Beijing Daily: Recently, at the invitation of China, General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith attended the “SCO Plus” Meeting and the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. President Thongloun also paid a working visit to China and met with General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders. Can you share the latest outcomes of China-Laos practical cooperation?

Guo Jiakun: Recently, at the invitation of China, General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith attended the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus” Meeting and the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and paid a working visit to China. This morning, the leaders of both sides held a meeting and reached important common understandings. China has released a readout, which you may refer to.

China and Laos are socialist friends and neighbors. Laos is among the first to jointly build a community with a shared future bilaterally with China. Since the latest Five-Year Plan of Action for building a China-Laos community with a shared future was signed, fruitful outcomes have been achieved in China-Laos cooperation in various fields. Recently, both sides have signed multiple cooperation documents, including the intergovernmental agreement on “Juxtaposed Border Control” arrangements for China-Laos Railway, supported the building of state-level large-scale model in Laos, achieved important cooperation outcomes in areas including artificial intelligence, satellite navigation, healthcare, education, poverty alleviation, and inspection and quarantine, and promoted the building of a high-standard, high-quality, and high-level China-Laos community with a shared future.

Under the new circumstances, China is ready to work with Laos to follow the important common understandings between the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, strengthen strategic communication, deepen practical cooperation, advance the steady and sustained development of China-Laos community with a shared future, benefit the people in the two countries, and make positive contributions to peace, stability, development and prosperity of the region and the world.

China-Arab TV: Yesterday’s military parade was a success which demonstrates China’s commitment to upholding the post-war international order and safeguarding peace. In the current international landscape, how will China better work with the international community to prevent the reoccurrance of historical tragedies and safeguard the hard-won peace?

Guo Jiakun: Yesterday marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War and a major day celebrated by the Chinese people and all peace-loving countries and people across the world. President Xi Jinping in his important address at the grand commemoration noted that we gather here to remember history, honor fallen heroes, cherish peace, and create a better future.

The Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was an important part of the World Anti-Fascist War. With huge national sacrifice, the Chinese people made historic contributions to saving human civilization and safeguarding world peace. The great victory will go down in the history of the Chinese nation and in the history of humanity’s fight for justice and peace. The Chinese people won the great victory through their united efforts with the anti-fascist Allied forces and the people around the world. The Chinese government and people will never forget the foreign governments and international friends who supported and assisted the Chinese people in resisting aggression. We invited more than 50 international friends or their families from 14 countries, including Russia, the U.S., the UK, France and Canada to attend the commemorative events. The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries awarded 55 international friends with the commemorative medal of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

History cautions us that humanity rises and falls together. Only when all countries and nations treat each other as equals, coexist in peace and support each other, can we uphold common security, eradicate the root cause of war and prevent the reoccurrence of historical tragedies. Today, humanity again has to choose between peace and war, dialogue and confrontation, win-win cooperation and zero-sum game. The commemoration again shows that China will firmly stand on the right side of history and the progress of human civilization, and that we are committed to the path of peaceful development. We sincerely hope that all countries will draw wisdom from history, value peace, and jointly create a better future for humanity.

RT TV: Russian President Putin concluded his visit to China yesterday. We’ve learned that this was his 20th visit to China, which unprecedentedly lasted four days. What’s China’s comment on President Putin’s visit?

Guo Jiakun: From August 31 to September 3, President Putin came to China and attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin and the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. During the visit, President Xi Jinping and President Putin had a meeting, a small-scale tea chat and a luncheon. President Xi Jinping also held the seventh meeting of heads of state of China, Russia and Mongolia with President Putin and President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh. The readouts have been released, which you may refer to.

With the support of leaders of all SCO member states including President Putin, the SCO Tianjin Summit was a great success. It’s the second time in 10 years that President Xi Jinping and President Putin attended commemorative events marking the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War in each other’s country. It demonstrates the sense of responsibility of China and Russia as major victorious nations in World War II and permanent members of the UN Security Council, and showcases the two countries’ firm commitment to safeguarding the fruits of our victory in the War and defending a correct historical perspective on World War II.

China stands ready to work with Russia to follow up on the common understandings reached between the two presidents this fall, continue carrying out cooperation in various fields, keep unleashing the enormous potential of this bilateral relationship, jointly play a positive role on major international and regional issues, uphold global strategic stability and international fairness and justice and together build a more just and equitable global governance system.

Bloomberg: President Trump accused China, Russia and North Korea of conspiring against the United States. Can you comment on that?

Guo Jiakun: The purpose of China inviting foreign guests to attend the commemorative events is to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and together with peace-loving countries and people, to remember history, honor the fallen heroes, cherish peace and create a better future. China never targets any third party in developing diplomatic relations with any country.

Global Times: On September 3, Kaja Kallas, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Commission, said that China stands with Russia, Iran, and North Korea during the commemoration. It isn’t just anti-Western optics but is also a direct challenge to the international system built on rules. What’s your comment?

Guo Jiakun: The statements by the relevant EU official are full of ideological bias without basic historical common sense, and blatantly stoke rivalry and confrontation. It’s a disrespect to the history of World War II and harms the EU’s own interests. It’s very wrongful and irresponsible. China firmly opposes and condemns that.

The Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is an important part of the World Anti-Fascist War. Eighty years ago, with enormous national sacrifice, the Chinese people made great contributions to saving humanity’s civilization and defending world peace. At that time, friends from Russia, the U.S. and some European countries offered precious assistance and support to the Chinese people in our resistance against aggression. Only by remembering history can we truly uphold peace. China hosted the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in order to remember history, honor the fallen heroes, cherish peace and create a better future, and to jointly defend the victorious outcomes of World War II and post-war international order with all peace-loving countries in the world. Twenty-six foreign heads of state and government, more than 20 high-level representatives of foreign governments and heads of international organizations, and over 100 diplomatic envoys from other countries, including 19 European countries, attended the events. They are from five continents across the world. The participation is highly representative. That precisely shows the international community has wide recognition of the historic contribution of China’s war of resistance and its world significance as well as the common aspiration and determination to safeguard world peace and stability.

In the current volatile and turbulent international landscape, the world needs, more than ever, solidarity and cooperation. Europe, where World War II was unleashed, is supposed to have a far deeper understanding of the lessons of history and the importance of unity. However, some EU leaders have been sticking to Cold-War mentality and severe ideological bias and deliberately created division and confrontation. This does not serve the EU’s own interests and will further harm its reputation and influence in the world. We hope some in the EU will abandon their prejudice and arrogance, establish a correct historical perspective of World War II and a rational perception of China, immediately correct the wrongful remarks, undo negative influence and contribute to a more peaceful and stable world and sound China-EU relations, rather than the other way around.

Reuters: Can you tell us whether foreign troops were invited to march in yesterday’s parade and whether there is any reason that no foreign soldiers participated as was the case at previous anniversaries? Also, President Donald Trump said last night that the Chinese parade should have highlighted America’s help to end the war in the Pacific. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment?

Guo Jiakun: On your first question, I’d refer you to competent authorities. 

On your second question, yesterday morning, China held a grand commemoration to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. President Xi Jinping in his speech noted that with huge national sacrifice, the Chinese people made major contributions to saving human civilization and safeguarding world peace. President Xi Jinping also expressed sincere gratitude to foreign governments and international friends who supported and assisted the Chinese people in resisting aggression. 

AFP: Yesterday, the U.S. said it seized 300 tonnes of precursor chemicals being transported from China to a Mexican drug cartel. Can you tell us if China knew about that shipment or that it was being seized? Would the Foreign Ministry like to offer any comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: I am not familiar with what you mentioned. Let me say broadly that in terms of counter-narcotics, China has the strongest determination, the most relentless policy and one of the best records in the world. China has scheduled the largest number of substances and has the strictest drug control in the world. China’s counter-narcotics authorities fight the illicit diversion of precursor chemicals in strict accordance with law and make sure that relevant companies do their business in accordance with the laws and regulations. 

The root causes of drug abuse in the U.S. lie in itself. And the key to solving the problem is also in its hands. The U.S. should face up to its problems and take more real actions to enhance domestic regulation and reduce domestic demands, instead of deflecting blame on, scapegoating, or abusing sanctions on other countries. China will take necessary measures to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and citizens.

NHK: The DPRK leader Kim Jong-un is visiting Beijing. Whether and when will the Chinese and the DPRK leaders meet?

Guo Jiakun: At the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Workers Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-un attended commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in China. The top leaders of the two parties and two countries will have talks and exchange views on China-DPRK relations and issues of common concerns. 

Comrade Kim Jong-un’s attendance at the commemoration and the talks between the top leaders of the two parties and two countries carry great significance. China is ready to work with the DPRK to strengthen strategic communication, enhance exchanges and cooperation, deepen experience sharing on governance of the nation, and advance the progress of our respective socialist cause and China-DPRK traditional friendship and cooperation.