Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on April 8, 2020
To help Myanmar cope with the outbreak of new pneumonia, the Chinese government decided to send a team of anti-epidemic medical experts to Myanmar. The expert group was established by the National Health and Health Commission and selected by the Yunnan Provincial Health and Health Commission. It set off on the morning of April 8.
CCTV reporter: Nearly a hundred strategic figures from the United States issued a joint statement recently, calling on the United States and China to strengthen epidemic prevention cooperation, saying that both parties in the United States expressed support for this. At the same time, the statement stated that China had concealed problems in the early stages of the epidemic, lacked transparency, and failed to cooperate fully with the US and international health agencies. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: We also noticed this statement. The American strategists hope that China and the United States can work together to fight the new Pneumococcal pneumonia virus, which they believe is essential to stop the spread of the epidemic worldwide. This is consistent with the positive and rational voices of the people of insight in China and the United States and the international community for a period of time. We appreciate and welcome this.
Viruses have no borders, no races, and are a common challenge faced by all mankind. The international community can only win by forming a joint force. China is willing to uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and continue to work with countries around the world, including the United States, to strengthen anti-epidemic cooperation and jointly safeguard global public health security. In recent times, President Xi Jinping and President Trump have held two phone calls to reach an important consensus on strengthening Sino-US cooperation in the fight against epidemics. The health departments and prevention and control experts of the two countries have maintained close contact and have held many video exchange meetings. Many provinces, cities, enterprises, and organizations in China are actively providing medical supplies to the US to support the American people's fight against epidemic disease. China is also actively assisting the US government and enterprises in purchasing anti-epidemic materials in China. The pharmaceutical companies and people in the scientific and technological circles on both sides have also maintained communication and cooperation on vaccine and drug research and development.
As you just mentioned, the statement mentioned in this statement that China concealed the epidemic in the early stage and lacked transparency is completely untrue. After the outbreak, China has always adopted an open, transparent, and responsible attitude, reporting the outbreak to the World Health Organization as soon as possible, sharing the new coronavirus gene sequence with countries as soon as possible, and carrying out international cooperation on outbreak prevention and control experts in the first Time has reached out to other outbreak countries. These basic facts have been fully affirmed and positively commented by the international community, and no one can deny or obliterate them.
This fight against the epidemic provides a platform for Sino-US cooperation. As President Xi Jinping pointed out in a phone conversation with President Trump not long ago, Sino-US cooperation benefits both sides and fights hurt. Cooperation is the only correct choice. It is hoped that the United States and China will work together in accordance with the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen cooperation in areas such as anti-epidemic, develop non-conflict and non-confrontation, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation, and better benefit the two countries. The people and the peoples of the world.
Bloomberg reporter: Regarding the current changes in the global oil market, does China understand what measures the G20 will take? What role will China play in it?
Zhao Lijian: I can elaborate on China's principled position. China is a major energy importer and consumer in the world. We hope that the international energy market will remain stable. Under the influence of the epidemic, all parties have many predictions about the prospects of the world economy. At this time, it is of special significance to maintain stability in the international energy market. China hopes that international multilateral mechanisms such as the G20 will play a corresponding role in this regard.
Shenzhen Satellite TV reporter: According to reports, the ASEAN-China-Japan-Korea Special Health Ministers Meeting on Strengthening Response to New Coronary Pneumonia was held on the 7th. Can you further introduce the meeting? What consensus have all parties reached on the prevention and control of the epidemic?
Zhao Lijian: On the afternoon of April 7, the ASEAN-China-Japan-Korea Special Health Ministers Video Conference on Strengthening Cooperation in Coping with New Coronary Pneumonia was held. The heads of the health departments of the three countries of China, Japan and South Korea and the 10 ASEAN member countries and the secretary-general of the ASEAN Secretariat attended the meeting and delivered speeches. More than 100 representatives from the above-mentioned departments attended the meeting. The person in charge of China National Health Commission attended the meeting.
At the meeting, China briefed the participating parties on China's epidemic prevention and control measures, experience, and information exchange on epidemic information and technology with relevant countries, and called on all parties to continue to support the World Health Organization in playing a leading role in fighting the epidemic, and continue to be open and transparent 1. Share information responsibly, strengthen communication and coordination, and take joint actions to win the battle of prevention and control of the epidemic.
It is understood that after the meeting, all parties to the meeting are negotiating to form a joint statement of the meeting, work together to respond to the epidemic, and jointly maintain regional and global health security. Please stay tuned.
Phoenix Satellite TV reporter: The first question is, does the Chinese government have plans to arrange for charter flights to be taken back from the United States to minor students studying in the United States? The second question, US President Trump said yesterday that WHO should "screw up" the epidemic and said that the US side would consider suspending payment of dues to WHO. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: Regarding your first question, the Party Central Committee has always attached great importance to and cared about overseas Chinese students. After the outbreak of the New Coronary Pneumonia epidemic in many places overseas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested all embassies and consulates abroad to take full action in accordance with the Party Central Committee ’s decision and deployment, and will do everything possible to pass on the care of the Party and the government to overseas Chinese students. At present, most of the overseas students still choose to stay in the local area. At the same time, considering the practical difficulties faced by some overseas students, especially minor students, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating the relevant departments to arrange temporary flights to take them back to the country in a stepwise and orderly manner. .
Regarding your second question, since the outbreak of the New Coronary Pneumonia epidemic, the World Health Organization, under the leadership of Director General Tandese, has actively fulfilled its responsibilities, upholding an objective, scientific and fair position, and has played an important role in assisting countries to cope with the epidemic and promoting international anti-epidemic cooperation , Has been widely recognized and highly praised by the international community. The statement just concluded at the G20 Leaders ’Special Summit stressed the need to fully support and commit to further strengthening the World Health Organization ’s responsibilities in coordinating international anti-epidemic actions. China will, as always, firmly support the work of the World Health Organization, and support the World Health Organization to continue to play a leading role in global anti-epidemic cooperation.
Under the current rapid spread of the global epidemic situation, the United States has indicated that it will suspend payment of dues to the World Health Organization, which will seriously affect the normal operation of WHO and is not conducive to international anti-epidemic cooperation. It is hoped that all countries will help each other in the same boat and help each other to help contribute to the global fight against the epidemic.
Surging News Reporter: The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released a report on the 7th that China will surpass the United States as the largest source of international patent applications in 2019. The number of Chinese international patent applications has increased 200-fold in 20 years. WIPO Director General Gurry said that China ’s achievements are attributed to the thoughtful strategy of Chinese leaders, namely to promote innovation and increase the value of economic operation. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: The Chinese government attaches great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights, and has taken effective measures to strengthen top-level design, improve laws and regulations, reform institutional mechanisms, and strengthen judicial and administrative protection. A recognized great achievement. In recent years, China has vigorously implemented innovation-driven development strategies and intellectual property strategies, firmly established the concept of "protecting intellectual property rights is protecting innovation" throughout the society, and constantly increasing innovation and R & D investment. R & D expenditures in 2019 will be approximately 2.20 billion yuan Yuan, an increase of 10.5% over the previous year. At the same time, strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights, actively create a business environment that respects the value of knowledge, and create a good innovation ecological environment. In 2019, China submitted about 59,000 patent applications through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), with an annual growth rate of 10.6%, becoming the country with the largest number of international patent applications. This is the result of China ’s continuous strengthening of intellectual property protection. It also further shows that China's innovation capability and the public's awareness of intellectual property rights have greatly increased. Chinese companies are paying more and more attention to the protection of their intellectual property rights. China has become a major country in innovation and intellectual property rights.
In the future, China will continue to promote innovation and development, further strengthen intellectual property protection, and make greater efforts to strengthen international cooperation in intellectual property protection. China is willing to continue to strengthen international cooperation in the field of intellectual property with the World Intellectual Property Organization and other countries to jointly promote global innovation and intellectual property development.
Reuters reporter: What is the total amount of anti-epidemic medical materials donated by the Chinese government and enterprises to the international community so far?
Zhao Lijian: At present, while continuing to do well in domestic epidemic prevention and control, China is also doing its utmost to provide support and assistance to other countries in need. This is not only out of the humanitarian spirit, but also the support of the previous countries to China. Throw a peach for Li. We say so and do the same.
As for the specific amount you care about, considering that the relevant data is changing every day, I can help you with the relevant departments after the meeting.
Bloomberg reporter: I have a question about the supply chain. Japan has issued an economic plan worth 2.2 billion US dollars, aimed at helping its domestic manufacturers to move overseas factories from countries affected by the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, such as China, to avoid affecting the enterprise supply chain due to the epidemic. What's China's response?
Zhao Lijian: The outbreak of New Coronary Pneumonia is currently occurring at multiple points around the world and has a profound impact on the world economy. At present, China has made important progress in combating the epidemic and promoted economic and social development to return to normal as soon as possible. We hope that all countries in the world can take corresponding measures to minimize the impact of the epidemic on the world economy and global supply chain, jointly maintain the stability of the global supply chain, and push the world economy back to the track of normal development.
Reporter from Beijing Daily: The Chinese medical expert team for Cambodia has completed its task and returned to China yesterday. Can you briefly introduce the work of the expert group to Cambodia?
Zhao Lijian: On April 7, the Chinese medical expert team for Cambodia has completed its mission and returned to China. The expert group was formed by the National Health and Health Commission, selected by the Guangxi Health and Health Commission, and arrived in Phnom Penh on March 23. It was the first anti-epidemic medical team sent by China to ASEAN countries.
During his time in Cambodia, the expert team raced against the virus every day, visited hospitals, communities, airports, hotels and industrial parks, and made recommendations to the Cambodian government many times to share experience in the diagnosis and treatment of severe and critical cases. In addition, the expert group also provided medical guidance and assistance to Chinese citizens in Cambodia.
The work of the Chinese Medical Experts Group has won praise from all sectors of Cambodia. Prime Minister Hun Sen said that when one is in poverty, one loves one another, one meets one's true friend when one is in difficulty. The Chinese Medical Experts Group's assistance to Cambodia is another vivid example of the "sincerity in hardships" between the people of Cambodia and China. Cambodian netizens also used the classic melody of Chinese traditional folk song "Liu Sanjie" with Cambodian lyrics to express their sincere thanks to the Chinese medical expert group.
China is willing to continue to provide Cambodian friends with the support and assistance they can in accordance with the needs of the Cambodian anti-epidemic, and strive to win the final victory of this epidemic prevention and control battle as soon as possible.
Finally I want to say: Come on Cambodia!