CCTV: The Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation opened in Changsha, Hunan today. Can you share more details with us? What is the significance of this meeting for China-Africa cooperation?

Lin Jian: The Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was held in Changsha, Hunan today. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the meeting. He announced that China will implement the policy of granting 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, provide more facilitation to Africa’s least developed countries for their export to China, and work with Africa to further implement the 10 partnership actions, providing important guidance for China and Africa jointly advancing modernization and building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the opening ceremony of the meeting and put forward five proposals on promoting high-quality China-Africa cooperation. He noted that China and Africa need to support each other and uphold the solidarity of the Global South; China and Africa need to open up to the world and champion international free trade; China and Africa need to pursue mutual benefit and engage in cooperation on global development; China and Africa need to uphold justice and defend an equitable international order; China and Africa need to carry out exchange and mutual learning and promote diversity of civilizations in the world. The two sides issued the China-Africa Changsha Declaration on Upholding Solidarity and Cooperation of the Global South, the List of Outcomes of the Implementation of the Follow-up Action of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and the Concept Paper of 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, demonstrating the joint effort of China and Africa to implement the cooperation outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and providing new driving forces for deepening political mutual trust, advancing mutually beneficial cooperation and building closer bond between the people. Starting from tomorrow, the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo will also be held in Changsha.

Over recent years, spearheaded by FOCAC, China-Africa relations have achieved great leaps forward. China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China have established strategic partnerships, and China has been the largest trading partner for Africa for 16 years in a row. Since the FOCAC Beijing Summit last year, China has made an additional investment of over RMB 13.3 billion, and provided funding of over RMB 150 billion to Africa. In the first five months of this year, China’s imports and exports with Africa reached RMB 963 billion, up by 12.4 percent year-on-year, hitting a record high for the same period of the year in history.

China always views enhancing solidarity and cooperation with African countries as an important cornerstone of our foreign policy. We stand ready to work with Africa to make solid progress in implementing the outcomes of FOCAC Beijing Summit, take effort to design the development of the forum in the future, use the “golden key” of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation to unlock the door to a future of common development, support Africa’s development and revitalization through Chinese modernization, and make joint contribution to realizing the solidarity and strength of the Global South and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The Associated Press: Global Rights Compliance, a group in Europe, released a report today on Xinjiang, saying that companies of critical minerals from Xinjiang risk buying products that have been produced with forced labor. Would you have any comment or response to that?

Lin Jian: No one has ever been forcibly transferred out of China’s Xinjiang region under work programs. The so-called allegation of “forced labor” in China’s Xinjiang region is nothing but a lie propagated by certain anti-China forces. We urge certain organization to stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and undermining the stability and prosperity in China’s Xinjiang region under the pretext of human rights. 

NHK: From June 9 to 10, the Chinese and the U.S. delegations held the first meeting of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism in London. Can you brief us on the details of what has been discussed and what has been achieved? Any specific arrangement for future consultations between China and the U.S.?

Lin Jian: I believe you also noted that the Chinese representative in London has made a response on the consultation. I have nothing more to share at the moment.

China Daily: It’s reported that with regard to the purchase of CK Hutchison assets, the head of the Panama Canal Authority said on June 10 that “there is a potential risk of capacity concentration if the deal comes the way it is structured as we understand right now. It will be at the expense of Panama’s competitiveness in the market and inconsistent with neutrality.” He also said a U.S. request to allow its government ships to pass through the canal for free was not possible. What’s China’s comment?

Lin Jian: We noted relevant reports.

On CK Hutchison’s sales of its assets overseas, the State Administration for Market Regulation and competent authorities made responses to that more than once, which you may refer to. Let me stress more broadly that China all along firmly opposes economic coercion and domineering and bullying practices.

On the navigation of relevant country’s vessels, China will, as always, respect Panama’s sovereignty over the Canal and recognize the Canal as a permanently neutral international waterway. We support Panama’s effort to uphold independence and firmly defend its lawful rights and interests as an independent sovereign country.

AFP: Kazakhstan announced today that Chinese leader will visit the country next week for a summit alongside other regional partners. Can the Foreign Ministry provide more details about the trip, including what China aims to achieve at the summit?

Lin Jian: Regarding the specific visit you mentioned, we will release information in due course.