At the invitation of Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council Sergei Shoigu, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi will travel to Russia for the 20th round of China-Russia strategic security consultation from December 1 to 2.

Xinhua News Agency: The Study Outline on Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy (2025 Edition) was published today. Could you please share more on that?

Mao Ning: As approved by the CPC Central Committee, the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs updated the Study Outline on Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, which was first published in 2021, and released its 2025 Edition. The new edition gives an overview of the pioneering contributions and latest development of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in the field of diplomacy. It also systemically elaborates on the epochal backdrop, profound dimensions, theoretical quintessence and rich practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. The book serves as an authoritative guide for members of the CPC, officials and the public to understand and apply Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy.

Since the dawn of this new era, with a keen understanding of the general trends in China and the world, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, developed a series of major innovations in theory and practice for China’s external work, led the country in making historical achievements on that front and transforming it, and formed and enriched Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. The Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs held in 2023 established the pillars of building a community with a shared future for humanity as a scientific system and put into shape the top-level design of China’s diplomatic strategy on the new journey. The Central Conference on Work Relating to Neighboring Countries held earlier this year gave a systematic review of the achievements and experience of the work on this front in the new era, and defined the goals and missions as well as the method and steps in this regard in the years ahead.

Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, we in the diplomatic service hold high the banner of building a community with a shared future for humanity, advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, work to build a more just and equitable global governance system through reform, expand the global network of partnerships and advance the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. We on the diplomatic front firmly uphold national sovereignty, security and development interests, and actively act on the abiding commitment of serving the people through diplomacy. As the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics is advancing on all fronts, China enjoys enhanced international influence, stronger capacity to lead new endeavors, and greater moral appeal.

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, China’s diplomacy will follow the principles of self-confidence and self-reliance, openness and inclusiveness, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation, create a more favorable external environment for the endeavor of building China into a great modern socialist country and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through a Chinese path to modernization, and make greater contribution to peace and human progress.

CGTN: What does China expect to achieve through the upcoming China-Russia strategic security consultation?

Mao Ning: China and Russia are comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era. Through the strategic security consultation mechanism, the two countries maintain regular exchanges on major issues of mutual interest that have strategic and overarching significance. Director Wang Yi will be traveling to Russia for the upcoming consultation. The aim is to implement the important common understandings reached between the presidents of the two countries, have an in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual interest, and strengthen communication and coordination on important issues that bear on the strategic security interests of the two countries.

Bloomberg: Yesterday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a call with his French counterpart and the Chinese readout said that he asked the French to cooperate on the core issues of both sides. We understand obviously Taiwan is one of the core issues of the Chinese state. Did Wang Yi have any specific mention about cooperating on the issue of Taiwan to the French? Does China plan to bring this issue up again when President Macron is here next week?

Mao Ning: We’ve released a readout about the phone call you mentioned. On the exchanges between the Chinese and French presidents, I have no information to share at the moment.

RIA Novosti: U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States is now ahead of Russia and China in the space race after creating the Space Force. What is the Foreign Ministry’s comment?

Mao Ning: China is committed to the peaceful use of outer space, and opposes any arms race in outer space or weaponizing it. China has no intention to engage in a space race with any country, nor do we seek so-called advantage in outer space.

Global Times: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s erroneous remarks have been opposed and criticized by visionary people in Japan and the wider world. Yet, the Taiwan authorities kept backing Takaichi. Days ago, Lai Ching-te conveyed his “support” by eating sushi, and Taiwan’s “foreign affairs department” said that the mainland’s letter to the UN Secretary-General “contains rude and unreasonable content.” What’s your comment?

Mao Ning: Japan exerted colonial rule on Taiwan for half a century and committed innumerable crimes there. The DPP authorities keep ingratiating themselves with Japan to seek “Taiwan independence”. That is simply disgraceful.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan interfere in China’s internal affair, send a gravely wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and endanger peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and China’s recovery of Taiwan. Japan should deeply reflect on its war crimes, learn lessons from history, adhere to the one-China principle, and exercise utmost prudence when it comes to the Taiwan question. We ask the Japanese side to retract the erroneous remarks, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, and take practical steps to honor its commitments to China. 

Ukrinform News Agency: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov this week in an interview with Sky News stated that Russia is in talks with China regarding efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Can the Foreign Ministry confirm that such negotiations with Russia are taking place, and if so, could you add some specifics on the issues being discussed, and whether China is discussing or planning to discuss peace in Ukraine with Ukraine itself?

Mao Ning: China always believes that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way out of the Ukraine crisis. We support all efforts conducive to peace. Since the crisis broke out, China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, has maintained communication with relevant parties, including Russia and Ukraine, and played a constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the crisis.

Bloomberg: Your colleague made a statement yesterday that the San Francisco Treaty is illegal and invalid. Is it the contention of the Chinese government that state of war still exists between Japan and 47 other parties of the treaty?

Mao Ning: As my colleague stressed yesterday, the so-called “Treaty of San Francisco” was issued with the exclusion of important parties to the WWII, such as the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union, in order to seek a separate peace deal with Japan. The document goes against the provision of not making a separate armistice or peace with the enemies in the Declaration by United Nations signed by 26 countries in 1942, including China, the U.S., the UK and the Soviet Union, and violates the UN Charter and the basic principles of international law. Anything set out in the treaty on the sovereignty over Taiwan or the handling of the territory and sovereign rights of China as a non-signatory, is thus entirely illegal and null and void.

Bloomberg: China did sign a peace treaty with Japan in 1978, correct? This is after the Treaty of San Francisco. So in 1978 the Chinese position was that they did accept the San Francisco Treaty. And now your position is you don’t accept the San Francisco Treaty. Is that correct?

Mao Ning: Your understanding is not correct. China has never recognized anything set out in the “Treaty of San Francisco,” including on the sovereignty over Taiwan or the handling of the territory and sovereign rights of China as a non-signatory, and has never accepted the treaty. The 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement clearly states that “The Government of Japan recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. The Government of the People’s Republic of China reiterates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China. The Government of Japan fully understands and respects this stand of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, and it firmly maintains its stand under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation.” The four political documents between China and Japan provide clear provisions on the Taiwan question and other issues, and together they constitute the political foundation of China-Japan relations.

Hubei Media Group: It’s reported that according to the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. formally designated Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization from November 24, imposing sanctions on its members, including President Nicolas Maduro and other high-ranking officials. Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Venezuela firmly rejects the ridiculous fabrication by the U.S., which designates the Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization, and it’s a lie to justify an illegitimate and illegal intervention against Venezuela. What’s China’s comment?

Mao Ning: China opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council and the interference of external forces in Venezuela’s internal affairs under any pretext. We call on the U.S. side to lift the illicit unilateral sanctions and choose the course of action that is conducive to peace, stability and development in Latin America and the Caribbean region.