Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on April 22, 2020
China News Service reporter: At present, the situation of the new overseas pneumococcal pneumonia epidemic is still grim, and the number of confirmed diagnoses and deaths in some countries has surged. Many Chinese citizens overseas have encountered various difficulties and are worried about their own health status and work and study situation. What assistance has the Chinese government and foreign agencies provided to them, and have they effectively addressed their concerns?
Geng Shuang: The spread of the New Coronary Pneumonia epidemic worldwide poses a constant threat to the health and safety of overseas Chinese citizens. The Chinese party and government always put the protection of the safety and health of all Chinese compatriots first. President Xi Jinping has repeatedly instructed to strengthen the guidance and support for the prevention and control of outbreaks of Chinese citizens abroad, and to convey the concern and love of the party and government.
Since the outbreak, President Xi Jinping has made 40 calls with leaders of 32 countries and heads of international organizations, Premier Li Keqiang has made 12 calls with leaders of 11 countries and heads of international organizations, and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and foreign ministers of 46 countries 66 calls with the heads of 3 international organizations. During these calls, Chinese leaders urged foreign parties to take effective measures to ensure the health, safety and legal rights and interests of Chinese citizens, and provide necessary facilities in terms of residence and life.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies and consulates resolutely and comprehensively implemented the Party Central Committee ’s decision-making and deployment, fully mobilized various resources, and provided timely support and assistance to overseas Chinese citizens. They mainly did the following:
First, maintain close contact with the diplomatic, health, education, police, immigration and other departments of the government of the host country, and coordinate with foreign parties to provide convenience and assistance to Chinese citizens in terms of visa extension, diagnosis, treatment and security.
The second is to provide better and more timely information consulting services to overseas Chinese citizen groups by adding consular protection help phones and opening WeChat groups. In the past two months, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs's 12308 consular protection hotline received nearly 170,000 calls, which was three times that of the same period last year.
The third is to assist Chinese citizens with confirmed or suspected infections to seek medical treatment in a timely manner, continue to track the treatment status, and urge the resident countries to vigorously treat them. Urgently raise necessary anti-epidemic materials and distribute them to Chinese citizens abroad through multiple channels to relieve the urgent need. Chinese embassies and consulates in the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, Germany and other countries arrange curators or organize Chinese medical experts to conduct video exchanges with local Chinese overseas Chinese, foreign students and Chinese-funded enterprise personnel, provide medical professional consultation and psychological counseling, and recommend them to them Domestic online health consultation service.
Fourth, for some countries with severe epidemics, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other departments coordinated the strength and resources of all parties, and adopted temporary flights and other methods to gradually, orderly, and in multiple batches to receive Chinese compatriots who really had difficulties and needed to return home urgently.
Fifth, focus on caring for overseas students. We take care of the students studying abroad like we take care of our children. As of the beginning of April, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated various departments to raise, deploy, and distribute more than 500,000 "health packs" to overseas Chinese study personnel through multiple channels. Many embassies and consulates have set up a "Chinese Parents' Advice Hotline for International Students" to actively help local minor students solve practical difficulties.
The above-mentioned series of measures have effectively eased the anxiety of compatriots overseas, stabilized people's hearts, encouraged morale, and played a positive role in their local foothold and good protection. The mutual help from the Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, the warmth and care of the blood thicker than the water have been highly appraised and generally praised by the compatriots at home and abroad, which further stimulated their patriotic enthusiasm and also inspired all diplomats to do further related work. We will continue to coordinate relevant parties to actively carry out precise prevention and control according to the requirements and deployment of the Party Central Committee and the State Council on the normalization of epidemic prevention and control, and provide more support and help to overseas Chinese compatriots in a timely manner, and make joint efforts to finally overcome the epidemic.
TASS reporter: The US Attorney General of Missouri, Schmidt, sued the Chinese government in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on Tuesday, saying that the Chinese government is responsible for the massive death, illness and economic losses caused by the new coronary pneumonia epidemic in Missouri and the world. What is China's comment?
Geng Shuang: This so-called accusation is absurd without facts and legal basis.
Since the outbreak of the New Coronary Pneumonia epidemic, the Chinese government has always, in an open, transparent and responsible manner, timely informed the WHO and relevant countries and regions, including the United States, of the epidemic information, shared the viral gene sequence, and actively responded to the concerns of all parties. Strengthen cooperation with the international community. We have recently introduced the details of Sino-US communication in a timeline manner. Since January 3, China has started to report information to the US regularly. The US has unobstructed channels for obtaining epidemic information and data from China. China has made important contributions to fighting the epidemic worldwide. The international community has seen this for all, and it is generally highly appreciated.
This so-called lawsuit is purely malicious indiscriminate and violates basic legal principles. According to the principle of sovereign equality in international law, sovereign actions taken by Chinese governments at all levels in the prevention and control of epidemics are not subject to the jurisdiction of the US courts.
Such abuses are not conducive to epidemic prevention and control in the United States, and also run counter to the current international anti-epidemic cooperation. The correct way for the US now is to dismiss indiscriminate complaints.
Agence France-Presse reporter: According to poll data released by the Pew Center yesterday, 66% of Americans hold a negative view of China. What is China's comment?
Geng Shuang: The friendship between China and the United States is in line with the national will of China and the United States, conforms to the hearts of the two peoples, and also serves the common interests of the two countries. We have always believed that cooperation between China and the United States is beneficial to both sides, while fighting is harming both sides. Cooperation is the only correct choice for both parties. We hope that the United States and China will go hand in hand, manage differences on the basis of mutual respect, expand cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit, and jointly promote Sino-US relations based on coordination, cooperation, and stability.
CCTV reporter at the Central Radio and Television Station: Recently, Ma Yun was interviewed by CCTV's "News 1 + 1" program, and was asked how to treat someone criticizing him for donating anti-epidemic materials to foreign countries. He said that about 1% of brains in any country are hit. Bad bastard, if we pay more attention to 1% and forget 99% of the kind people, this is human sorrow. What's your opinion? What is the situation of China's provision of anti-epidemic assistance?
Geng Shuang: Mr. Ma Yun's words are straightforward and frank. As the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, what I want to say here is that in the face of the catastrophe, selfishness, hatred, and attack are never the right choices. Conscience, mutual help, and gratitude are powerful forces.
Since the outbreak of the New Coronary Pneumonia epidemic, the international community has given China sincere help and strong support, which we have in mind. At present, although China is under tremendous pressure of “internal defense rebound and external defense input”, it still provides support and assistance to the international community within its capacity.
According to my current situation, the Chinese government has provided or is providing urgently needed medical supplies to more than 150 countries and international organizations, and is actively facilitating the commercial procurement of various countries in China. At the same time, many Chinese private institutions, enterprises and localities, including the Ma Yun Charity Foundation and Alibaba Charity Foundation, have also lend a helping hand to the outside world.
The Chinese kindness, kindness, and good deeds reflect the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation, the Chinese people ’s love for boundless humanitarianism, and the Chinese government ’s responsibility for the great powers of the world. .
Viruses are the common enemy of all mankind, and the international community can only win if it is united and coordinated. We will insist on doing the right thing, continue to provide other countries with the support and assistance we can, and work together with the international community until we finally overcome the epidemic.
Beijing Radio and Television reporter: On the evening of April 19, Moldova will use military aircraft provided by Russia to purchase anti-epidemic materials in China and donate from China to Chisinau. In an interview at the airport, President Dodo thanked the Chinese side for sending charcoal and the Russian side for assistance in transportation, saying that the Chinese-Russian assistance is the best Easter gift for the people of Morocco. What is China's comment?
Geng Shuang: In recent years, the friendly cooperative relations between China and Morocco have maintained a good momentum of development. Since the outbreak of the New Coronary Pneumonia, the Moroccan side has given China active support. President Dodong sent a letter of condolences to President Xi Jinping as soon as possible. China has also provided assistance to the Moroccan side. The people of the two countries are in the same boat and help each other, which reflects the profound friendship.
China and Russia are all-round strategic cooperative partners in the new era. They have always maintained close cooperation in the fight against the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, and jointly advocated that the international community should work together to deal with the epidemic. China will uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, continue to strengthen cooperation with countries around the world in the prevention and control of epidemics, and jointly safeguard global public health security.
Shenzhen Satellite TV reporter: According to Australian media reports, on the 12th, a Chinese aircraft that transported Vanuatu's anti-epidemic materials occupied the runway of Port Vila Airport for too long, which prevented another Australian aircraft that transported hurricane relief materials from landing as planned. . Can you confirm? Australian Foreign Minister Payne said in an interview with the media that the delayed humanitarian aid transportation in Australia is regrettable and Australia has expressed concern to China. What is China's comment?
Geng Shuang: The report you mentioned is not accurate. We must also express regret and dissatisfaction with the untrue statements made by Australia. An Australian civil aviation expert has already commented on the matter. He believes that technical factors have caused the unloading of Chinese cargo planes to be delayed, and that Australian cargo planes cannot be stopped. This situation is common in small airports. He also called on the Australian media not to engage in conspiracy theories. The expert's view is objective and fair.
I would like to emphasize that China shares the difficulties and challenges brought to the Pacific island countries by the epidemic and will continue to work with the international community to provide support and assistance within its capabilities to Vanuatu and other island countries and is willing to strengthen cooperation with Australia and other countries. China is actively doing good to help Pacific island countries respond to the epidemic. The Australian media should not engage in political speculation to engage in malicious hype, nor should individual Australian politicians have ulterior motives. We hope that relevant people in Australia will abandon prejudice and zero-sum game thinking, do more things that will help island countries deal with the epidemic, and do more things that will promote mutual trust and cooperation between China and Australia.
Reuters reporter: A question about foreign citizens entering the country through express channels. South Korean Samsung said their engineers went to Xi'an today. Will these people be isolated in China? Does China's agreement with South Korea and other countries on fast-track access allow qualified personnel to be free from isolation?
Geng Shuang: I said yesterday that China is negotiating with relevant countries to establish a fast-track channel for important business, technology and other urgently needed personnel exchanges. The purpose is to stabilize important economic and trade cooperation between China and relevant countries under the premise of effective prevention and control of the epidemic. Ensure the safe and smooth operation of the international industrial chain and supply chain.
Yesterday I also introduced some principles and consensus reached between China and South Korea. As for the specific case you just mentioned, the question of Samsung engineers going to Xi'an, I don't know yet. I am afraid I cannot give you a clear answer. I can help you understand after the meeting.
China Daily reporter: Recently, some US Republican lawmakers such as Cotton, Holly, Blackburn, Cruz, Smith, etc. have successively proposed a number of bills, accusing China of covering up the epidemic and demanding investigation and claims against China. What is China's comment?
Geng Shuang: In order to shirk their own responsibility for the weak epidemic, a few American politicians ignore the facts, defame China, and engage in political manipulation. At the critical juncture that should unite the fight against epidemic, they interfere with Sino-US cooperation. Not conducive to controlling the domestic epidemic in the United States.
We advise these American politicians to focus more on fighting the epidemic and maintaining the safety and health of the American people, rather than thinking about how to divert their attention and shirk their responsibilities.
When everyone fights against the new crown virus, please stop spreading political viruses.
Agence France-Presse reporter: Yesterday, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau said that two Canadian charter planes to transport medical supplies to China were forced to return by air. He said this was because of the issue of China restricting the transit time of charter flights. Can you confirm this news? Any comments on this?
Geng Shuang: Since the outbreak of the New Coronary Pneumonia, China and Canada have supported and helped each other and actively cooperated in responding to the outbreak. Recently, Canada has procured medical materials in China through various channels and sent charter flights to Shanghai for many times. China has provided Canada with positive assistance and convenience in material procurement, customs clearance, and charter flight permits. The Canadian side also expressed its thanks for this many times.
Regarding your mention of the return of Canada ’s chartered planes and empty planes, the relevant media reports have been inaccurate, and the relevant Chinese airports and air traffic control departments have not imposed any restrictions on the transit time of freight charter flights.
Surging News Reporter: According to reports, on the 21st, when the American President ’s Assistant National Security Officer O'Brien was asked about how the United States can exert pressure and accountability on China, Austria said we have many tools available, including in the United States against China Filed a lawsuit, China has a lot of assets around the world, let us see the results. What is China's comment?
Geng Shuang: Regarding the question he mentioned about litigation, I have already responded just now, so I will not repeat it.
I just want to emphasize here that viruses, regardless of nationality, are the common enemy of mankind. Everyone should see very clearly that some people dump their pots, blame and blame them at this moment. Their main purpose is to cover up their own problems. I still advise them to devote more time and energy to doing their own thing well and do more practical things for their people.