory letter noted that China as the current SCO president stands ready to continue to step up policy communication with all parties, share poverty reduction experience, deepen practical cooperation, help more countries explore the path of poverty reduction and sustainable development that suits their respective national conditions, and work together to build a better world of common prosperity free from poverty. President Xi’s congratulatory letter was warmly echoed by representatives from SCO countries at the forum, who see the letter as a demonstration of the high importance President Xi Jinping attaches to poverty alleviation and sustainable development as well as his hope for deepening exchanges and mutual learning between SCO countries and building an SCO community with a shared future.

Since China took over the rotating SCO presidency, we’ve hosted a series of events with a focus on the SCO Year of Sustainable Development in an effort to deepen China’s cooperation with SCO countries in poverty reduction and boost sustainable socioeconomic development in all countries.

Reuters: The Taiwanese official Lin Chia-lung said yesterday that whether or not Taiwan is a country is not up to Beijing. It’s Taiwan’s business what its name is. Would the Foreign Ministry like to comment?

Mao Ning: Taiwan is never a country. These remarks are sheer “Taiwan independence” provocations that only reveal this person’s presumptuousness and ignorance.

There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This is a basic norm in international relations and a prevailing international consensus. The future of Taiwan can only be decided by the over 1.4 billion Chinese people, including our Taiwan compatriots. China will realize reunification. This is a historical trend that no force can stop.

People’s Daily: Today marks the 25th International Day for Biological Diversity. This year’s theme is “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development”. With the global climate and environment governance facing even more uncertainty, how do you view China’s role in promoting international cooperation in biodiversity conservation?

Mao Ning: Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, China is actively advancing the conservation of biodiversity and has witnessed greater diversity, stability and sustainability of the ecosystem. As one of the first parties to sign and ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity, China remains committed to firmly fulfilling its pledges and obligations, exploring the path of harmonious coexistence between humanity and Nature, and bringing global biodiversity governance to a new level. During its presidency of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), China brought all parties together to adopt the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which is of milestone significance. At the meeting, China also launched the Action Initiative for the Framework and took the lead in making contributions, and establishing and managing the Kunming Biodiversity Fund. These are all concrete actions taken by China to support developing countries in biodiversity preservation.

The Earth is the common home of humanity and biodiversity governance can only be realized with the international community working as a whole. China will continue to join hands with all sides to build a clean and beautiful world.

AFP: Yesterday the DPP in Taiwan expelled five of its party members for allegedly spying for Beijing. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this?

Mao Ning: I’m not familiar with that, and this is not a question about foreign affairs.

AFP: The Philippines said today that a Chinese Coast Guard vessel used water cannon and struck one of its research vessels near Sandy Cay yesterday. Does China have a response to this accusation?

Mao Ning: I’m not familiar with what you mentioned. Let me say that China Coast Guard carries out law-enforcement activities in accordance with laws and regulations.

RIA Novosti: U.S. Chief of Space Operations Chance Saltzman said recently that surging technologies spearheaded by Chinese and Russian forces represent the greatest threat in space defense. What’s China’s comment on that?

Mao Ning: China is committed to the peaceful use of outer space, and opposes any arms race in outer space or weaponizing it. China has no intention to engage in a space race, nor do we seek so-called edge in outer space.

The U.S. has openly declared space as a “warfighting domain”. It has kept expanding military strength in space, created space military alliances, and attempted to turn space into a warzone. That severely threatens the common security and development rights and interests of other countries in space. China urges the U.S. to stop spreading irresponsible rhetoric, stop expanding military build-up in space, and make due contribution to upholding the lasting peace and security in space.

China Review News: It was reported that Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Jeremiah Manele issued a statement, reaffirming the Solomon Islands government’s steadfast commitment to the one-China policy, and directing all government ministries, agencies, and officials to fully comply with the government’s policy. What is your comment?

Mao Ning: China highly appreciates Solomon Islands government’s firm support for the one-China principle and upholding this just position. There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The one-China principle is enshrined in the UNGA Resolution 2758. It is a basic norm in international relations and a prevailing international consensus. Upholding the one-China principle and supporting China’s reunification is where the arc of history bends and public opinion trends, and the right thing to do.