Shenzhen TV: According to the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024 recently released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), China moved up one spot to the 11th place in the ranking of the world’s most innovative economies compared with last year, remaining the only middle-income economy in the top 30. Do you have any comment on this?
Mao Ning: Since the Global Innovation Index (GII) was launched in 2007, China has steadily moved up in various GII rankings. According to this year’s report, China is one of the fastest 10-year climbers and leads with the most science and technology (S&T) clusters in the top 100, showing strong momentum in and broad prospects for innovation-driven development.
The improvement of China’s innovation capability is a result of its increasing research and development (R&D) spending and open and inclusive international cooperation. According to statistics, China’s R&D expenditure totaled over RMB 3.3 trillion in 2023, an 8.4-percent year-on-year increase. China has established sci-tech cooperation relations with more than 160 countries and regions, and signed 118 inter-governmental agreements on sci-tech cooperation. The sound environment for innovation and rich human resources in China have attracted more and more multinational businesses to set up R&D centers in this country.
China’s sci-tech innovation serves the interest of China and the whole world. In the face of the new round of scientific and technological revolution, we stand ready to work with other countries to pursue open and inclusive sci-tech cooperation, share the outcomes of sci-tech innovation and jointly address global challenges.
Bloomberg: Earlier there was a collision between a Filipino fisheries vessel and a Chinese maritime militia vessel in the South China Sea. The Philippine government has criticized the actions of the Chinese vessel. Does the ministry have any comment?
Mao Ning: As far as I know, the truth is that the Philippine official vessels sailed dangerously in waters under China’s jurisdiction and collided with a Chinese fishing boat conducting regular operation there. The behavior violates China’s sovereignty and gravely threatens the safety of Chinese fishing boats and crew.
China urges the Philippine side to earnestly respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and stop taking any action that may complicate the situation.
AFP: Pentagon Press Secretary stated on Monday that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) exercise around Taiwan yesterday is irresponsible, disproportionate, and destabilizing. What’s China’s comment?
Mao Ning: Relevant information has been released by competent Chinese authorities. Let me stress that Taiwan is part of China, and the Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair that brooks no external interference. To truly uphold cross-Strait peace and stability, one must unequivocally uphold the one-China principle and firmly oppose “Taiwan independence.”
China Daily: The giant pandas in Atlanta, Lun Lun and Yang Yang, as well as their two children, returned to China on October 13. A new pair of giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, depart for Washington on October 15. Could you share more information with us?
Mao Ning: To my knowledge, the giant pandas, Lun Lun, Yang Yang and their twin daughters housed at Zoo Atlanta returned to China safely on October 13. They are all in good health.
A new pair of giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, departed on a charter flight for the National Zoo in Washington, DC in the early morning today. Chinese experts will stay in the US to accompany and help them adapt to the new living environment. The public can follow the daily life of the giant pandas through various means. China and the US will, in accordance with requirements and technical standards for international panda conservation cooperation, do everything possible to keep the giant pandas healthy and safe. Experts will also be sent on a regular or periodical basis to make check-ups and assessments and provide guidance on the ground.
We believe that this new round of international panda conservation cooperation between China and the US will produce more outcomes on the basis of our sound cooperation in the past and will make new contributions to global biodiversity conservation and stronger friendship between the two peoples.
Bloomberg: The Japanese Deputy Cabinet Secretary said today that Japan had expressed its concerns about the drills around Taiwan and that it also scrambled fighter jets around the island of Yonaguni, which is very close to the west side of the island of Taiwan. Did China inform the Japanese government before they conducted the drills either from the military or from the coast guard so that there will be no concern for the Japanese side that there was sudden and unannounced military activity happening around Taiwan?
Mao Ning: Relevant information on that has been released by competent Chinese authorities, and I just made clear China’s position. I’d refer you to competent authorities for more information.
AFP: South Korea on Tuesday said North Korea blew up the northern parts of inter-Korean roads no longer in use. Does China have a comment on this?
Mao Ning: We have noted this. As a neighboring country, China follows the developments on the Korean Peninsula and the DPRK-ROK relations. The tension in the Korean Peninsula is not in the common interests of all parties. The priority now is to avoid anything that may cause the tensions to further rise. China’s position of being committed to safeguarding peace and stability on the Peninsula and promoting the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue remains unchanged. We also hope that all parties will work together to this end.
