Premier of the State Council Li Qiang will attend the 17th BRICS Summit upon invitation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from July 5 to 8.

At the invitation of Prime Minister of Egypt Mostafa Kamal Madbouly, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang will pay an official visit to Egypt from July 9 to 10. 

CCTV: What does China expect to achieve through the 17th BRICS Summit?

Mao Ning: The BRICS cooperation mechanism offers the most important platform for the solidarity and cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries in the world. It’s an important force for realizing an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

This will be the first summit after the new member Indonesia, and 10 partner countries joined BRICS. Multiple emerging markets, developing countries, and international and regional organizations are invited to the summit. China looks forward to working with all parties to consolidate the BRICS strategic partnership, make due contributions to safeguarding multilateralism, promoting common development and improving global governance, and advance the high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation.

Yonhap News Agency: It’s reported that the Chinese government recently asked the ROK government through diplomatic channel whether President Lee Jae-myung could attend the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Can you confirm that?

Mao Ning: This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and China will hold grand commemorative events. Last week’s press conference of the State Council Information Office has shared the arrangement about inviting foreign leaders to the events. We are in communication with all sides on that.

CCTV: To follow up on your announcement of Premier Li Qiang’s upcoming official visit to Egypt, can you brief us on the background, program and China’s expectation of the visit?

Mao Ning: Egypt is the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with New China. China and Egypt are comprehensive strategic partners. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, China-Egypt relations have achieved robust development with deepening political mutual trust, fruitful practical cooperation in various fields as well as close and effective multilateral coordination. During the visit, Premier Li Qiang will have in-depth exchange of views with Egyptian leaders on developing China-Egypt relations, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation and issues of mutual interest.

Through the upcoming visit, China hopes to work with Egypt to carry forward our traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, advance China-Egypt relations toward the goal of building a community with a shared future for the new era, and build a China-Arab community with a shared future at a higher level.

China News Service: It’s reported that on June 30, President Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum to restore and strengthen the robust Cuba policy from his first term, reversing the Biden Administration’s revocation that eased pressure on Cuba. He is committed to fostering a “free” and “democratic” Cuba, addressing “the Cuban people’s long-standing suffering under a Communist regime.” What’s China’s comment?

Mao Ning: I noted relevant reports. Over the past 60 years and more, the U.S.’s barbarian blockade and illegal sanctions against Cuba have severely infringed on Cuba’s right to subsistence and development and violated basic norms of international relations, which wreaked havoc on the Cuban people.

China firmly supports Cuba in following a development path fit for its national conditions, and opposes U.S. moves to abuse unilateral sanctions under the pretext of “freedom” and “democracy.” We urge the U.S. to immediately lift the blockade and sanctions against Cuba and remove the country from the list of “state sponsors of terrorism.” This is also what the international community calls for.

AFP: The U.S. Justice Department said yesterday that two Chinese nationals have been arrested for espionage and for allegedly seeking to recruit members of the U.S. Navy to serve as intelligence assets. What is China’s comment on this?

Mao Ning: I’m not familiar with the specifics, but we always oppose peddling the so-called “China spy” narrative and will take necessary steps to defend the lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals.

Bloomberg: Israel’s Consul General in Shanghai Ravit Baer in an interview with Bloomberg has urged China to use its political and economic sway to encourage Iran to rein in its military and nuclear ambitions. Does the Foreign Ministry have any response to the remarks calling on Beijing to use its political and economic clout to shape the outcome of the current situation in Iran? 

Mao Ning: The ins and outs of the recent spikes of conflict in the Middle East are very clear. China hopes to achieve a sustainable and effective ceasefire and realize peace and stability in the Middle East.

As regard to the Iranian nuclear issue, it should be resolved peacefully through political and diplomatic means. We hope all parties will work together to bring the issue back to the track of political settlement. 

The Paper: Chinese beverage brands such as Mixue Bingcheng and Chagee recently filed for overseas listings, which drew a lot of attention. Many Chinese brands have expanded business and gained popularity overseas. Foreign media commented that gone are the days when Chinese products had to copy Western brands. What’s your take on this?

Mao Ning: Indeed, many Chinese brands appeal to foreign consumers thanks to their high-tech, aesthetics, design, and emotional resonance. From “Made-in-China” to “Chinese brands”, this is a natural result of China’s high-quality development, and enabled by China’s complete industrial system, fair and open market environment and sustained investment in innovation.

Chinese brands, by going global, offer more choices to worldwide consumers. We also welcome more quality foreign brands to enter the Chinese market to thrive together and bring the benefit of economic globalization to people of all countries.

PTI: Further to your announcement about Premier Li’s visit to Brazil to attend the BRICS Summit. What’s China’s consideration behind the participation to the summit? 

Mao Ning: I just announced that Premier Li Qiang will attend the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We believe BRICS countries offer an important platform for greater solidarity and cooperation among the Global South. They are important players in promoting the reform of the global governance system, and have been committed to safeguarding multilateralism, defending fairness and justice, and promoting common development. China attaches great importance to and will actively participate in the BRICS cooperation. We stand ready to work with all parties to uphold the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation, stay committed to the original aspiration of seeking strength through solidarity and achieving common development, support Brazil, the BRICS chair, in making the summit a full success, and advance the high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation.

Ukrinform News Agency: Head of Ukraine’s defense intelligence stated Russia has already transferred to North Korea technologies and equipment for the production of Russian attack drones in North Korea. These attack drones will worsen the security environment on the Korean Peninsula because North Korea is significantly increasing its military might at the moment. And the U.S. with its allies will respond accordingly by increasing their own troops. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comments? Is China concerned about the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, which creates risks of destabilization near the Chinese border?

Mao Ning: I’m not familiar with the specifics of the bilateral cooperation between Russia and the DPRK. On the Ukraine crisis and on the Korean Peninsula issue, China’s position is consistent and clear.