Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's regular press conference on December 23, 2020
"Global Times" reporter: Recently, the first highway in Laos, the Vientiane-Vang Vieng section of China-Laos Expressway jointly invested and constructed by China and Laos, was completed and opened to traffic 13 months ahead of schedule, ending Laos' history of no expressway. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: There is a saying in China that “build roads if you want to get rich”.
We are happy for Laos to achieve "zero breakthrough" on highways.
The total designed length of the China-Laos Expressway is about 440 kilometers. The first phase connects Vientiane, the capital of Laos, and the tourist city of Vang Vieng, with a total length of about 110 kilometers.
After this section was opened to traffic, the journey from Vientiane to Vang Vieng was shortened from the past 3.5 hours to one hour, saying goodbye to the history of Laos without expressways.
We believe that the opening of the Vientiane to Wanrong section will provide new assistance to improve local people's livelihood, promote economic and social development, and promote cross-border business cooperation and cultural exchanges.
Yonhap News Agency reporter: Yesterday, a number of Chinese and Russian military aircraft flew into the South Korean air defense identification zone. The Chinese side said in the report that this was a routine training, and the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret about this. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: Regarding the issue you mentioned, the Ministry of National Defense of China has released information that this action is a project in the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian armed forces and is not targeted at third parties.
It needs to be pointed out that the air defense identification zone is not airspace, and countries enjoy the freedom of overflight in accordance with international law.
During this training, the Chinese and Russian military aircraft strictly abide by the relevant provisions of international law and did not enter the airspace of other countries.
CCTV reporter: We have noticed that yesterday, the China Institute of International Studies held an international seminar on "Jointly Dealing with Terrorism in the New Situation". Government officials, heads of anti-terrorism research institutions and scholars from 12 countries attended the meeting. Can you tell me more?
Zhao Lijian: The China Institute of International Studies held an international seminar on "Jointly Responding to Terrorism in the New Situation" yesterday.
Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui attended and delivered a keynote speech.
At the meeting, Chinese scholars introduced China's experience in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization.
All parties have frank and in-depth exchanges, achieving the goals of building consensus, enhancing mutual trust, learning from experience, and promoting cooperation.
The Chinese side pointed out at the meeting that non-traditional security threats need to be dealt with across borders.
Dealing with non-traditional security issues should be coherent, sustainable, long-term based, and should not be stress-responsive.
Individual countries pursue unilateralism and bullying, politicize and instrument counter-terrorism, and seriously interfere with international counter-terrorism cooperation, which deserves a high degree of vigilance.
International anti-terrorism cooperation must firmly defend international consensus, actively take effective actions, adhere to uniform standards, and resolutely eradicate the soil of terror.
All participants at the meeting agreed that the current epidemic has made the international counter-terrorism situation more complicated and severe, but the international community should always uphold multilateralism, strengthen unity, and jointly respond to non-traditional security challenges including terrorism.
We must adhere to a unified standard, take a clear-cut stand against "double standards," firmly defend international consensus, and oppose the politicization and instrumentalization of anti-terrorism for selfish purposes.
We must adhere to comprehensive measures, address both symptoms and root causes, attach importance to preventive counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, and strive to eradicate the breeding ground for terrorism.
We must persist in openness and tolerance, and oppose linking terrorism to specific countries, ethnic groups, and religions.
China and representatives of Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and other countries believe that the terrorist forces of the "Eastern Iranian Movement" pose a serious threat to the peace, security and people's well-being of relevant countries and regions, including China, and cooperation in combating the "Eastern Iraqi Movement" should be strengthened. , To jointly maintain international and regional security.
RIA Novosti: It's still about the issue of Chinese and Russian military planes flying into South Korea's air defense identification zone. The Japanese government stated that it had not received notice of this operation. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: I have stated China's position very clearly just now.
The Chinese and Russian military planes strictly abide by the relevant provisions of international law and did not enter the airspace of other countries.
China News Service: According to the press conference of the Ministry of Education yesterday, 70 countries around the world have included Chinese in their national education systems. Earlier, some Western officials and media claimed that China has expanded its global influence through teaching Chinese as a foreign language. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: Language is the tool and foundation of communication.
Learning and mastering the languages of different countries is of positive significance for promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation, exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and friendly exchanges between people.
No matter how far the physical distance between countries and people is, language will quickly narrow the distance between heart and heart.
Just like many people in China learn foreign languages including English, many foreigners are showing a growing interest in learning Chinese.
At present, there are about 25 million people studying Chinese outside of China. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the number of people taking the Chinese proficiency test worldwide reached 40 million. These figures show that international Chinese education has a broad and solid foundation.
International Chinese education has played an important role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between China and the people of other countries, and has been welcomed and praised by people of all countries.
For normal people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, we should all be happy to see the results and actively help, instead of politicizing or even demonizing them.
China is willing to work with other countries in the world to strengthen various cultural exchanges and cooperation, including language exchanges, and contribute new strengths to enhance friendship and cooperation between China and other countries, promote exchanges and mutual learning between diverse civilizations in the world, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.
Bloomberg reporter: According to reports, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau vetoed China's Shandong Gold's plan to acquire a Canadian mining company that mines gold in the Canadian Arctic. What comment does China have on Canada's decision?
Zhao Lijian: The nature of economic and trade cooperation between China and Canada is mutually beneficial and win-win.
The Chinese government has always required Chinese companies to carry out foreign investment cooperation on the basis of abiding by international rules and local laws and regulations.
Any practice that politicizes normal commercial cooperation and uses national security as a reason for political interference is wrong.
Canada should provide a fair, open and non-discriminatory market environment for companies from various countries including China to invest in Canada.
"South China Morning Post" reporter: The outgoing Australian Trade Minister Birmingham previously told the Australian media that he hoped that China and the next Australian Trade Minister would better communicate and show the willingness to communicate and negotiate. He criticized that China had Did not show such will. What is China's comment? What are your expectations for the incoming Australian Minister of Trade?
Zhao Lijian: We have repeatedly emphasized that the channels of diplomatic communication between China and Australia are open.
We also want to point out again that mutual respect is the basis and prerequisite for dialogue and pragmatic cooperation between countries.
If Australia is really sincere in contact and dialogue with China, it should show its sincerity through practical actions.
Shenzhen Satellite TV reporter: According to reports, a Sierra Leone ship "DONG YANG" was in distress in the Nansha waters on the 21st. The crew abandoned the ship and escaped and was rescued by the Chinese side. Can you introduce the relevant situation?
Zhao Lijian: Hainan Provincial Maritime Search and Rescue Center received a report at 17:00 on the 21st that a Sierra Leone cargo ship was seriously tilted in the waters near Wan'an Beach in the Nansha Islands.
The captain of the ship decided to abandon the ship, and 10 crew members took a life raft to escape.
After the danger was verified, the Ministry of Transport of China and Hainan Province organized all forces to carry out rescue efforts and coordinated three ships to participate in the search.
One of them successfully rescued 10 crew members on the life raft at 14:30 pm on the 22nd.
It is understood that the vital signs of the 10 crew members were normal, and the international rescue was finally successful after nearly a day and night.
The rescue of lives at sea is an international humanitarian action.
This successful rescue is a test of China's ability to maintain the safety of international ships in the South China Sea, and fully demonstrates China's responsibility and responsibility for life rescue in the South China Sea.
China will continue to provide timely and necessary search and rescue to ships and crews in distress in the South China Sea in a humanitarian spirit.
Reuters reporter: U.S. Senators Cruz and Rubio warned in a letter to Pacific island nations that China would fund Huawei Marine Networks Co., Ltd. to bid for the Pacific submarine optical cable project to conduct "espionage" and "geopolitical coercion." What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: The individual congressman you mentioned "reverses every time China" is keen on concocting all kinds of lies to discredit China and use them to seek political self-interest. They have no political integrity.
The remarks are completely slander and smear of Chinese companies and fabricated excuses for the United States to unreasonably suppress Chinese high-tech companies.
The Chinese government encourages Chinese companies to carry out foreign investment cooperation in accordance with market principles and international rules, and on the basis of abiding by local laws and regulations.
It is precisely the US itself, since the exposure of the "Prism Gate", has carried out large-scale cyber theft of countries including its allies on a global scale. It is a veritable "Matrix" and "Secret Stealing Empire."
Not long ago, the Danish media exposed that relevant US agencies are monitoring Danish government departments and collecting private data and information on communication cables passing through Denmark.
The world clearly sees the US trick of slandering others and beautifying itself.
Reporter from the Indian Broadcasting Corporation: Many ships have been anchored in Jingtang Port for several months. It is understood that China and India maintain communication on the issue of crew rotation on Indian ships. The Chinese side previously stated that due to epidemic prevention considerations, crew rotation is not possible. The owner did not allow the ship to leave. My question is, is it currently not allowed to quarantine crew members before rotation, is there a scientific basis? They have been trapped for several months. Can they be allowed to rotate after isolation? Based on humanitarian considerations, can this be done?
Zhao Lijian: China has clear regulations on port epidemic prevention and control and crew quarantine requirements.
These regulations are based on science.
The relevant local authorities of the Chinese side have been maintaining close communication with the Indian side, promptly responding to the relevant requests of the copying party, and providing necessary convenience and assistance under the premise of complying with the relevant epidemic prevention regulations.
China Daily reporter: According to reports, former Australian Governor Jeffrey has passed away. How to evaluate the role of Mr. Jeffrey in promoting China-Australia relations?
Zhao Lijian: Mr. Jeffrey, the former Governor of Australia, cared about and supported the development of China-Australia relations for a long time during his lifetime. He has visited China many times and made important contributions to promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
We express our deep condolences to the passing of Mr. Jeffrey and our condolences to his relatives and family.
Reuters reporter: On Tuesday, US conference members Rubio and McCall called on the Trump administration to continue to strengthen the new regulations passed on Friday to prevent SMIC from acquiring advanced US technology. What's your opinion? In addition, according to the U.S. news website Axios, the U.S. Department of Land Security will issue a warning to U.S. companies that the use of communications equipment and services from companies associated with China will bring data security risks. What's your opinion?
Zhao Lijian: I have just said that the credibility of these congressmen you mentioned has gone bankrupt and they have no integrity at all.
China firmly opposes the unprovoked suppression of Chinese companies by the United States and has repeatedly stated its solemn position.
The politicization of economic and trade issues by the United States goes against the market economy and fair competition principles it has always advertised, and violates international trade rules. It not only harms the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, but also does not conform to the interests of American companies, and will seriously interfere with normal scientific and technological exchanges between the two countries and the world. Dealing with trade will cause damage to the global industrial chain, supply chain, and value chain.
Chinese enterprises have always adhered to operating in compliance with laws and regulations, and strictly abided by the laws and regulations of the host country in their international operations.
The United States should stop its misconduct of abusing national power and generalizing the concept of national security to suppress foreign companies.
Individual US politicians stick to the Cold War mentality and ideological prejudices, and are keen to exaggerate and hype the so-called China challenge and China threat theory. China firmly opposes this.
I want to emphasize that containment and suppression cannot stop China's development and growth. It will only undermine China-US mutual trust and cooperation, intensify Sino-US conflicts and frictions, and will only make the Chinese people more united and build a stronger China.
If the US insists on going its own way, China will take firm measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests.
Reuters reporter: Australian national Yang Jun said in a letter to a friend that during his detention in Beijing, he suffered "torture", repeated interrogations and verbal abuse. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: We have stated China's position on the Yang Jun case many times, and the case is currently in the process of first instance.
I would like to emphasize once again that China is a country under the rule of law. The Chinese judicial organs handle cases independently in accordance with the law. Yang Jun’s legal rights are fully protected and there is no so-called "torture" or "ill-treatment".