At the invitation of the government of Bolivia, President Xi Jinping’s Special Envoy and Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying will attend the inauguration of Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz in La Paz, the capital of Bolivia, on November 8.

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Espen Barth Eide will pay an official visit to China from November 10 to 11.

CCTV: To follow up on your announcement about the visit to China by Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, how does China view its relations with Norway and what is China’s expectation for the visit?

Mao Ning: We welcome Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide to visit China. China has extended congratulations to the Norwegian government immediately after it won a second term in power. The Foreign Minister’s visit to China not long after the election speaks to the importance Norway attaches to its relations with China. During the visit, the two sides will have in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest. We believe the visit will help consolidate mutual trust, enhance common understanding, and deepen cooperation, and play an important role for the sustained, sound and steady growth of bilateral relations.

Nippon TV: The Japanese government has announced that Japan’s scallops have been exported to China a few days ago. It is the first time in two years after China has banned imports from Japan. Does China have any comment for this?

Mao Ning: China has released an announcement about the import of Japanese aquatic products to China. 

China will continue working with the international community to ensure Japan will fulfill its commitments and continue to accept the international monitoring of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water and China’s independent sampling and monitoring.

Competent authorities of China will continue to step up regulation of the import of Japanese aquatic products in strict accordance with laws and regulations and ensure people’s food safety. Once any risks are identified, necessary import restrictions will be taken immediately in accordance with the law.

RIA Novosti: President Donald Trump said earlier that he believes that the denuclearization would be a great thing and that he has been discussing this with Russian and Chinese leaders. Can you please confirm that U.S. and Chinese leaders have discussed this issue and if there is any change in China’s position on the trilateral talks?

Mao Ning: China has stated its position on multiple occasions. China’s nuclear strength is by no means on the same level with that of the U.S. or Russia. At the current stage, it’s not fair, reasonable or realistic to ask China to join the nuclear arms control talks. 

Sitting on the world’s biggest nuclear arsenal, the U.S. should earnestly fulfill its special and primary responsibility for nuclear disarmament, further make drastic and substantive cuts to its nuclear arsenal, and create conditions for the realization of complete and thorough nuclear disarmament.

Global Times: It’s reported that according to the Emissions Gap Report released by the UN Environment Program on November 4, nations remain far from meeting the key climate goals of the Paris Agreement. As the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) is being held in Belém, what’s China’s take on the current climate response? What role will China play?

Mao Ning: China has actively implemented the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement. China has made notable achievements in implementing its 2030 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and achieved ahead of schedule the targets of installed capacity of wind and solar power and total forest stock. At the UN Climate Summit, President Xi Jinping solemnly announced China’s 2035 NDCs covering all economic sectors and all greenhouse gases. This is the first time that China put forward an absolute emissions reduction target, which is a testament to China’s firm resolve and maximum effort. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee deliberated over and adopted the recommendations for the economic and social development plan over the next five years. It made important arrangements for building a Beautiful China. China will accelerate the green transition in all areas of economic and social development, work actively and prudently toward peak carbon emissions, and make greater contributions to addressing climate change.

Climate change is a global challenge that requires joint efforts from all parties. Developed countries should step up to their historical responsibility, take the lead in drastically cutting emissions, and support developing countries in funding, technologies and capacity building. China will continue to work with all parties to uphold true multilateralism, safeguard the multilateral process on climate change, and promote global green and low-carbon development.

Reuters: Shein has been suspended in France for selling sex dolls that look like children. Does the selling of these products reflect badly on China?

Mao Ning: For anything specific, I’d refer you to competent authorities. More broadly, the Chinese government asks companies to do business in accordance with laws and regulations and fulfill their corporate responsibilities. We also hope relevant parties will abide by the principles of market economy and provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for companies from all countries.