At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prévot will visit China from April 27 to May 1.

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong will visit China from April 28 to 30.

CCTV: To follow up on your announcement about Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s visit to China, can you share the background and China’s expectations on the visit?

Lin Jian: Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership has maintained a sound momentum of growth. During Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s visit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will co-chair with her the eighth Foreign and Strategic Dialogue, and the two sides will have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest.

Through the visit, China looks forward to further delivering on the important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries, enhancing political mutual trust and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to promote the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-Australia relations and deliver more benefits to the two peoples.

Reuters: Does China have any comment to the Trump administration following yesterday’s shooting at the White House? 

Lin Jian: The shooting incident has come to China’s attention. We oppose and condemn illegal violence.

Bloomberg: Last Friday, the U.S. sanctioned one of China’s largest private oil refiners over its links to Iran. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this?

Lin Jian: China opposes illicit unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law. We urge the U.S. to stop willfully slapping sanctions and using long-arm jurisdiction. China will firmly defend the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.

Beijing Daily: To follow up on Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prévot’s visit to China, how does China view its current relations with Belgium? Can you share China’s expectation for the visit?

Lin Jian: China and Belgium have established an all-round partnership of friendly cooperation. In recent years, the two countries have conducted frequent high-level exchanges and made steady progress in cooperation in trade, investment, shipping, logistics, biomedicine and other fields, delivering tangible benefits to the two peoples.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Belgium. It’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot’s first visit to China since he took office. Through this visit, China looks forward to having in-depth communication with Belgium on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest, broadening consensus, deepening cooperation, advancing the sustained, sound and steady development of China-Belgium relations and making new contributions to China-EU ties.

China News Service: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is reportedly visiting China. Could you share the itinerary of his visit?

Lin Jian: This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. Bilateral relations maintain a sound momentum of robust development. President Zardari’s trip from April 25 to May 1 includes visits to Hunan Province and Hainan Province. China stands ready to work together with Pakistan to deepen friendly exchanges and cooperation at all levels and between different localities to build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future.