Shenzhen TV: China announced that the first 2026 APEC senior officials’ meeting will be held in Guangzhou this February. As the meeting approaches, can you brief us on the preparations for the meeting? What does China hope to achieve through the meeting?

Guo Jiakun: APEC senior officials’ meetings, held four to fives times every year, are the main channel for preparing outcomes for the leaders’ meeting. As the host of APEC in 2026, China will host the first APEC senior officials’ meeting and related meetings in Guangzhou from February 1 to 10. This will be the first official event of the APEC “China Year.” Focusing on the theme of the 2026 APEC “Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together” and the three priorities “openness, innovation and cooperation,” the meeting will launch cooperation across the board in all areas and through all mechanisms, have in-depth discussions on specific cooperation, and accumulate outcomes for the Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November.

There will be over 50 events during the meeting, which are expected to have the participation of about 1,000 representatives from member economies of APEC, the APEC Secretariat and the APEC Business Advisory Council. At the moment, preparations are proceeding smoothly. The host city Guangzhou has a time-honored history and is an important window to learn about China’s opening up and a core city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. We welcome friends from the media to follow and actively report on the first senior officials’ meeting and related meetings to share the stories of the APEC “China Year” with the world.

Yonhap News Agency: It’s reported that yesterday afternoon, the DPRK fired ballistic missiles toward the eastern waters. The ROK, the U.S. and Japan said this violates UN Security Council resolutions. What’s China’s comment? 

Guo Jiakun: We noted that relevant parties have different views on what the projectiles are. We hope relevant parties will face up to the root cause of the Korean Peninsula issue, stick to the direction of political settlement, and make an effort for peace and stability in the region.

AFP: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer begins a three-day visit to China today and will meet Chinese leaders tomorrow. Can the Foreign Ministry provide a comment about your expectations for the visit?

Guo Jiakun: As you said, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is on an official visit to China from January 28 to 31 upon invitation. The international landscape is witnessing turbulence and transformation. It serves the common interest of both peoples and contributes to global peace, stability and development for China and the UK, as two permanent members of the UN Security Council, to maintain communication and enhance cooperation. Prime Minister Starmer’s visit marks the first visit to China by a UK prime minister in eight years. During the visit, Chinese leaders will meet and have talks with him for in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister Starmer will also visit Shanghai.

China stands ready to take this visit as an opportunity to enhance political mutual trust with the UK, deepen practical cooperation, open a new chapter of sound and steady development of China-UK relationship and together make due efforts and contributions to world peace, security, and stability.

Reuters: The Chinese ambassador to Australia has warned of retaliation from Beijing if the Albanese government forces a Chinese firm to sell the Port of Darwin. Could the Foreign Ministry please comment on these reported remarks?

Guo Jiakun: China reiterates that the Chinese company got the lease of Port Darwin through market means. The company’s lawful rights and interests should be fully protected.