Xinhua News Agency: Today marks the World Food Day. Months ago, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) together with other organizations released The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025. The proportion of the global population facing hunger saw a steady drop in recent years, down to 8.2 percent last year. Yet around 673 million people still suffer from hunger. As 2030 nears, the world is significantly behind on achieving Sustainable Development Goal “Zero Hunger.” What’s China’s comment?

Lin Jian: Food security is fundamental to humanity’s survival. As the world’s largest food producer, China grows food with less than nine percent of the world’s arable land and feeds over 1.4 billion people. In recent years, China’s overall grain output has increased steadily. One fifth of global grain production comes from China. China has made remarkable contributions to global food security.

China has been committed to improving food security and reducing poverty globally through international cooperation. President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Development Initiative and listed food security as one of the eight priority areas of cooperation in the initiative. Thanks to its own effort, China, once a recipient of FAO technology, has turned to a core contributor to the organization. China has provided more funding and experts and undertaken more projects than any other developing country under the framework of the FAO’s South-South Cooperation Program. China has carried out agricultural cooperation with more than 140 countries and regions, provided more than 1,000 agricultural technologies to other developing countries, and trained over 14,000 technicians on hybrid rice technology. With concrete actions, we have helped ease the food shortage in the Global South and put the world on course to the vision of zero hunger and zero poverty.

From ensuring the food supply of the Chinese people to contributing to global poverty relief, China has taken active moves to uphold global food security. Going forward, we will continue to work relentlessly to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and build a better world.

AFP: Yesterday U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized China’s rare earth export controls as “China versus the world.” He called on U.S. allies to “work together to de-risk and diversify our supply chains away from China as quickly as possible.” What is the Foreign Ministry’s comment on these remarks?

Lin Jian: Chinese competent authorities have stated on multiple occasions China’s position on the export control measures on rare earths. China’s export control measures are consistent with international practice and are taken to better safeguard world peace and regional stability, and to fulfill China’s non-proliferation and other international obligations. 

Al Araby Television Network: The U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dangled the possibility of extending a pause of tariff on Chinese goods for longer than three months if China halts its plan for strict new export controls on rare-earth elements. He also said that U.S. President Trump is still expected to meet with Chinese leader in the near future. Do you have any comment on that?

Lin Jian: We have repeatedly stated China’s position on the export controls on rare earths and on China-U.S. economic and trade issues.

Shenzhen TV: Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that, at the Taliban government’s request, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a 48-hour temporary ceasefire that would come into effect at 6 pm (9 pm Beijing time) on October 15. During the ceasefire, both countries would work to find a solution through constructive dialogue. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that the ceasefire agreement was reached at the request of the Pakistani side, and that Afghanistan will observe the ceasefire as long as Pakistan does not commit act of aggression. What’s China’s comment? 

Lin Jian: We noted that Pakistan and Afghanistan decided to implement a temporary ceasefire and will seek a solution through constructive dialogue, which serves the common interests of the two sides and helps keep the region peaceful and stable. China welcomes and supports the effort.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are each other’s neighbors and both are China’s friends. China supports the two countries in staying cool-headed and exercising restraint, realizing a full and lasting ceasefire, properly handling differences through dialogue and consultation, returning to the track of political settlement, and together maintaining peace and stability in both countries and the wider region. China will continue playing a constructive role for the improvement of their relations.

Bloomberg: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent lashed out at China International Trade Representative, saying that he turned up in Washington recently and was very “disrespectful.” Would the Foreign Ministry like to comment on this?

Lin Jian: China’s position is consistent and clear. The U.S. should work with China to address relevant issues through dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit, rather than bullying, threatening and intimidating China.

EFE: It’s reported that Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares Bueno in Hangzhou yesterday. How does China assess the meeting and its current relations with Spain? What does China expect to achieve through King Felipe VI’s upcoming visit to China in November?

Lin Jian: Foreign Minister Wang Yi had friendly and in-depth talks with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno. The discussion was focused, constructive, and forward-looking. The two sides reached extensive common understandings on further advancing China-Spain relations in the spirit of jointly safeguarding world peace, stability, development and prosperity. The talks have provided important impetus for delivering on the common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, enhancing high-level interactions, deepening exchanges and cooperation across various fields, and strengthening multilateral coordination. 

Spain is an important cooperative partner for China in Europe, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership. China stands ready to work with Spain to render each other firm support, stay committed to dialogue and cooperation, cultivate a comprehensive strategic partnership with greater strategic focus and dynamism, bring more benefits to the people of both countries, and make greater contribution to the world’s solidarity and response to global challenges.

Regarding the visit you mentioned, I have no information to share at the moment.

BBC: I want to ask about this case, which has now been abandoned, against these two people alleged to provide national security secrets to China from the UK. I know we’ve asked about this before, but these new documents have been released in the UK as part of this process in Britain. And there are some claims in these so-called witness statements. National Security Adviser Matt Collins said Chinese intelligence services are carrying out large-scale espionage operations against the UK. He also called China the biggest state-based threat to the UK’s economic security. Does the Chinese government have any response to these claims?

Lin Jian: We noted that. China’s position is very clear. We firmly oppose peddling “China spy” narratives and vilifying China.

Yonhap News Agency: The newly-appointed ROK Ambassador to China Roh Jae-heon arrived in China today. What’s China’s expectation of the new ambassador?

Lin Jian: We noted relevant reports. Diplomatic envoys are important bridges for developing friendship and cooperation between countries. China welcomes the newly appointed ROK Ambassador to China Roh Jae-heon to take on his new mission. We hope that after taking office, Ambassador Roh Jae-heon will play a positive role for a sound and steady China-ROK relationship. We stand ready to provide him with facilitation as he carries out his duty.  

Bloomberg: The head of the UK’s Foreign Office is pushing China to allow Britain to rebuild its embassy in Beijing, but apparently the UK has grown frustrated over the progress of those plans. This is coming obviously as Keir Starmer’s government is deliberating over its own decision about whether to let China go ahead with its new embassy in London. This week, Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign Office Oliver Robbins will discuss the UK’s long-sought improvements on the embassy in the meeting during a visit to China this week. Would the ministry like to comment on the embassy situation?

Lin Jian: We’ve stated our position multiple times on issues related to diplomatic premises of China and the UK.

AFP: U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday that he has received an assurance from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India will stop buying oil from Russia. Trump added in his remarks that now it’s time to get China to do the same thing. My question is, are China’s purchases of Russian oil part of ongoing trade negotiations with the United States? And what is China’s position on this?

Lin Jian: China has made clear its position on this issue more than once. China’s normal trade and energy cooperation with other countries, including Russia, is legitimate and lawful. What the U.S. has done is typical unilateral bullying and economic coercion, which will severely disrupt international economic and trade rules and threaten safety and stability of global industrial and supply chains. 

China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is objective, just and aboveboard. The world can clearly see that. We firmly oppose the U.S. directing the issue to China and imposing illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction on China. If China’s legitimate rights and interests are harmed, China will take countermeasures to firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.

Reuters: On Wednesday, the UK added Chinese energy companies and port operators to a list of entities sanctioned for supporting the Russian energy sector. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment?

Lin Jian: China opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council. We deplore the UK’s decision and have protested to the UK. On the Ukraine crisis, China is committed to promoting talks for peace. The normal exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Russian companies should not be disrupted or affected. We will do what is necessary to firmly defend our legitimate and lawful rights and interests.

BBC: About these entities that the UK government has placed on this list because of supposedly helping the Russian energy sector, might there be any reciprocity from the Chinese side on these actions from the UK government?

Lin Jian: As I just said, we will do what is necessary to firmly defend our legitimate and lawful rights and interests.

Bloomberg: A potentially major breach of an important U.S.-based cybersecurity provider F5 has been blamed on state-backed hackers from China. Would the Foreign Ministry like to comment on it?

Lin Jian: I am not familiar with the specifics you mentioned. Regarding this kind of groundless accusations that have no evidence, we have made clear our position more than once before. China opposes hacking and combats it in accordance with the law. That said, China is firmly against politically-motivated spread of disinformation.

AFP: This one is on rare earth again, but in relation to Japan. Japan’s Finance Minister said today that the country is “deeply concerned” about the extensive export restrictions on rare earths announced by China last week and the G7 should unite in dealing with this issue. What is the Foreign Ministry’s response to Japan’s finance minister?

Lin Jian: We made clear China’s position on rare earth export controls more than once. China employs export controls on related items according to the law in order to better defend world peace and regional stability and to fulfill non-proliferation and other international obligations. It’s in line with international practices. China stands ready to work with the rest of the world to step up export control dialogue and exchange so as to better keep the global industrial and supply chains safe and stable.

Bloomberg: Chinese state actors systemically and successfully compromised classified UK government computer systems for more than a decade, according to former security officials and other government officials familiar with the matter. The data accessed included confidential documents related to the formulation of government policy, private communications and some diplomatic cables. Would the Foreign Ministry like to respond to these allegations?

Lin Jian: The accusations are nothing but smears. We urge relevant personnel in the UK to stop their vilification and stop this kind of political manipulation.