At the invitation of Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro will pay an official visit to China from September 8 to 10.

CCTV: To follow up on Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s visit to China, could you share with us the program and China’s expectations of the visit? What’s China’s comment on its current relations with Portugal?

Guo Jiakun: This is Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s first visit to China. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will meet with him. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Zhao Leji will have talks and meet with him respectively. They will have in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.

China and Portugal enjoy traditional friendship. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the two sides have stayed committed to the strategic direction featuring mutual respect, openness and inclusiveness and joint effort, and achieved positive outcomes in exchange and cooperation in such areas as trade, green development, technology and culture, delivering tangibly for the two peoples. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership. Through this visit, China stands ready to work with Portugal to deepen strategic mutual trust, enhance friendly exchanges, expand mutually beneficial cooperation through high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and advance the China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership.

A recent derailment on a funicular railway in Lisbon resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. We mourn for the lives lost, and our hearts go out to the bereaved families. We wish the injured a speedy recovery.

EFE: It’s reported that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that her government is considering imposing tariffs on imports from countries that do not have trade agreements with Mexico, including China. What’s China’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: I’m not familiar with the specifics. China-Mexico economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial and its fruits benefit the two peoples. China advocates a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization and opposes unilateralism and protectionism in any form and discriminatory and exclusive measures. We also firmly oppose setting restrictions on China and undermining China’s legitimate rights and interests with all kinds of excuses under the coercion of others. We believe that relevant countries will uphold independence and properly handle relevant issues.

The Australian: Former Victorian premier of Australia Dan Andrews was a guest at the parade on Wednesday in Beijing. He shook hands with Chinese leader on the red carpet. There’s been criticism in Australia about Mr. Andrews attending that event because it included President Vladimir Putin. What’s the Chinese government’s comment on the criticism of Mr. Andrews’ attendance at the parade?

Guo Jiakun: Leaders, former political dignitaries, high-level officials, foreign diplomatic envoys in China and international friends from many countries attended the commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It demonstrates their aspiration and determination to jointly protect historical memory and defend peace and justice. China sincerely hopes that all people in the world will learn from history, carry forward the common values of humanity, firmly defend international fairness and justice and jointly create a better future for humanity. 

Dragon TV: It’s reported that on September 1 local time, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army led by Abdelwahid Mohamed Nour in western Sudan said in a statement that on August 31, a landslide struck a village in the Marra Mountains area in Central Darfur, Sudan, killing over 1,000 people. What’s China’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: We noted the landslide in a village in the Marra Mountains area of western Sudan. China expresses condolences over the lives lost and sincere sympathies to the bereaved families.

Bloomberg: South Africa’s Defense Department has requested a postponement of joint exercises with the navies of Russia and China, which was supposed to happen in November. The reason why they’re requesting this postponement is that it coincides with the G20 in Johannesburg. Can the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirm this request for postponement and offer any additional response or details?

Guo Jiakun: I’d refer you to competent authorities for your specific question. China supports South Africa in carrying out various works as this year’s chair of the G20.

CGTN: We’ve learned that China agreed to join the New York Declaration, the outcome document of the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. What’s your comment?

Guo Jiakun: The Palestinian question is at the core of the Middle East issue, and to implement the two-State solution is the only viable solution to the question. China agreed to join the New York Declaration, which is in line with our consistent position on the question. The Palestinian question is now at a crucial juncture. We support all efforts that are conducive to the political settlement of the question. We will continue to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts towards the end of the fighting in Gaza, deescalation of the humanitarian crisis, implementation of the two-State solution, and the ultimate, comprehensive, just and lasting resolution of the Palestinian question.

Reuters: According to a White House official, U.S. President Trump has said on a call with the “Coalition of the Willing” countries that “European leaders must place economic pressure on China for funding Russia’s war efforts.” How does China respond to this?

Guo Jiakun: China upholds an objective and fair position on the Ukraine crisis. China did not start the Ukraine crisis, nor is China a party to it. We firmly oppose directing the issue at China and imposing so-called “economic pressure” on China.

The Paper: In response to the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson’s remarks on the Philippines allowing the visit by head of the foreign affairs department of the Taiwan authorities, Philippine Defense Minister Gilbert Teodoro said that China should not impose its red line on the Philippines and that it’s the Philippines’ sovereignty to accept Taiwan officials. Teodoro said no government official met with Lin Chia-lung and the Philippines is “committed to the one-China policy” but “China has no right to dictate.” What’s your comment?

Guo Jiakun: China has stated its solemn position on the Philippines allowing the visit by head of the foreign affairs department of the Taiwan authorities. The Philippines has repeatedly adopted wrong and provocative words and deeds on Taiwan-related issues, violated basic norms governing international relations and its commitment on Taiwan-related issues, and kept undermining its relations with China and trampling on China’s red line. The Philippines will pay the price and all consequences arising therefrom must be borne by the Philippines.

We noted that Philippine Defense Minister Gilbert Teodoro and other people made irresponsible remarks and deliberately made provocations on the Taiwan question and other China-related issues on multiple occasions. They blatantly challenged China’s core interest, red line and bottom line. China never tolerates and firmly opposes such moves. Our message to the Philippines is that for anyone in the Philippines who tries to be a troublemaker on the Taiwan question, interfere in China’s internal affairs, or undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, their action will only backfire. We urge those individuals to quit their theatrics and stop making provocations.

The Australian: The Australian government on Wednesday didn’t send any ministers to the parade of Beijing. The Australian ambassador in China was on the other side of the country in Guangzhou. What’s the Chinese government’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: China held the commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War to remember history, honor the fallen heroes, cherish peace and create a better future. The Chinese and Australian people have upheld justice and fought together in the World Anti-Fascist War. China stands ready to establish a right perception of history, jointly defend the outcomes of WWII victory and post-war international order and safeguard world peace and stability together with all peace-loving nations and peoples.

AFP: The U.S. company Anthropic said it is blocking its AI services from Chinese-controlled companies due to security risks. What’s the Foreign Ministry’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: I’m not familiar with the specifics. Let me stress that China opposes politicizing trade and sci-tech issues and using them as a weapon and a tool. Such practice does no one good. 

The Australian: The Australian navy joined a Canadian navy ship and a Philippine navy ship for joint navigation in what the Australian government says “the Philippines’ exclusive maritime zone” without saying what the Chinese state media called the South China Sea. What’s the Chinese government’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: The spokesperson of the PLA Southern Theater Command made remarks on this issue. Relevant countries have conducted the so-called joint navigation in the South China Sea to flex muscle and stoke confrontation, which will only escalate tensions and destabilize the region. China is firmly resolved in defending its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea. We urge the relevant countries to stop forming small groupings and making trouble in the South China Sea and undermining regional peace and stability.

AFP: The U.S. president plans to change the name of the Defense Department back to the Department of War as a secondary title. What’s the ministry’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: This is the U.S.’s domestic affair. I will not make a comment.

AFP: The U.S. president said he would soon slap tariffs on semiconductor companies not shifting production to America. What’s the ministry’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: China’s position on the tariff issue is consistent and clear.

The Australian: The Australian ambassador or ministers weren’t at the parade, but some Western countries turned up in 2015, sometimes at a leader level, certainly at an ambassador level or much higher. And 10 years on, they’re not there. What’s China’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: September 3 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It’s also the day celebrated by all peace-loving countries and people, including the Chinese people. We hosted relevant events in order to remember history, honor the fallen heroes, cherish peace and create a better future. 

Bloomberg: I want to take stock today after we had very busy activities. We’ve had the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. We’ve had Chinese leader meeting with various leaders, including India’s Mr. Modi, Russia’s Putin and obviously Kim Jong-un from North Korea in addition with the parade this week. What I would like to ask you is if you could offer some words that would characterize these events from a Chinese perspective. People are using different words like historic, momentous or significant. How on the spectrum would you describe these events? And secondly, how should capitals, including and especially I would say Western capitals, view the events? What sort of signal or interpretation would you like for them to have? What is the message after these very significant events?

Guo Jiakun: As regard to the SCO Summit in Tianjin and the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, China released relevant readouts. Let me stress that as the rotating chair of the SCO in 2025, we successfully hosted the SCO Summit in Tianjin. When meeting the press after the summit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi shared information on the eight major outcomes. We stand ready to work with all the SCO member countries to usher the SCO into a new stage of high-quality development and uphold peace and development in the region. 

I just shared with you our purpose to host the commemorative events. Only by remembering history can we have a deeper understanding of the hard-won peace and create a better future for all humanity.