March 31, 2022 Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin hosted a regular press conference
CCTV: On March 21, US Secretary of State Blinken issued a statement announcing that the US would impose visa restrictions on Chinese officials who violated the so-called human rights. China said it would take reciprocal countermeasures. Is there any further information the spokesperson can provide?
Wang Wenbin: The US has concocted vile lies under the pretext of the so-called human rights issue, and used this as an excuse to interfere in China's internal affairs, smear China's image, and suppress Chinese officials.
These actions have no moral bottom line and seriously violate international law and basic norms governing international relations. China firmly opposes them.
In order to safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese personnel, in accordance with the relevant provisions of China's Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, China has decided to concoct lies on China-related human rights issues, promote the introduction of sanctions against China, and damage China's interests. Reciprocal visa restrictions.
Associated Press: British Foreign Development Secretary John Truss said that Hong Kong's freedom and democracy have been systematically eroded. Therefore, the United Kingdom withdrew its British judges from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: The Chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the British side's pressure on the British non-permanent judge of the Hong Kong SAR Court of Final Appeal to resign and take the opportunity to slander the Hong Kong National Security Law and interfere in China's internal affairs.
The Hong Kong National Security Law targets a very small number of criminals who endanger national security, and protects the legal rights and freedoms of the vast majority of Hong Kong citizens and foreign citizens in Hong Kong.
Nearly two years after the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, the rule of law in Hong Kong has been effectively improved and better guaranteed. Hong Kong's rule of law index continues to rank among the top in the world, and foreign investors' confidence in Hong Kong has been further enhanced. This is an undeniable objective fact.
The British side's accusation of attack is completely arrogant and confounds right and wrong.
Under the pretext of "upholding the rule of law in Hong Kong", the UK blatantly interfered and undermined the judiciary in Hong Kong with political tactics. This act ran counter to the spirit of the rule of law and blasphemed the legal system. It fully exposed the UK's hypocrisy and double standards. To the general opposition and condemnation from all walks of life in Hong Kong, including the judicial and legal circles.
Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong. The rule of law in Hong Kong will continue to be consolidated and improved on the basis of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law. The departure of individual foreign judges and the smearing of certain countries will not have any impact on this.
Whether the UK is playing the "British National (Overseas) (BNO) passport card" or the "British judge card", it cannot stop the general trend of Hong Kong's transition from chaos to governance and from governance to prosperity, nor can it shake China's steadfastness. The determination to implement "one country, two systems", safeguard national security, and safeguard the rule of law in Hong Kong.
We urge the British side to immediately stop its clumsy political performance, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs.
Any attempt to disrupt the rule of law in Hong Kong and undermine the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong will be doomed to fail!
AFP reporter: Can you provide more information about the foreign ministers' meeting of Afghanistan's neighbors held today?
Wang Wenbin: Today, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the third Afghan Neighboring Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Tunxi, Anhui.
President Xi Jinping delivered a written speech to the meeting.
In his speech, President Xi Jinping pointed out that Afghanistan is the common neighbor and partner of all participating countries.
We are a community with a shared future linked by mountains and rivers and sharing weal and woe.
A peaceful, stable, developed and prosperous Afghanistan is the aspiration of all the Afghan people, and also serves the common interests of regional countries and the international community.
"Kind and benevolent neighbors are the treasure of the country."
China always respects Afghanistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and is committed to supporting Afghanistan's peaceful and stable development.
Since its establishment in September last year, the Coordination and Cooperation Mechanism for Afghanistan's Neighboring Countries has leveraged the advantages of neighboring countries and played a constructive role in the smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan's neighbors should do their best to build consensus, coordinate and cooperate, and support the Afghan people in creating a better future.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi put forward three suggestions at the meeting:
The first is to support Afghanistan in embarking on a road of self-reliance and self-improvement.
Support the Afghan people to independently determine the country's future and destiny, make the principle of "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned" truly implemented, achieve national reconciliation and domestic unity, and explore a governance model that suits the national conditions and the development of the times.
We firmly oppose foreign countries creating chaos in Afghanistan and using Afghanistan to engage in geopolitical competition.
Encourage and support Afghanistan's broad and inclusive governance, moderate and prudent governance, adhere to good-neighborliness and friendship, and protect the basic rights of all people, including women and children of all ethnic groups.
Maintain patience and determination, steadily seek solutions that meet the common concerns and interests of all parties, and push Afghanistan to fulfill its external commitments and assume due responsibilities.
The second is to support Afghanistan in embarking on a path of prosperity and progress.
Providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan is a top priority, enhancing Afghanistan's capability for independent development is a long-term solution, and forming an international joint force for Afghanistan is a necessary move.
China has provided Afghanistan with emergency assistance such as food, vaccines, medicines and winter supplies, and is willing to promote and support Afghanistan's integration into the regional economic structure and participate in the coordinated development of the region.
Promote the synergy and synergy of the international community's bilateral and multilateral mechanisms involving Afghanistan, and support the United Nations to play its due role.
Respect the dominance of the Afghan Interim Government in accepting foreign aid and oppose the politicization of humanitarian aid.
We urge the US side, as the initiator of Afghanistan's predicament, to take primary responsibility, stop unilateral sanctions, and unconditionally return Afghanistan's national assets.
The third is to support Afghanistan in embarking on a path of peaceful development.
Promote Afghanistan's comprehensive policy and multi-measures to eliminate terrorism from its source, resolutely crack down on various extremist terrorist organizations including "Islamic State" and "East Islamic State", and ensure that Afghanistan will no longer become a sanctuary for terrorist forces, Breeding grounds and sources of spread.
Solve the problem of refugees and drugs by treating both the symptoms and root causes, help Afghanistan deal with urgent livelihood issues, support Afghanistan in carrying out alternative planting, and jointly eliminate regional sources of drugs.
Neighboring foreign ministers who attended the meeting thanked President Xi Jinping for his important speech, which injected strong impetus into the coordination and cooperation mechanism of Afghanistan's neighbors, appreciated China's important role in bringing together neighboring countries and supporting Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction, and agreed that coordination and cooperation should be strengthened to help Afghanistan achieve peace and stability and economic reconstruction, support and guide the Afghan interim government to effectively fulfill its commitments, actively respond to the expectations of the international community, especially neighboring countries, and emphasize that the United States and NATO should earnestly assume the primary responsibility for the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, and return the assets of the Afghan people as soon as possible.
The meeting issued the Joint Statement of the Third Afghan Neighboring Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the Tunxi Initiative of Afghanistan's Neighboring Countries on Supporting Afghanistan's Economic Reconstruction and Practical Cooperation.
The meeting announced the launch of the regular Afghan envoy meeting mechanism and the establishment of three working groups on political and diplomatic affairs, economics and humanitarianism, and security and stability.
Uzbekistan will host the fourth foreign ministers' meeting.
State Councilor Wang Yi also summed up eight aspects of the consensus reached at the meeting on the Afghan issue on behalf of all participating parties.
The first is to emphasize respect for Afghan independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, support the Afghan people to independently determine the country's destiny, and explore a development path that is in line with their own national conditions and the trend of the times.
The second is to generally affirm the governance efforts of the Afghan interim government over the past six months, and call on the Afghan side to achieve national reconciliation and domestic unity through dialogue and consultation, establish a broad and inclusive government, manage moderately and prudently, and adhere to good-neighborliness and friendship.
The third is to express common concern over the terrorist activities in Afghanistan, and urge Afghanistan to effectively draw a clear line with various terrorist organizations such as the "Islamic State" and "East Islamic State", resolutely crack down, and finally eliminate them.
Strengthen anti-terrorism and security cooperation between neighboring countries, and work together to combat regional cross-border drug crimes.
Fourth, concerned about the severe humanitarian difficulties facing Afghanistan, decided to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, support Afghanistan's economic reconstruction and independent development, and strengthen regional connectivity.
The fifth is to call on all parties to conduct contacts and dialogues with Afghanistan, support Afghanistan's economic and social development, oppose sanctions and pressure, and oppose the politicization of humanitarian assistance.
Sixth, urge the US and the West to earnestly fulfill their primary responsibility for the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, return the property of the Afghan people as soon as possible, and oppose the attempt to create chaos in Afghanistan and harm the region.
Seventh, support the United Nations to play its due role in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and coordinating assistance, and call on international financial institutions to actively inject liquidity into Afghanistan to help Afghanistan embark on a sound development path.
Eighth, continue to play the unique role of the coordination and cooperation mechanism of Afghanistan's neighbors.
Launch the regular meeting mechanism for special envoys (special representatives) of Afghanistan's neighboring countries on the Afghan issue, establish three working groups on politics and diplomacy, economics and humanitarianism, and security and stability, and promote the implementation of the outcomes of previous foreign ministers' meetings.
Bloomberg: This morning, the Australian ambassador to China, Fu Guanhan, asked to sit in on Cheng Lei's trial and was rejected. Fu Guanhan said that according to the China-Australia consular agreement, Australian diplomats can observe any court hearing. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: Today, the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court heard the case of the Australian defendant Cheng Lei illegally providing state secrets to foreign countries in the first instance. Cheng Lei and her defense lawyers appeared in court to participate in the lawsuit.
The case is currently in the process of trial, the court will choose a date for sentencing.
According to the "Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China" and other relevant regulations, cases related to state secrets are not heard in public, and no one is allowed to observe them.
Cheng Lei, an Australian citizen, is suspected of committing the crime of illegally providing state secrets abroad. The case involves state secrets, and the relevant court will not open the trial in accordance with the law, which is legitimate and beyond reproach.
China is a country governed by the rule of law. The judicial organs try cases strictly in accordance with the law, and fully protect the litigation rights of relevant persons.
Relevant parties should earnestly respect China's judicial sovereignty and shall not interfere in any form with the Chinese judicial organs' handling of cases in accordance with the law.
China Daily: It is reported that China and the Solomon Islands have signed a security cooperation agreement. Is this the agreement that was leaked and circulated online recently? Could you please give us more information about the situation?
Wang Wenbin: After friendly consultation between China and Solomon Islands and the approval of the two governments, on March 30, the Chinese Ambassador to the Solomon Islands and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Solomon Islands signed the framework agreement on bilateral security cooperation between China and Solomon Islands.
Regarding the security cooperation between China and Solomon Islands, China has stated its principled position on many occasions.
Here I would like to emphasize three points:
First, the security cooperation between China and Solomon Islands is based on the principles of mutual equality, mutual benefit and win-win results.
Second, the signing of the security cooperation agreement between China and Solomon Islands aims to deepen cooperation between the two sides in maintaining social order, protecting people's lives and property, humanitarian assistance, natural disaster response and other fields, which is conducive to maintaining social stability and promoting regional peace and stability. Conducive to enhancing the common interests of countries in the region.
After the social unrest in November last year, at the request of the institute, China provided several batches of police material assistance to the institute, and dispatched a temporary police advisory group to help the institute's police strengthen capacity building.
Facts have proved that these cooperation measures have achieved positive results and are sincerely welcomed by the government and people of the countries concerned.
Third, the security cooperation between China and Solomon Islands does not target any third party and does not conflict with cooperation with other countries. It can form a useful supplement to the existing cooperation mechanism in the region.
Pacific island countries are a big stage for international cooperation, not the "backyard" of any country, nor are they an arena for big power games.
Relevant parties should view the security cooperation between China and Solomon Islands in an objective and rational manner, and stop making irresponsible remarks.
The attempt to provoke, obstruct and undermine China's friendly relations with the island countries is unpopular and will not succeed.
Reporter from the Japan Broadcasting Association: According to reports, Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese government's special representative for Korean Peninsula affairs, met with the permanent representatives of the United States and Russia to the United Nations in New York. What did they discuss? Will Low Tedai also meet with the US government's special representative for North Korea?
Wang Wenbin: I believe everyone has noticed that Special Representative Liu Xiaoming is visiting relevant countries to conduct in-depth consultations and exchanges with all parties on the situation on the peninsula.
China is concerned about the current situation on the Peninsula.
We have always maintained that dialogue and consultation are the only correct way to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue.
Under the current circumstances, any move that may lead to further deterioration and escalation of the situation is not advisable.
It is in the common interests of all parties to continue the momentum of dialogue and de-escalation on the peninsula, maintain peace and stability on the peninsula, and advance the process of political settlement of the peninsula issue.
We hope all parties concerned will remain calm and restrained, stick to the general direction of political settlement, show goodwill to each other, resume dialogue as soon as possible, and actively seek solutions to break the deadlock.
China will continue to play a constructive role in realizing the denuclearization of the peninsula and promoting a political settlement of the peninsula issue.
Hubei Radio and Television: According to Japanese media reports, four NGOs in Japan's Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures submitted a joint signature of about 180,000 people to Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Tokyo Electric Power Company on the 30th to oppose the nuclear contamination of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The water is discharged into the sea, and other methods are required to deal with it. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: It is extremely irresponsible for Japan to insist on excluding nuclear-contaminated water without exhausting safe disposal methods, fully disclosing relevant information, and fully consulting with neighboring countries and international institutions.
This not only threatens the global marine environment and exposes the international community to unnecessary risks, but also harms the health, well-being and development rights of the Japanese people.
We hope that the Japanese side will not turn a deaf ear to the concerns of all parties and domestic public opinion, and give a reasonable explanation to its own people and the international community as soon as possible.
We urge the Japanese side to revoke the erroneous decision to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, fully consult with stakeholders and relevant international institutions, and make decisions after carefully evaluating the pros and cons of various nuclear-contaminated water disposal options, so as to ensure that nuclear-contaminated water is safe Safe disposal.
Reuters reporter: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan may face defeat in a no-confidence vote in a few days. Is China worried that if Pakistan's leadership changes, China-Pakistan relations will be affected?
Wang Wenbin: China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs.
As Pakistan's all-weather strategic cooperative partner and friendly neighbor, China sincerely hopes that all parties in Pakistan will maintain unity and jointly safeguard the overall situation of national development and stability.
CCTV reporter: We have noticed that the Peterson Institute for International Economics, an internationally renowned think tank, recently published an article that according to large-scale statistics, the scale of China’s foreign investment increased by more than 30% year-on-year last year, reaching a record level of 334 billion U.S. dollars, attracting foreign investment. Traffic accounts for about one-fifth of the world. The Chinese market remains attractive to the vast majority of foreign companies operating in China. What is the spokesperson's comment on this?
Wang Wenbin: The point of view of the article you mentioned coincides with the point of view of the 2022 China Business Environment Survey Report released by the American Chamber of Commerce in China some time ago, which shows that foreign investors have full confidence in China's economic development and business environment.
I have noticed that related articles pointed out: Compared with other countries, China's economic growth has been relatively less affected by the epidemic so far, and China's effective epidemic prevention and control has had a significant boost to the economy; China's port operations and infrastructure are compared with other countries. In addition, the Chinese government continues to reduce the negative list for foreign investment access and continues to provide foreign investment with an open investment environment, which has generally benefited foreign companies in China.
According to a recent survey report by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, 66% of US companies in China plan to increase investment in China this year, and 83% of US companies in China have no plans to shift manufacturing or procurement out of China.
A previous business confidence survey by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China also mentioned that only 9% of European companies in China have plans to invest abroad, the lowest proportion on record.
The current international situation is volatile and changeable, and the uncertainty of world economic recovery has risen significantly.
However, the fundamentals of China's economy with strong resilience, ample potential and long-term improvement will not change. China's determination to continue deepening reform and opening up, advancing supply-side structural reforms, and creating a market-based, law-based and international business environment will not be affected by external uncertainties. factors increase and change.
In the first two months of this year, against the backdrop of new situations and new challenges facing the world, China attracted US$37.86 billion in foreign investment, a year-on-year increase of 45.2%.
China will, as always, provide opportunities for companies from all over the world to invest in China, and work with other countries to inject more positive energy into the stable, healthy and sustainable development of the world economy.
Reuters: A person from the American Institute in Taiwan said that the diplomatic and military pressure exerted by mainland China on Taiwan poses a threat to all democracies, and the United States is committed to helping Taiwan defend itself. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: The relevant remarks by the US side are purely slander and slander, and they are interference in China's internal affairs.
We urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiques, and handle Taiwan-related issues prudently and properly.
Bloomberg: You just mentioned "China's decision" to impose visa restrictions on US officials. Can you clarify, is this a new sanction or an escalation of visa restrictions? Who and what sanctions will China impose?
Wang Wenbin: As I said just now, China has decided to impose visa restrictions on US officials who concoct lies on China-related human rights issues and harm China's interests.
They know which US officials meet China's anti-sanction standards on China-related human rights issues.
Reuters: The Australian side said that according to the China-Australia consular agreement, the Australian side should be able to observe the trial. Can you clarify whether the Chinese government thinks the Australian side's statement is wrong?
Wang Wenbin: I have just introduced China's position clearly and clearly.
We urge the Australian side to earnestly respect China's judicial sovereignty and refrain from interfering in China's judicial organs' handling of cases in accordance with the law in any form.
Shenzhen TV: According to reports, the US Department of Defense submitted a confidential version of the Nuclear Posture Review Report to Congress on March 28. The Biden administration will maintain its existing nuclear deterrence policy and fail to fulfill its campaign promise to adopt a no-first-use policy. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshi Matsuno stated on this a day ago that, as an ally of the United States, Japan strongly supports the statement in the report on maintaining and enhancing nuclear deterrence, and at the same time speaks highly of the United States' stance on reducing the role of nuclear weapons. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: The US Nuclear Posture Review Report has not been made public yet, so we cannot make a comprehensive assessment on it.
Based on the limited information released by the US, we regret to note that the Biden administration has not fulfilled its campaign promise and abandoned the policy of first use of nuclear weapons as expected by the outside world.
This will have a negative impact on global strategic stability and the process of international nuclear disarmament.
As the only country that has suffered a nuclear attack, Japan, on the one hand, advocates the establishment of a world free of nuclear weapons, on the other hand, it "strongly supports" the US nuclear deterrence policy based on the first use of nuclear weapons, which fully exposes the hypocrisy and duality of Japan's policy standard.
I would also like to point out that some Japanese politicians have recently made irresponsible remarks on the so-called "nuclear sharing" between the United States and Japan, which has aroused serious concern from regional countries and the international community.
The Japanese side should earnestly fulfill its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, adhere to the "three non-nuclear principles" policy, and refrain from doing things that undermine global and regional security.