CCTV: Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). What’s your comment on the SCO’s achievements? What notable contributions has China made to the development of the SCO?

Lin Jian: On June 15, 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was established. After 25 years of development, the SCO has grown into a comprehensive regional cooperation organization that covers the biggest area and population with enormous development potential. Over this period, SCO member states, acting on the Shanghai Spirit and working in solidarity and coordination, have continuously deepened cooperation in political, security, economic, and people-to-people exchanges, and built and reinforced regional security safeguards, bridges for cooperation, and friendly ties. Together, we have successfully explored a new path of regional cooperation and set a stellar example for a new type of international relations.

China takes the SCO as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy. President Xi Jinping has put forward important visions such as building an SCO community with a shared future and a common home of solidarity and mutual trust, peace and tranquility, prosperity and development, good-neighborliness and friendship, and fairness and justice. He has announced China’s multiple cooperation initiatives in areas including law enforcement and security, economic and trade investment, people-to-people exchanges, finance, and poverty alleviation, setting the direction and providing momentum for the SCO’s growth. In September 2025, President Xi presided over the SCO Tianjin Summit, ushering in a new stage of high-quality SCO development featuring greater solidarity, coordination, dynamism and productivity. Under the new circumstances, China will work with other member states to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, strengthen practical cooperation, and make the SCO a reliable anchor for the common development and prosperity of all nations.

Anadolu Agency: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced early Monday that the U.S. and Iran had reached an agreement following negotiations, with both sides declaring an immediate and permanent end to military operations across all fronts, including in Lebanon. The U.S. and Iran later confirmed the agreement. What’s China’s comment?

Lin Jian: China welcomes the U.S. and Iran reaching agreement on the text of the memorandum of understanding for the first stage of negotiations and commends Pakistan’s mediation efforts. We hope the document will be signed according to the agreed timetable and all relevant parties will stay committed to peaceful solutions and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation. China stands ready to join the international community in playing an active role in restoring peace and tranquility to the Middle East and Gulf region at an early date.

Anadolu Agency: U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his attempts to sabotage the negotiation process with Iran. He said the deal with Iran was reached despite objections from Netanyahu. Now that peace has been achieved, do you have any message for the Israeli side regarding the potential attempts to sabotage the deal or general peace in the region?

Lin Jian: As I have just said, we hope the U.S. and Iran will sign the memorandum of understanding for the first stage of negotiations according to the agreed timetable and all relevant parties will stay committed to peaceful solutions and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation. China will act on President Xi Jinping’s four propositions and play an active role in the early restoration of peace and tranquility in the Middle East and Gulf region.

AFP: Back on the deal reached between the U.S. and Iran, specifically on the part of the agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, what is China’s comment on this?

Lin Jian: The Strait of Hormuz is an important strait for international navigation. Restoring stability in the Strait serves the common interests of regional countries and the international community. We have noted that the text of the memorandum of understanding for the first stage of negotiations between Iran and the United States includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. We hope the Strait will become safe again for free passage at an early date. China stands ready to maintain communication with regional countries and the international community on relevant issues.

Anadolu Agency: Did China have any involvement during this, especially in the opening of Strait of Hormuz? Do you have any contributions to finding a middle way or a solution to the unblocking of the strait during the negotiations?

Lin Jian: Since the outbreak of the conflict, China has been working tirelessly for the end of fighting and peace. President Xi Jinping made four propositions on safeguarding and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, which embody China’s consistent position and active efforts to promote peace, end hostilities, and advocate resolving disputes through dialogue. As a Chinese solution to end the conflict and realize peace, the proposition has played an important role in building global consensus and received broad recognition from regional countries and the international community. Guided by the spirit of the proposition and upholding fairness and justice, China, as a responsible major country, will continue to make our contribution to enabling lasting peace in the Middle East.

Ukrinform News Agency: Last night, Russian forces launched another massive airstrike on the capital of Ukraine and attacked the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. Can the Foreign Ministry comment on this?

Lin Jian: China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. Dialogue and negotiation is the only viable way out of the crisis.

AFP: A report from the Australian think tank the Lowy Institute decides that the threat of a Chinese direct missile strike on Australia was growing as China amasses weapons and builds islands in the South China Sea. I wonder if the foreign ministry has a comment on these findings?

Lin Jian: I have noted reports on this. China is committed to a path of peaceful development. Its efforts to strengthen defense capabilities are aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and are not targeted at any country. China’s growth in military strength reinforces the force for peace in the world. The report you cited tries to interpret China through the trite pattern that a great power is bound to seek hegemony. This is a grave strategic miscalculation. We hope the institute will stop hyping up “China threat” narratives and view China’s development in an objective, fair and rational light.