Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's regular press conference on March 5, 2021
CCTV reporter: According to reports, the Brookings Institution, a US think tank, recently published an article calling on the US and China to cooperate in response to the epidemic. The article pointed out that only through global cooperation can the new crown epidemic be controlled, and this requires the active participation of the world's two largest economies. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: I have noticed the relevant reports. I have also noticed that a few days ago, experts in the field of epidemic prevention and control in China and the United States had dialogues and exchanges. They agreed that the fight against the epidemic requires a global response and a spirit of solidarity and cooperation.
It can be said that unity to fight the epidemic is the universal call of the international community, and strengthening China-US cooperation in the fight against the epidemic is also the common aspiration of people of insight in the two countries.
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, China has taken the lead in effectively controlling the epidemic, and at the same time actively promoted international anti-epidemic cooperation to effectively guarantee the global production and supply of anti-epidemic materials.
As far as I know, from March 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021, China exported about 43.85 billion masks, about 1.19 billion pairs of surgical gloves, about 950 million sets of protective clothing, and about 54.03 million pairs of protective goggles to the United States. There are 17,585 machines.
Many provinces, cities, enterprises, and organizations in China also actively donated medical supplies to the United States.
Chinese experts, medical workers, non-governmental organizations, etc. shared prevention and control and diagnosis and treatment experience with their American counterparts.
Chinese and American pharmaceutical companies and people in the scientific and technological circles also maintain communication and cooperation in vaccine and drug research and development.
Currently, the epidemic is still spreading.
As two major countries, China and the United States should and can join hands to meet the common challenges of mankind.
China is willing to continue to work together with all countries in the world, including the United States, to support the WHO in further playing its role, promote the in-depth development of international anti-epidemic cooperation, and strive to overcome the epidemic at an early date.
Bloomberg News: It's still about the epidemic. Some scientists said that an "independent investigation" should be carried out on the traceability of the new coronavirus. According to the "Wall Street Journal" report, some scientists have published an open letter stating that the independence of the current WHO international expert group is not enough. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: First of all, I want to correct a statement that China and the WHO are conducting joint traceability research, not investigation.
This joint research is part of a global traceability collaboration.
On February 9, the joint expert group held a press conference to comprehensively introduce the results of the traceability cooperation.
If some countries and media have not been able to accurately understand the situation, it is recommended that they listen to and watch the content of the press conference.
I would like to emphasize the following points to everyone:
First, the list of WHO's international expert groups is entirely proposed by the WHO. It comes from more than 10 countries and international organizations such as the WHO, the World Organization for Animal Health, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. It is not only scientifically independent, but also widely representative. .
Second, the Chinese government has done a lot of administrative, technical, and logistical support and support for this joint traceability.
To support this joint traceability study, China organized top experts in related fields in China to participate in traceability work at the request of the WHO and the international expert group, and mobilized a large number of technical personnel to provide necessary support for the joint expert group to collect data and information.
Experts' on-site visit requirements are proposed by the expert team, the interviewees and interview content are independently determined by the expert team on site, and the report is drafted by the expert team.
Third, this traceability cooperation is a scientific task carried out by the Chinese-foreign joint expert group based on scientific research and factual evidence. Experts from both sides conducted full and candid exchanges, and their conclusions reflect the consensus of experts from both sides, and are objective, scientific and authoritative. .
Some people disregard scientific facts, politicize the issue of traceability, arbitrarily misinterpret the scientific conclusions of the expert group, and advocate "presumption of guilt" investigations into specific countries. This behavior is not conducive to international cooperation in the fight against the epidemic.
The so-called "scientist's open letter" you mentioned just now, whether to uphold a scientific and professional attitude to provide advice and suggestions for traceability research, or to engage in "presumption of guilt" and politicization, I think they know well.
Fourth, there are more and more reports of epidemics and viruses appearing in more places in the second half of 2019, and similar inspections in other countries and regions have become more urgent and necessary.
We hope that all parties concerned will adopt a scientific and cooperative attitude like China and carry out traceability cooperation with the WHO.
China will continue to carry out traceability cooperation with the WHO and the international community in an open and transparent attitude, so as to make China's contribution to mankind's early victory over the epidemic and better response to future public health emergencies.
"Beijing Daily" reporter: On March 3, the 155th Council of Foreign Ministers of the League of Arab States passed a China-related resolution, reiterating the need to strengthen relations between the Arab States and China in various fields, and once again welcomed Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the first Arab-Chinese summit, and appreciated the two sides' efforts to combat the new crown pneumonia. For cooperation in areas such as the epidemic, it is emphasized that all institutional activities under the Arab-China Cooperation Forum must be well run. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: China highly appreciates the resolutions adopted by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Arab League to strengthen relations with China for many years.
This fully reflects the firm determination of Arab countries to develop relations with China, and also reflects the high level of China-Arab traditional friendship and strategic partnership between the two sides.
China attaches great importance to developing relations with Arab countries and regards the Arab League as an important partner in advancing China-Arab relations.
In recent years, China-Arab strategic mutual trust has been continuously deepened, and cooperation in various fields has achieved fruitful results. Especially in the fight against the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the two sides have worked together and helped each other, writing an example of unity in the fight against the epidemic.
In the next step, China is willing to further strengthen communication and coordination with Arab countries and the Arab League, prepare for the China-Arab summit, join hands to forge a China-Arab community with a shared future for the new era, and promote the realization of a new leap in the China-Arab strategic partnership to benefit the people of both sides.
"Global Times" reporter: According to reports, a number of UN human rights experts said that the United States imposed unilateral sanctions on China, Russia, Cuba, Iran, Venezuela and other countries, and severely violated the human rights of these countries. They called on the United States to fully abide by international human rights treaties to prevent The relevant sanctions have a negative impact on human rights. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: China has taken note of the comments of relevant UN human rights experts.
Disregarding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the norms of international law, individual countries often resort to unilateral sanctions against other countries under the guise of defending human rights, and have been widely criticized by the international community.
Practice has repeatedly proved that unilateral sanctions strongly impact the international political and economic order and the global governance system, severely undermine the sanctioned country’s efforts to mobilize resources, develop the economy, and improve people’s livelihood, endanger the right to life, challenge the right to self-determination, and undermine the right to development, and constitute a violation of human rights. Persistent, systemic, large-scale violations.
Against the background of the global spread of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, unilateral sanctions have caused tens of millions of people to lack food and medicine, endanger the lives and health of countless people, especially the rights of vulnerable groups, and further exacerbate poverty, hunger and inequality.
China has always opposed unilateral coercive measures and urges relevant countries to face up to the voice of justice in the international community and immediately stop implementing unilateral coercive measures.
Bloomberg reporter: Some questions about Hong Kong. Why does China think it is necessary to modify Hong Kong's electoral system? What specific changes will China make to the Hong Kong electoral system? "Critics" claimed that Beijing and Hong Kong plan to revise Hong Kong's electoral system to achieve the goal of weakening the Hong Kong opposition. What's China's response to this?
Wang Wenbin: This morning, Wang Chen, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, gave an explanation on the draft decision of the National People's Congress on improving the election system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Yesterday, Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the Fourth Session of the 13th National People's Congress, also answered questions from reporters.
I suggest you check it out.
What I want to emphasize is that Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, and the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is China's local electoral system. How to design, develop, and improve is entirely China's internal affairs.
From a global perspective, the electoral system where the country decides the locality is also the constitutional system and political practice common to all unitary countries.
China's position on Hong Kong-related issues has been understood and supported by most members of the international community.
China’s determination to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests is unwavering, and it persists in implementing the principle of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong", a high degree of autonomy, and maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, and its determination to oppose external interference in Hong Kong affairs. Unmoved.
Any attempt to intervene in Hong Kong affairs and put pressure on China will not succeed.
The Fourth Session of the 13th National People's Congress is scheduled to hold a press conference on the afternoon of March 7. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be invited to answer questions from Chinese and foreign journalists on "China's foreign policy and foreign relations."
Please stay tuned.