Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's regular press conference on December 22, 2020
Xinhua News Agency reporter: According to reports, China, Japan and South Korea jointly announced the 2021 "Cultural Capital of East Asia" elected city. Shaoxing and Dunhuang in China, Kitakyushu in Japan, and Suncheon in South Korea were jointly elected. The "Cultural Capital of East Asia" is an important project of cultural cooperation between the three countries. Can you tell us more about China, Japan and South Korea cooperation in various fields including culture during the epidemic?
Wang Wenbin: Since the beginning of this year, in the face of the sudden new crown pneumonia epidemic, with the joint efforts of China, Japan and South Korea, pragmatic cooperation among the three countries in various fields has continued to advance, and positive results have been achieved.
We have successively held a special foreign ministers’ meeting on the new crown pneumonia issue, a special meeting of transport and logistics ministers, a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors, a meeting of directors of the Intellectual Property Office, and two meetings of ministers of health to strengthen anti-epidemic cooperation and maintain regional industrial chain supply. Many consensuses have been reached on chain stability and economic recovery.
At the same time, brand projects such as the selection of the "Cultural Capital of East Asia", the Cultural Industry Forum, and the "Wukong Cup" China-Japan-Korea Youth Comic Contest were successfully implemented as planned, which effectively promoted the exchanges and friendship between the people of the three countries.
China-Japan-Korea cooperation is an important part and source of power for East Asian cooperation.
China attaches great importance to trilateral cooperation and is willing to maintain close communication with South Korea and Japan to promote continuous progress in China-Japan-ROK cooperation, inject new impetus into economic recovery after the epidemic, and make new contributions to regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity.
"New York Times" reporter: First, regarding the negotiation of the China-EU investment agreement, what broader diplomatic goals does China hope to achieve through the agreement? Is this part of China's quest to develop closer China-EU relations? Second, US President-elect Biden expressed his commitment to improving US-EU relations. Is China eager to reach an agreement with the EU to improve China-EU relations before he takes office? Third, the European Parliament and other parties call on China to make a commitment on the issue of "forced labor" in Xinjiang, otherwise it will prevent the agreement from being passed. How does China respond to this?
Wang Wenbin: Regarding the first question, China has already introduced its position on the negotiation of the China-EU Investment Agreement. You can refer to it.
Regarding China-EU relations, I can tell you that China-EU cooperation is far greater than competition, and consensus far exceeds differences.
China and Europe are partners in mutually beneficial cooperation, and the relationship between the two sides is full of vitality.
No matter how the international situation changes, China and the EU should grasp the dominant aspect of dialogue and cooperation and the main tone of mutual benefit and win-win results, properly manage and control differences, promote a stable and long-term China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, and inject more stability into the world.
Regarding your second question, I just stated China’s position on China-EU relations. China’s position is clear and consistent.
Regarding the third question, there is no "forced labor" problem in Xinjiang at all, and the relevant claims are unfounded slanders.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a press conference on Xinjiang-related issues in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
I suggest you look at the relevant reports.
Reuters reporter: The "Human Rights Watch" organization today released an open letter to the President of the International Olympic Committee, calling on him to investigate the human rights situation in China, and said it is concerned about the human rights situation in China when the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are held. How does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs comment on this?
Wang Wenbin: To politicize sports is against the spirit of the Olympic Charter, and China firmly opposes this.
Some so-called human rights organizations use the Beijing Winter Olympics to hype up the so-called human rights issues in China for entirely political purposes.
It is the interests of the International Olympic Movement and athletes of all countries that are ultimately harmed.
I would like to reiterate that the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and the Winter Paralympics are another important contribution China has made to the international Olympic movement. Participating in the Beijing Winter Olympics is also the eager expectation of winter Olympic sports fans from all over the world.
The preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics are progressing smoothly, and they have been highly recognized by the international community, including the International Olympic Committee.
We will work with all parties to make the Beijing Winter Olympics a splendid, extraordinary and outstanding Olympic event.
"China Daily" reporter: The foreign minister-level video conference on the Iranian Nuclear Comprehensive Agreement was held on December 21. Can you tell us about China's participation? What are the important results of the conference?
Wang Wenbin: On December 21, the parties to the comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue held a foreign ministers video conference.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the meeting.
This meeting is an important meeting held when the Iranian nuclear issue is at a critical stage.
The foreign ministers fully communicated on the current situation of the Iranian nuclear and its next direction.
State Councilor Wang Yi put forward four proposals at the meeting on pushing the comprehensive agreement back on track.
One is to unswervingly maintain the comprehensive agreement.
All parties should be more clear-cut to oppose the Trump administration's extreme pressure, be more active in safeguarding the comprehensive agreement, and be more proactive in doing the work of all parties to gain time and space for the situation to change.
The second is to promote the early return of the United States to the comprehensive agreement.
The United States should return to the agreement unconditionally as soon as possible and lift sanctions on Iran and third-party entities and individuals.
On this basis, Iran has completely resumed fulfilling its nuclear commitments.
China recommends that the participants of the comprehensive agreement conduct consultations on this as soon as possible, and after reaching an agreement, consider convening an international conference of participants and the United States to initiate the process of returning the United States to the agreement.
The third is to resolve compliance disputes fairly and objectively.
There are reasons for Iran's reduction in compliance.
All parties must maintain unity, manage differences, and protect Iran's legitimate economic interests.
The fourth is to properly handle regional security issues.
China proposes the establishment of a multilateral dialogue platform in the Gulf region to discuss regional security issues of concern to all parties on the premise of maintaining the comprehensive agreement, and to continuously gather consensus from easy to difficult.
All parties agree that the United States should be pushed to return to the comprehensive agreement and resume performance as soon as possible, and no preconditions should be set for this.
After the meeting, the foreign ministers issued a joint statement, reiterating their commitment to safeguarding the comprehensive agreement and ensuring the complete and effective implementation of the agreement; expressing regret for the U.S. withdrawal from the comprehensive agreement and emphasizing that Security Council Resolution 2231 is still fully effective; all parties recognized the United States’ return to the agreement. Prospects, emphasize the willingness to work together and actively respond.
China will continue to work closely with all parties to the agreement, actively implement the joint statement of the foreign ministers, work hard to stabilize the Iranian nuclear situation, and push the comprehensive agreement back on track to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East.
Barton News Agency reporter: Last week, the Chinese contractor officially handed over the largest transportation facility project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Sukkur-Multan Expressway to Pakistan. What's your opinion?
Wang Wenbin: I have noticed the good news.
The Peshawar-Karachi Expressway is one of the early harvest projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the largest transportation infrastructure project under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The Sukkur-Multan section of the project has been completed and officially delivered to Pakistan.
The project connects the important cities of Pakistan, Sukkur and Multan, reducing the time for traffic between the two places from 11 hours to about 4 hours.
It is understood that during the construction of the project, a total of about 29,000 jobs were created for the local area.
The project passes through the main production areas of Pakistani cash crops, directly driving the economic and social development of the areas along the route.
Chinese construction companies have also implemented social welfare projects such as the construction of schools, convenient roads, bridges, wells and canals in villages along the route.
The smooth handover of the project is the epitome of the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor overcoming the impact of the epidemic and rising against the trend.
China is willing to work with Pakistan to fully implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries. On the basis of constructing and operating existing projects, we will further focus on cooperation in the fields of society and people’s livelihood, industry and agriculture, and make the corridor a high-quality development of the “Belt and Road”. Demonstration projects in China will better benefit the people of the two countries and the region.
Agence France-Presse reporter: According to reports, Hong Kong "democracy activist" Luo Guancong said that he had applied for asylum from the British government and that his departure from Hong Kong was due to the implementation of the new National Security Law. How does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs comment on this?
Wang Wenbin: China is a country under the rule of law and Hong Kong is a society under the rule of law. The rights and interests enjoyed by Hong Kong residents are fully protected in accordance with the law.
But at the same time, any illegal or criminal behavior is bound to be punished by law.
The person mentioned by the media is a suspect wanted by the Hong Kong police.
We firmly oppose any country, organization and individual interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any way, interfering in Hong Kong's judicial system, and shielding criminals for political purposes.
No matter how the anti-China chaotic Hong Kong elements beg for external asylum, they will have only one outcome, which is a complete failure.
Bloomberg reporter: First question, the US Department of Commerce has added 58 Chinese companies to a list related to the Chinese military, stating that any entity needs to obtain permission before selling items to these companies that are ultimately used for military purposes. What's your comment? The second question is that US Secretary of State Pompeo announced further visa restrictions on Chinese officials and said that these officials were found to be responsible for human rights violations or to participate in related activities. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: Regarding the first question, for a period of time, the United States has used national power to generalize national security and continuously abused export control measures to suppress and contain specific enterprises in other countries. This is a serious damage to free trade rules and a global impact. A serious threat to the security of the industrial chain and supply chain is also a serious damage to the well-being and interests of the people of all countries, including the United States.
China firmly opposes this and urges the US to immediately stop its wrongdoing and give fair treatment to companies from all countries, including Chinese companies.
China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
Regarding your second question, in the past four years, under the leadership of Pompeo, the US has "weaponized" its visa policy, under the pretext that it has continuously imposed visa sanctions on Chinese personnel on the so-called Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet, religion, and human rights issues.
The relevant acts seriously interfered in China's internal affairs, hindered normal personnel exchanges between the two countries, and harmed Sino-US relations. China firmly opposes this and strongly condemns it.
In response to the wrongdoing of the United States, China has implemented reciprocal countermeasures against U.S. personnel and their families who have been primarily responsible for recent interference in China's internal affairs, harm to China's interests, and damage to Sino-US relations.
China urges the US to correct its mistakes and remove the so-called visa sanctions against Chinese personnel.
China will continue to take proper and necessary measures based on the actions of the United States and resolutely safeguard its legitimate interests.
Reporter from NHK TV Station in Japan: The U.S. Congress passed the Comprehensive Appropriation Bill for the 2021 Fiscal Year and the New Coronary Pneumonia Epidemic Relief Bill, which includes bills related to human rights and religious freedom in Tibet. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: China has taken note of relevant reports. We firmly oppose the passage of relevant bills containing negative content related to China by the US Congress.
Issues such as Tibet, Taiwan, and Hong Kong concern China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They are purely China's internal affairs, and no external forces are allowed to interfere.
The Chinese government is unwavering in its determination to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests.
We urge the US to stop interfering in internal affairs through relevant issues, and not to sign or implement negative content and clauses in relevant bills that target China and harm China's interests, so as not to further harm China-US cooperation and the overall situation of bilateral relations.