China Daily: On May 13 last year, President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum and delivered a keynote speech, in which he announced the joint launch by China and partners in Latin America and the Caribbean of five programs for building a community with a shared future, namely, Solidarity Program, Development Program, Civilization Program, Peace Program and People-to-People Program. In December 2025, China issued its third Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean, further fleshing out the five programs with results-oriented propositions. Could you share with us the progress in implementing the programs over the past year?

Guo Jiakun: Since President Xi Jinping announced the joint launch of the five programs for building a community with a shared future, cooperation between China and LAC countries has made good progress and delivered tangible benefits for both peoples. 

Solidarity Program has enhanced political mutual trust. In March this year, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the 10th summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, which was very warmly received. There have been frequent high-level exchanges between the two sides as well as mutual support on issues bearing on respective core interests and major concerns. LAC countries have responded positively to the Global Governance Initiative. Five LAC countries have joined the International Organization for Mediation.

Development Program has strengthened ties of shared interests. China has signed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation documents with Colombia, and BRI cooperation plans with Grenada and Ecuador respectively. In 2025, China‑LAC trade hit a record high of US$549 billion. Twenty‑seven LAC countries took part in the eighth China International Import Expo. China has made more progress than expected in extending the pledged RMB66 billion credit line to LAC partners.

Civilization Program has promoted exchange and mutual learning. New editions of the Forum on Dialogue between the Civilizations of China and LAC, the China-LAC Think Tank Forum and Development Forum, among others, were successfully held. Chinese art troupes, cultural roadshows, film festivals and film weeks have toured multiple LAC countries, sparking widespread interest and fascination.

Peace Program has upheld common security. China firmly supports the LAC region’s status as a Zone of Peace. We oppose violations of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and sovereignty and security of LAC countries. China and Brazil issued a joint statement on the Ukraine crisis. Countries in the LAC region affirmed their support to and joined the five-point initiative of China and Pakistan for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East region.

People-to-People Program has benefited local community. China extended visa-free policy to Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay on a trial basis. The number of passenger flights connecting China and LAC countries increased to 24 per week. The opening of China-Argentina direct flight set a new record for the world’s longest passenger flight. The Chinese hospital ship Ark Silk Road brought humanitarian medical services to local people in many LAC countries.

No matter how the international landscape may evolve, China will remain a good friend and good partner of LAC countries, strive for greater progress in carrying out the five programs for the China-LAC community with a shared future, and bring more benefit to people in China and LAC countries.

AFP: Delegations from China and the United States held trade talks in South Korea today. Can the foreign ministry share any details on what was discussed ahead of Donald Trump’s visit here?

Guo Jiakun: I would refer you to the competent authorities for information about the China-U.S. trade talks.

CGTN: The Takaichi administration’s plan to revise the Constitution has been met with widespread opposition in Japan, which is witnessing the largest antiwar protests in decades. Sentiments like fear, worry, alarm and anger are playing out on the streets. Media commentary says revising Article 9 of the Constitution will rock Japan’s identity as a “pacifist nation” and divide the country. What’s your comment?

Guo Jiakun: History is a mirror. In the first half of the 20th century, people in Japan witnessed how their country marched to militarism step by step and degenerated into a war machine. They too suffered from the war Japan waged and know better than anyone the meaning of Japan’s commitment to forever renounce war. Today, however, the Takaichi administration seems ready to abandon pacifism, which is the fundamental prerequisite for Japan to be readmitted to the international community, and tear up the pacifist identity cherished by generations in Japan.

By rearming Japan and breaching the pacifist Constitution and stipulations in international and domestic laws, are Japan’s right-wing forces trying to turn Japan into a country for war? Or to bring war back to the Asia Pacific? Using self-defense and “external threat” as pretexts, Japan’s right-wing forces are gambling with the livelihoods of the Japanese people and jeopardizing peace and stability in the Asia Pacific. The largest antiwar protests in decades show that people across Japan are increasingly aware that to reembark on the road of militarism is a doomed path. All peace-loving nations and Japanese people should reject the remilitarization scheme of Japan’s right-wing forces, and stem the rise of Japan’s neo-militarism.

AFP: On his way to Beijing, Donald Trump said that he will be asking Chinese leader to “open up” China to a list of business executives traveling with him. Those executives include the CEOs of Nvidia and the U.S. plane manufacturer Boeing. How does China view President Trump’s comments?

Guo Jiakun: Heads-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance for China-U.S. relations. We welcome President Trump’s state visit to China. During the visit, the two heads of state will have an in-depth exchange of views on major issues concerning China-U.S. relations and world peace and development. China stands ready to work with the U.S. to expand cooperation and manage differences in the spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit, and provide more stability and certainty for a transforming and volatile world.

TVT Brazil: This week, China’s foreign ministry said Xi and Trump will hold an in-depth exchange on world peace and development. China’s foreign ministry also has urged Washington to immediately end its blockade and all forms of coercion against Cuba, saying that it greatly infringed on the Cuban people’s right to subsistence and development. With a possible U.S. military intervention still not ruled out, will China raise this matter with Trump during his visit to Beijing? Besides, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been held as a kidnapped victim in the United States for more than four months now. China has strongly condemned his abduction and that of Cilia Flores. Will this issue be on the agenda during the talks with the U.S. president?

Guo Jiakun: As I just said, during President Trump’s visit to China, the two heads of state will have an in-depth exchange of views on major issues concerning China-U.S. relations and world peace and development.

China’s stance on issues concerning Cuba and Venezuela is consistent and clear and remains unchanged.

Phoenix TV: It is reported that Lai Ching-te addressed the Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2026 via video. The Summit is hosted by an NGO in Denmark. Lai said that the Taiwanese people have every right to engage with the international community. The people of Taiwan have never backed down in the face of mounting external challenges. Taiwan is a “sovereign independent nation.” What’s your comment?

Guo Jiakun: The Copenhagen Democracy Summit you mentioned is filled with ideological bias. The summit deliberately invited “Taiwan independence” separatists to broadcast their nefarious proposition. This is a severe violation of the one-China principle. China firmly opposes it and urges relevant parties to adhere to the one-China principle and stop offering platforms for “Taiwan independence” forces.

Taiwan is part of China. It has never been a country and will never be a country. The one-China principle is an international consensus that has solid support and is simply unshakable. Lai Ching-te and his kind chant so-called “democracy” in defiance of mainstream public opinion in Taiwan for peaceful development of cross-Strait ties, peddle their “Taiwan independence” separatist narrative, spread disinformation and incite antagonism and confrontation across the Taiwan Strait. Such moves once again expose their reckless, provocative and diehard stance of pursuing “Taiwan independence.” Whatever Lai Ching-te says or does, it does not change the fact that Taiwan is part of China, evidenced by both history and law, nor will it ever undermine international commitment to the one-China principle.