President Xi Jinping’s Special Representative, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Zhang Guoqing will be in France from March 9 to 12 for the second Nuclear Energy Summit upon invitation.

At the invitation of the Chilean side, President Xi Jinping’s Special Envoy and Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ni Hong will attend the presidential inauguration of José Antonio Kast in Chile’s capital Santiago on March 11.

CCTV: To follow up on the visit by President Xi Jinping’s Special Representative and Vice Premier of the State Council Zhang Guoqing, can you share more details?

Guo Jiakun: The Nuclear Energy Summit is the world’s highest-level multilateral meeting exclusively focused on the topic of nuclear energy. The gathering aims at enhancing political consensus, advancing multilateral coordination, and enabling nuclear energy to play a bigger role in tackling global climate change, strengthening countries’ energy security and resilience and realizing UN Sustainable Development Goals. Held against the backdrop of global climate change and green and low-carbon transition, the second Nuclear Energy Summit will focus on such key topics as nuclear energy development strategies, financing models and innovation pathways. Leaders of participating countries will deliver keynote addresses and the Summit will issue a joint statement.

China is a global leader in nuclear energy, and an important advocate, participant and contributor in international nuclear energy cooperation. While ensuring its own nuclear security, China actively fulfills its international obligations on nuclear security and vigorously advances international cooperation on nuclear energy. Through the Summit, China looks forward to stepping up communication and exchanges with various parties, building consensus for cooperation, working for more just and equitable global nuclear energy governance, and making nuclear energy development more inclusive and beneficial for all and nuclear energy cooperation more open and orderly.

Reuters: Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father as supreme leader. Does China have any comment on this selection?

Guo Jiakun: We have noted relevant reports. It is a decision made by the Iranian side in accordance with the country’s Constitution.

Bloomberg: There was a report today that G7 countries have been meeting with the IEA to discuss a possible release of oil from the global emergency oil reserves. Was China part of those discussions? Is China going to participate in any effort to send oil from the reserves to help the market?

Guo Jiakun: I’d refer you to competent authorities for anything specific. Energy security is of vital importance to the world economy. All parties have the responsibility to ensure stable and unimpeded energy supply. China will do what is necessary to protect its energy security.

Yonhap News Agency: Yonhap News Agency planned to raise questions at yesterday’s press conference, but unfortunately ROK media did not get opportunities to raise questions, so I’ll ask the questions today. Since last year, through mutual visits of the Chinese and ROK presidents, the ROK-China relations have moved forward. How does China think the bilateral relations can achieve sustained development? Another question, what will China do to promote the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue?

Guo Jiakun: Over 600 Chinese and foreign journalists attended the foreign minister’s press conference during the two sessions this year, where Foreign Minister Wang Yi answered 21 questions. Due to the limited time, not every journalist could have their questions answered at the press conference. We hope to have your understanding on this.

Regarding your questions, in November last year and January this year, the presidents of China and the ROK had successful mutual visits and reached a number of important common understandings, providing guidance for the deepening of the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership. China stands ready to work with the ROK to deliver on the important common understandings between the two presidents, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various areas, and bring the bilateral relations forward along the right track.

China’s position and policy on the Korean Peninsula issue maintains consistency and continuity. We will continue to uphold peace and stability on the Peninsula in our own way and play a constructive role in advancing the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue.

The Paper: It’s reported the spokesperson for the UN Secretary General said Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemns the incident on March 6 which resulted in three Ghanaian peacekeepers of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) being injured. He underscores that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be respected at all times, and that those responsible must be held accountable. The Ghanaian government said the attack constitutes a grave violation of international law and amounts to war crime, and called for a “full, immediate, impartial and transparent investigation.” What’s China comment? 

Guo Jiakun: China strongly condemns the attack against the UN Interim Force in Lebanon. Our hearts go out to the injured. Any deliberate attack against UN peacekeeping personnel amounts to a grave violation of international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The attack is unacceptable and must stop at once. China urges relevant parties to immediately take measures to deescalate the situation and ensure the safety of UN peacekeeping personnel.

Bloomberg: Over the weekend, the “premier” of Taiwan Mr. Cho visited Japan to watch a baseball game. I think he saw the Taiwanese beat the Czech Republic. When he was asked about the visit, he said he made a “personal visit” and it was nothing official about his visit to Tokyo. Do you accept his explanation that this was a personal visit? Do you have any further comment about his trip to Japan?

Guo Jiakun: With unspeakable motives, Cho Jung-tai sneaked into Japan to carry out provocation for “Taiwan independence.” This is a rather despicable move.

China remains highly vigilant and firmly opposed to the Japanese side trying to create gray areas or push the envelope on the Taiwan question. The Japanese side will pay the price for emboldening the provocations and acting recklessly and shall bear all responsibility for the consequences of such action. China will continue to firmly push back separatism for “Taiwan independence,” oppose external interference, and defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.

RIA Novosti: When it comes to Russian President Putin, Estonian foreign minister recently said that “All of Putin’s friends are either already in heaven or in hell—likely in hell—or sitting in prison. A few remain.” This has been quite heated and contentious. What’s China’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: China has all along developed friendly cooperative relations with all countries in the world, including Russia, under the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. We hope the Estonian side will view China-Russia relations from an objective and rational perspective and not make irresponsible remarks.

AFP: Taiwan has said that the number of PRC military aircraft around the island has fallen significantly over the last 10 days. I wonder if you could tell us what the reason is for this reduction in military aircraft flights near Taiwan?

Guo Jiakun: This is not a question about foreign affairs.

Ukrinform News Agency: Minister Wang Yi yesterday stated that in major international affairs, China and Russia share the closest strategic coordination, including defending international rule and order. Does the statement mean that Beijing can approve Moscow’s approach and Russia’s actions in Ukraine?

Guo Jiakun: China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear, with the four points about what should be done on the Ukraine crisis put forward by President Xi Jinping as our fundamental guidance. We also released the document “China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis.” I believe you are familiar with all this. 

As to China-Russia relations, both sides develop bilateral ties based on the principle of non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party.

Reuters: Trump on Saturday hosted a dozen Latin American and Caribbean leaders in South Florida for what the White House dubbed the “Shield of the Americas” summit. Trump did not mention China specifically but warned that the United States would not allow “hostile foreign influence” to gain a foothold in the Western Hemisphere, including in the Panama Canal, a key global freight route. How will China protect its many strategic partnerships in Latin America, as well as its assets and investments in the region?

Guo Jiakun: Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries are independent sovereign countries and have the right to independently choose development paths and cooperation partners. China upholds the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation in conducting exchanges and cooperation with LAC countries in various fields. The China-LAC cooperation is never driven by geopolitical calculations, does not target any third party and should not be disrupted or affected by any third party.

Bloomberg: Last week, the Australian military said that the Australian naval helicopter which was flying over the Yellow Sea was intercepted unsafely by a PLA navy helicopter. Does the Chinese government accept the Australian government’s characterization that the intercept was “unsafe”? The Australian government says it’s over international waters. Does the Chinese government accept the Yellow Sea area in question is over international waters, therefore it is free for other nations to fly or sail through these waters as they wish?

Guo Jiakun: There has been a response to that from competent authorities.

AFP: The new leader in Iran was announced over the weekend. President Donald Trump has said that “he might not last long” and Israel vowed to target any of the new leaders in Iran. I wonder if you have any comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: China opposes interference in other countries’ internal affairs under any pretext. Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected. China calls for an immediate end to the military operations, return to dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible, and no further escalation of tensions.