At the invitation of the government of Seychelles, President Xi Jinping’s Special Envoy and Minister of Transport Liu Wei will attend the National Day celebrations commemorating the 50th anniversary of Seychelles’ Independence in Victoria on June 28.

Beijing Youth Daily: We noted that Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is concluding his visit to China today. Can you further brief us on the visit?

Guo Jiakun: Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paid an official visit to China from June 22 to 26 and attended the 17th Summer Davos. During his visit, President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Zhao Leji met with and held talks with him respectively to have in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest. Broad-based common understandings and a series of practical cooperation results have been achieved, which forms the new strategic planning for the development of China-Bangladesh relations. The visit can be defined by three highlights:

First, rendering each other steadfast mutual support. Leaders of the two countries agreed to build a China-Bangladesh community with a shared future in the new era. The two sides will firmly support each other in defending core interests, step up exchanges on governance experience, deepen strategic communication and enhance political mutual trust. China supports the new government of Bangladesh in its governance. The Bangladeshi side reiterated its firm commitment to the one-China principle.

Second, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation. The two sides agreed to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, further dovetail development strategies, steadily promote the implementation of major landmark projects, such as ports and water conservancy, promote cooperation in such fields as trade, industrial and supply chains, and finance, expand cooperation in such emerging areas as new energy, digital economy, AI, and information and communication, and step up regional connectivity. The two sides signed multiple cooperation documents.

Third, upholding international fairness and justice. The two sides will enhance communication and coordination in the UN and other multilateral frameworks, promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and jointly defend the victorious outcome of WWII as well as the UN-centered international system.

Through the visit, China stands ready to work with Bangladesh to further deepen strategic communication and political mutual trust, better synergize development strategies, expand result-oriented cooperation, promote closer people-to-people and cultural exchanges, boost multilateral coordination and better benefit the two countries and two peoples with the fruits of developing China-Bangladesh relations.

Telesur: Following the earthquakes that affected Venezuela, the Ministry’s spokesperson said yesterday that China is ready to provide assistance according to Venezuela’s needs. Could you please clarify whether there has already been coordination with the Venezuelan government regarding rescue efforts, emergency supplies, or other forms of humanitarian assistance? And could you provide an update on the situation of Chinese citizens affected by the disaster?

Guo Jiakun: In the wake of the earthquakes which caused massive casualties and economic loss in Venezuela, the Chinese government has expressed sympathies to the Venezuelan government and people, and the Venezuelan government has thanked China for this. The Chinese government and the Red Cross Society of China will provide emergency humanitarian aid to Venezuela for quake relief respectively. We stand ready to offer more support as the disaster response progresses.

Sadly, two Chinese nationals have died in the earthquakes according to verified information as of today. The Chinese embassy in Venezuela is doing all it can to verify the safety of Chinese nationals in the quake zone and will actively provide necessary assistance. We advise Chinese nationals in Venezuela to exercise caution against possible secondary quake hazards. 

CCTV: As the 17th Summer Davos forum concluded in Dalian yesterday, China’s “market dividends” and “innovation dividends” continue to make headlines, which calls into question such rhetoric as “China shock” or “trade imbalance”. Lately we have seen more objective and rational voices around the world rejecting protectionism and advocating building an open and inclusive world economy. What’s China’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: More and more countries have come to realize that seizing “China opportunity 2.0” is a pressing priority and win-win cooperation holds the key to future success.

The quality products China exports to the world is a boon, not a shock. For industries, Chinese equipment and components help them to achieve upgrading and green transition and better integrate into global value chains. According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development, intermediate goods trade with China has increased the number of developing countries as key global trading hubs from 6 in 2007 to 11 in 2024. For consumers, China’s affordable quality products help ease the strain of inflation by allowing them to reduce household spending. The European Central Bank estimates that a 10 percent increase in Chinese imports to the EU in 2026 would reduce overall import prices by 1.6 percent. 

China never seeks trade surplus. Instead, we readily share our domestic market with the rest of the world. In the first five months of this year, China’s import surged by 20.5 percent, outpacing export growth by 8.7 percentage points. Among China’s top 50 trading partners, 32 registered higher growth in export to China than import from China.

A multi-dimensional vision of “China opportunity 2.0” is unfolding before our eyes. The Chinese market will unlock new space for growth. “Made in China” will be further empowered with a more efficient industrial ecosystem. China’s infrastructure development will ensure more enabling conditions. The Chinese government will foster a more open, equitable and friendly business environment. To root your business in China is to embrace opportunities; to integrate into China is to secure a promising future.

Yonhap News Agency: Chinese fishing vessels reportedly continue illegal fishing activities. President Lee Jae-myung recently expressed concern over this. What’s China’s position?

Guo Jiakun: It serves the two sides’ shared interests to maintain a stable situation in waters between China and the ROK and have orderly fishing activities there. China always asks Chinese fishermen to follow relevant laws and regulations. At the same time, we will firmly protect their lawful rights and interests. China and the ROK have in place well-developed dialogue mechanisms on fishing-related issues and maintain close communication over relevant issues.

NHK: Several Japanese economic delegations are visiting China to attend the China International Supply Chain Expo. How does China assess non-governmental exchanges between the two countries and what does China expect to achieve in the future? Besides, the delegation of Japan’s Association for the Promotion of International Trade also visited China’s Foreign Ministry and met with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying during their stay in China. Can you brief us on the meeting and what has been discussed between the two sides?

Guo Jiakun: On your first question, the Fourth China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) that kicked off this Monday attracted active participation of companies and organizations across the world. We’ve learned that many Japanese companies and economic groups also registered for the event, which represents the urgent call from Japan’s business sector for improving China-Japan relations and having cooperation with China. It’s hoped that those running the Japanese government can heed the call, face up to the root cause of problems, do serious soul-searching, correct the wrongdoings, show the sincerity of improving ties with China with concrete actions and create necessary conditions for normal exchanges between the two countries.

On your second question, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying on Monday met with the delegation led by Gaku Hashimoto, acting chief of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT), who traveled to China for the CISCE. The Chinese side expressed condolences over the passing of Yohei Kono, the president of JAPIT, and stated its consistent position on China-Japan relations and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s erroneous remarks on Taiwan. The Chinese side expressed the hope that the Japanese business sector can help foster a right view of history in the country and improve bilateral relations between China and Japan.

PTI: You just announced about Bangladesh prime minister’s visit and the discussions with the Chinese leaders. You also mentioned the agreements related to water projects and cooperation. Reports from Bangladesh official media say that the two sides have actually reached a cooperative agreement or understanding about the Teesta River projects besides other rivers. There are very serious concerns from India about the Teesta cooperation between China and Bangladesh, because it runs very close to the border and also India’s Northeast province as such. How China view this kind of concerns and have these concerns been discussed between the two leaders?

Guo Jiakun: I just briefed you about the visit by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. China stands ready to seek greater synergy in development strategies with Bangladesh and step up exchange and cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, water conservancy and livelihood. The comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation of the Teesta River is a livelihood project the Bangladeshi side attaches high importance to. China is ready to do what it can to support this project. I would like to stress that China-Bangladesh cooperation does not target any third party and should be free from third party influence.

Xinhua News Agency: Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Beate Meinl-Reisinger just concluded her visit to China. Can you brief us on that? What’s your comment on the outcomes of this visit?

Guo Jiakun: At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Beate Meinl-Reisinger visited China from June 22 to 26. This is foreign minister Reisinger’s first visit to China since she took office. The two foreign ministers had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues. Before she came to Beijing, she had visited Shanghai and Taicang, Jiangsu Province. During her trip in Beijing, she visited the China International Supply Chain Expo exhibitions and attended the reception celebrating the 55th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Austria. This visit features a tight schedule and produces fruitful results, with three keywords standing out:

The first one is enduring friendship. Foreign Minister Reisinger’s visit to China is an important part of celebrations on China-Austria diplomatic ties. She said that since our relations were established 55 years ago, great progress has been made. The establishment of the China-Austria friendly strategic partnership in 2018 shows that despite different paths and systems, the two sides have established a stable and resilient partnership. Going forward, both sides agree to keep high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic dialogue, and respect each other’s core interests so as to inject new vitality to our traditional friendship in the new era. China appreciates Austria for its reasonable and pragmatic policy towards China, and hopes that Austria will continue playing a constructive role in China-EU relations. The Austrian side is also ready to facilitate candid dialogue between the EU and China for the steady and sound development of EU-China relations.

Second, mutually beneficial cooperation. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber setting up representative offices respectively in each other’s capital. During the visit, Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger brought along a business delegation, focused on bilateral economic and trade cooperation, visited Austrian businesses in China, attended a business roundtable, and took a test ride in China’s new energy vehicle. She commended China’s economic development and innovation achievements multiple times, and noted that Austrian companies are ready to further explore the Chinese market, take part in the development of Chinese modernization, and deepen cooperation with China in areas of manufacturing, digitalization, finance, green development, science, education and innovation. China supports the two countries in having closer economic and people-to-people exchanges to make the pie of cooperation bigger for mutual benefit.

Third, multilateralism. Amid the volatile international situation and grave challenges to peace and development, China and Austria both support multilateralism and free trade, and are committed to uphold the authority of the UN and international rule of law. China congratulates Austria on its election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. We stand ready to enhance communication and collaboration with Austria to jointly uphold the authority of the UN, defend international rule of law and fairness and justice, work to reform and improve the global governance system, and make new contribution to world peace and development. Austria expressed its readiness to have close collaboration with China, fully fulfill its duty as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, cement the UN’s central role, and bring big and small countries together for world peace and development.

CRI: It is reported that, on June 22, the Council of the League of Arab States at the ministerial level appointed Nabil Fahmy, former foreign minister of Egypt, as the new secretary-general of the Arab League. What’s your comment on that? What’s your expectation for China-Arab relations going forward?

Guo Jiakun: The Arab League is a symbol of strength through unity among Arab states. China congratulates Mr. Nabil Fahmy on being appointed as the new secretary-general of the Arab League, and hopes that he will promote China-Arab relations for further advancement during his term. As a good friend and partner of Arab countries, China is committed to strengthening solidarity and cooperation, meeting challenges together with the Arab side and adding new meaning to China-Arab strategic partnership to build a higher-level China-Arab community with a shared future.

AFP: Officials in New Zealand have said that China is expanding its military presence in the Pacific, with activities including ballistic missile tests and deployments of navy warships near Australia and New Zealand. This is according to an internal report from December seen by AFP. Does the foreign ministry have a comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: I’m not familiar with the specifics of the so-called “internal report.” Let me stress that China is committed to peaceful development. In developing its defense capabilities, China aims to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, and does not target any other country. The strengthening of the Chinese military means the strengthening of the force for world peace and is conducive to safeguarding peace and stability in the Asia Pacific and beyond.

People’s Daily: Today is the UN Charter Day. What’s China’s take on the current challenges of upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter? How can we better defend its authority?

Guo Jiakun: The UN Charter has established the UN-centered international system, the norms governing state-to-state relations, and the foundation for international rule of law. Observing the UN Charter has become the biggest common denominator of the postwar international community. The root cause of the chaos in today’s world is not that the Charter’s spirit is outdated, but that the international order and the basic norms governing international relations, both set out in the Charter, are not being effectively upheld and observed.

As the first country to put its signature on the UN Charter, China is committed to upholding and implementing the Charter. This May, when holding the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the Security Council high-level meeting in New York centered around “Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-centered International System,” with an aim to enabling all parties to have a thorough discussion on the historic significance and the relevance of the UN Charter in our times. The shared message among the participating representatives from nearly 110 countries is the need to uphold one and the same system—the UN-centered international system, and observe the same set of norms—the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

China is ready to work with the international community to take the UN Charter Day as an opportunity to renew the vision embodied in the Charter, carry forward its spirit and uphold the purposes and principles of the Charter so as to defend, revitalize and strengthen the UN and build a more just and equitable global governance system.