At the invitation of the Myanmar side, President Xi Jinping’s Special Envoy and Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Jiang Xinzhi will attend the inauguration of President Min Aung Hlaing in Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw on April 10.

China-Arab TV: On April 8 local time, Israel launched large-scale airstrikes against more than 100 targets across Lebanon within 10 minutes, killing at least 254 people and injuring 1,165 others, most of them civilians. Lebanon has declared April 9 a national day of mourning. Iran says the act violates the ceasefire agreement and has closed the Strait of Hormuz. What is China’s comment?

Mao Ning: Lebanon’s sovereignty and security should not be violated. Civilians and their property must be protected. We call on relevant parties to stay calm and exercise self-restraint and deescalate the situation in the region. 

Shenzhen TV: Former finance minister of Greece and economist Yanis Varoufakis most recently wrote an article carried by Project Syndicate. He wrote that in order to hide their own failures, Western leaders weave the fiction that “China has cheated its way to prosperity” and that the reasons for China’s economic success should be viewed from a more objective perspective. What’s your comment?

Mao Ning: I also read the article. It is well-reasoned, evidence-based, objective and well-informed. I highly recommend it.

For a country as large as China, there is never a shortcut to prosperity. China relies on the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the efforts of the Chinese people. Indeed, China’s success does benefit from some strengths. For instance, China has the perseverance to turn development blueprint into reality. For decades, China continues to formulate and implement five-year plans, and there is long-term continuity and consistency in China’s development goals and policies. Also, China has the ability to pool efforts to get big things done. China mobilizes resources from various quarters to form synergy and achieve coordinated development. And China has a mega-sized market. China has the world’s largest middle-income group and is the second largest consumer market. Moreover, China has a strong industrial system with a whole range of industrial sectors and well-established supporting facilities. China also boasts remarkable human resources. China is home to the largest cohort of R&D personnel in the world and is quickly turning its huge population into talent dividends.

China’s success is not an accident, still less a result of “cheating.” It is a manifestation of the strengths of China’s system, and the success of the Chinese path, visions and model.

China-Arab TV: Last week, a Moroccan student rescued a Chinese woman who fell into Jinsha Lake in Hangzhou. What he did has touched many. Can you share your comment on this foreigner’s brave act? What is your view and expectation for promoting friendly ties between Chinese and foreign youths and welcoming foreigners into Chinese society?

Mao Ning: I saw the news too. Very much touched by his bravery and would like to give him a big thumbs-up. Kindness knows no borders. This is a vivid and heart-warming example of the vast goodwill between Chinese and foreign youths.

AFP: The White House said yesterday that the U.S. had held talks with China on the Iran war in the last few days. I wonder if you could tell us whether such talks took place and what was discussed? And also a second question, I’m just going back to Lebanon. Does China believe that Lebanon is part of the ceasefire that was agreed?

Mao Ning: On your first question, since the fighting began, China has worked actively to communicate with relevant parties to help bring about an end to the conflict. 

On your second question, we hope relevant parties will take the temporary ceasefire arrangement as an opportunity to resolve disputes through political and diplomatic means and put an end to the conflict.

Sputnik: Iranian Parliament Speaker said yesterday that a ceasefire and negotiations with the United States on ending the war is “unreasonable.” He accused the U.S of multiple violations, the Lebanon situation included. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this?

Mao Ning: We hope relevant parties will seize the opportunity for peace, bridge differences through dialogue and consultation, and work for restoring peace and stability to the Gulf and Middle East region at an early date.

Voice of Viet Nam: According to what has been released by China and Viet Nam today, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and Vietnamese President To Lam will pay a state visit to China from April 14 to 17. Can you brief us on the program and China’s expectation of the visit? How do you view the recent development of the bilateral ties?

Mao Ning: At the invitation of General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President of Viet Nam To Lam will pay a state visit to China from April 14 to 17. General Secretary and President Xi Jinping will hold talks with General Secretary and President To Lam. Premier Li Qiang, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Zhao Leji and Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee Wang Huning will meet with him.

In April 2025, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping paid a successful state visit to Viet Nam, ushering in a new stage for the China-Viet Nam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. China is the first country that General Secretary To Lam will visit following his election as president. That fully shows the great significance attached to developing relations between the two parties and two countries. China hopes that through the visit, the two countries will carry forward the traditional friendship, continue to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, advance the building of an even higher level of community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, jointly promote the socialist cause in the world, and together maintain regional and world peace, stability and development.

AFP: Just a question on Wang Yi who’s visiting the DPRK at the moment, can you tell us any more about what he will be discussing in North Korea? Will he raise restarting tourism from China to North Korea?

Mao Ning: I shared the arrangement about Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to the DPRK yesterday. I believe the two sides will discuss issues of mutual interest. If there is further information, we will release it in a timely manner. Please check back for updates.

Bloomberg: I have two questions. We saw that President Donald Trump has said on Truth Social that countries supplying military weapons to Iran will immediately be tariffed on any and all goods sold to the U.S. at 50 percent, effective immediately. We’re wondering if the foreign ministry has a comment on this? The second question is regarding a Guardian report. The Guardian has reported that Pakistani officials said that China helped convince a reluctant Tehran to join the negotiation. While Islamabad acted as the mediator, China functioned as the guarantor, promising that Iranian officials would not be assassinated during future negotiations, according to the report. We’re wondering if the foreign ministry could comment on this?

Mao Ning: On your first question, China’s position is very clear. There is no winner in a tariff war.

On your second question, China has been calling for an immediate ceasefire, resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means, and bringing lasing peace and security to the Gulf region and the Middle East. China will continue working for easing tensions and putting an end to the conflict.

AFP: The Federal Communications Commission in the U.S. has said it is planning to vote on a proposal that would ban all Chinese labs from testing electronic devices used in the U.S. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on this?

Mao Ning: China firmly opposes the U.S. overstretching the concept of national security. This type of action has severely impeded the normal economic and trade exchanges between Chinese and U.S. companies and does not serve anyone’s interests, including those of American companies and consumers. China will continue to firmly safeguard its legitimate and lawful rights and interests.