At the invitation of the Turkmen side, from April 15 to 17, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang will visit Turkmenistan, and attend the ground-breaking of the fourth phase of the Galkynysh gas field as President Xi Jinping’s Special Representative. While in Turkmenistan, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang will jointly chair with the Turkmen side the seventh meeting of the Chinese-Turkmen intergovernmental cooperation committee as the Chinese co-chair.

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will pay an official visit to China from April 14 to 15.

RT TV: On April 12 local time, President Trump ordered the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and announced measures against countries having energy trade with Iran. In an interview he also called on China to buy oil from the United States or Venezuela. What’s your comment? How does China view the issue of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and the related energy issue?

Guo Jiakun: The Strait of Hormuz is an important international trade route for goods and energy. Keeping the area safe and stable and ensuring unimpeded passage serves the common interest of the international community. The root cause of the disruption at the Strait of Hormuz is the military conflict. To solve the issue, the conflict must stop as soon as possible. All parties need to remain calm and exercise restraint. China will continue playing a constructive role.

As to the purchase of oil, China stands ready to work with others to jointly safeguard global energy security and keep supply chains stable. However, to fundamentally resolve the issue, what needs to be done first and foremost is to restore peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East region. Venezuela is a sovereign state and has full permanent sovereignty over all its natural resources and economic activities. It has the right to choose its own partners of cooperation. Other countries have no right to dictate to it. 

Xinhua News Agency: You have just announced that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit China tomorrow. How does China view its relations with Russia? Could you share the arrangements of this visit?

Guo Jiakun: China and Russia are comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era. In recent years, the two countries are committed to deepening lasting good-neighborliness and friendship, expanding comprehensive strategic coordination, and upholding mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. The two sides have maintained close communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, making important contributions to promoting an equal and orderly multipolar world, reforming and improving global governance, and safeguarding international fairness and justice.

During Foreign Minister Lavrov’s visit to China, the two foreign ministers will exchange views and coordinate positions on the development of bilateral relations, cooperation among various fields, and international and regional issues of mutual interests. We will continue to share information about the visit in a timely manner. You may check back for updates.

Global Times: According to reports, Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza party, has declared victory in Hungary’s 2026 parliamentary election held on April 12. Viktor Orbán, who leads the Fidesz party, has conceded defeat and extended congratulations to Péter Magyar. What’s China’s comment? What’s your expectation for China-Hungary relations going forward?

Guo Jiakun: China congratulates the Tisza party led by Mr. Peter Magyar on the parliamentary election victory in Hungary.

China deeply values its ties with Hungary and stands ready to work with the new Hungarian government on the basis of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit to enhance high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and deliver more benefits to both peoples. 

CCTV: The event commemorating the 55th anniversary of China-U.S. ping-pong diplomacy and the China-U.S. youth sports exchange events were held in Beijing recently. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter. What is the significance of the events? How do the events enlighten the development of China-U.S. relations?

Guo Jiakun: Fifty-five years ago, ping-pong diplomacy thawed the ice of estrangement between China and the U.S. It opened the door to exchanges and effectively helped increase mutual understanding between the people of the two countries. Fifty-five years on, the bond built through the sport of ping pong has been carried on from generation to generation and expanded to other sports such as basketball, football and the newly popular pickleball and many other areas. The Bond with Kuliang: China-U.S. Youth Choir Festival, for example, brought together young people from both countries to sing for youth and friendship. The event went viral on social media platforms. Those sports competitions, singing and academic exchanges convey the hope and faith of Chinese and American youths for peaceful coexistence between the two countries. As President Xi Jinping wrote in the congratulatory letter, the foundation of China-U.S. relations was laid by the people, and their future will be shaped by the youth. We hope various sectors of the two countries, young people in particular, will enhance exchanges, give new dynamism to the spirit of ping-pong diplomacy in the new era, jointly write a new chapter of China-U.S. friendly ties, and provide new impetus for the steady, sound and sustainable development of the China-U.S. relations.

Reuters: Is the foreign ministry able to tell us more about the visit of Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince? Will new proposals be put forward concerning the situation in the Middle East?

Guo Jiakun: This is the Crown Prince’s first visit to China. President Xi Jinping will meet with him and Premier Li Qiang will hold talks with him to exchange views on bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest.

The UAE is China’s comprehensive strategic partner. Over the past 42 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties, China-UAE relations have maintained steady and sound development. Over recent years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, political mutual trust between the two countries has been consolidated with steady progress in practical cooperation and closer people-to-people and cultural exchanges, delivering benefits for the two peoples. Through this visit, China looks to work with the UAE for new progress in our bilateral relations and greater benefit for the two peoples.

AFP: Negotiations in Islamabad over the weekend failed to produce a deal. The United States has blamed Iran’s refusal to give up its nuclear program, and Iran has blamed what it describes as maximalist demands from the United States. What is China’s comment on these talks failing to reach a deal?

Guo Jiakun: The U.S.-Iran negotiation in Islamabad was a step towards moving in the direction of deescalation. China hopes the ceasefire will be kept, disputes will be resolved through political and diplomatic means rather than reigniting the flames of war, and conditions will be created for early return of peace to the Gulf.

Reuters: U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the Pope is unhelpful for foreign policy. Does the foreign ministry have any comment?

Guo Jiakun: We noted the reports.

Shenzhen TV: Brazil’s Ministry of Labor and Employment previously included BYD, along with some others in Brazil, in its “registry of employers who have subjected workers to conditions analogous to slavery”. Recently, a Brazilian labor court ruled that the administrative procedure used to designate BYD was unlawful, and the Ministry of Labor and Employment has announced the removal of BYD from the list. What is China’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: As we have stressed on multiple occasions, the Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the lawful rights and interests of workers and always asks Chinese companies to abide by laws and regulations in their operation. China stands ready to continue working with Brazil to enhance exchanges and cooperation across various fields under the principles of equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

RIA Novosti: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States will impose an additional 50 percent tariff on China if Beijing is ever caught supplying military equipment to Iran. What’s China’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: China’s position is very clear. Tariff wars have no winners.

Bloomberg: First, the Philippines’ National Security Council said at a briefing that laboratory analysis confirmed that bottles recovered from Chinese boats near the Second Thomas Shoal in February and October 2025 contained cyanide. We are wondering if the foreign ministry has any comment? We are also wondering if China has a position on the U.S. blockade. And in addition, is there any response to reports that China is planning to send weapons to Iran as well as reports that China has already sent dual-use technology and components to Iran?

Guo Jiakun: On your first question, Ren’ai Jiao is part of Nansha Qundao and belongs to China. The Philippines illegally grounded its vessel on Ren’ai Jiao and has caused great damage to the eco-environment there, which has been confirmed by relevant reports. The Philippine side illegally harassed the Chinese fishing boats conducting normal fishing, grabbed the fishermen’s living supplies, and staged this so-called cyanide stunt. There is no credibility whatsoever to their story.

Regarding your second question, I have just repeated China’s position. 

On the third question, China always acts prudently and responsibly on the export of military products, and exercises strict control in accordance with China’s laws and regulations on export control and due international obligations. China opposes groundless smear and ill-intentioned association.