Xinhua News Agency: Today, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang concluded his visit to Switzerland and the Netherlands. Could you share more details with us, including the important understandings reached between the two sides?
Mao Ning: From January 19 to 24, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang visited Switzerland and the Netherlands at their invitation. This visit on a tight schedule focuses on implementing the important common understandings between the Chinese and European leaders and produces fruitful results. It is a good start for the high-level exchanges between China and the Europe this year.
During the visit to Switzerland, China and Switzerland spoke positively of the growth of bilateral relations. Both sides agreed to maintain the sound momentum of high-level exchanges, organize events to celebrate the China-Switzerland Year of Culture and Tourism and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, accelerate the negotiations on an upgrade of the China-Switzerland free trade agreement, deepen cooperation in such fields as innovation, finance, and people-to-people and cultural exchange, strengthen communication and coordination on multilateral affairs, jointly support multilateralism and the free trade system, and open new ground for the innovative strategic partnership between the two countries.
During the visit to the Netherlands, China and the Netherlands had an extensive and in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. Both sides applauded the practical cooperation in trade, economic exchange, agriculture and water conservancy, among other fields, and agreed to uphold open cooperation, continue exploring drivers of cooperation in green development, technological innovation and other fields, and jointly keep the global industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded. The two countries expressed their firm support for multilateralism and willingness to strengthen communication on major international issues, jointly tackle global challenges such as climate change, and contribute to world peace, stability, development and progress.
AFP: India said yesterday that its Foreign Secretary will visit Beijing from Sunday to Monday. Can China confirm this visit and give any additional details?
Mao Ning: Last October, President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached important common understandings on improving and growing bilateral relations when they met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan. Recently, both sides have acted to earnestly implement these common understandings. Chinese and Indian foreign ministers and defense ministers met with each other on multilateral occasions. The 23rd meeting between the Special Representatives of China and India on the boundary question was concluded with positive outcomes. Both sides agreed to improve and strengthen interactions, resume institutional dialogues as well as exchanges and cooperation in various fields and work to bring the China-India relations back on the track of sound and steady growth at an early date.
We welcome Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri’s travel to China for the meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism between China and India. We will release relevant information in due course and please stay tuned.
RIA Novosti: US President Donald Trump said he hoped that China will play a major and constructive role in ending the conflict in Ukraine. Does China plan to take any new measures to help resolve the Ukraine crisis?
Mao Ning: Dialogue and negotiation is the only viable way to resolve the Ukraine crisis. We are happy to see that all parties play a constructive role and build conditions for deescalation and the political settlement of the crisis. China will continue to promote peace talks and stands ready to maintain communication with other parties.
NBC: President Trump told the Davos meeting he likes very much President Xi, but wants a fair trade deal. So is China willing to engage the Trump administration to resolve what he described as “ridiculous” 1.1 trillion trade deficit?
Mao Ning: The China-U.S. trade and economic cooperation is mutually beneficial and win-win. China has never deliberately sought a trade surplus with the U.S. Despite differences and frictions, the two countries have huge common interests and space for cooperation, and that’s where both sides can strengthen dialogue and consultation.
Reuters: Please could you confirm whether the case of a Japanese school boy stabbed to death in Shenzhen in September was heard today at Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court?
Mao Ning: What I can tell you is that the case is in judicial process and China’s judicial authorities will handle the case in accordance with the law. For anything specific, I’d refer you to competent Chinese authorities.
DPA: Leader of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and CDU’s candidate for chancellor Friedrich Merz said yesterday, “I say to all representatives of the German economy that the decision to invest in China is a decision involving great risk.” He also said that China does not abide by Germany’s “rule of law standards.” Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this?
Mao Ning: China and Germany are comprehensive strategic partners. Over the past 53 years of diplomatic ties, the two countries have developed bilateral relations under the principles of mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences, exchanges and mutual learning, and mutual benefit. We have written success stories of China-Germany practical cooperation and delivered tangibly for the peoples of the two countries. China hopes that Germany will view China’s development in an objective and rational way, uphold the tradition of friendly ties, recognize the mutually beneficial nature of China-Germany cooperation, and do more things that serve the interests of both countries and peoples. We also welcome German politicians to visit China and gain first-hand experience of China’s dynamism and vibrancy in the new era.
AFP: US President Donald Trump in an interview with Fox News said he would prefer not to have to impose tariffs on China, but that tariffs were a tremendous power over China. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this?
Mao Ning: We made clear our position on this issue more than once. Trade and economic cooperation between China and the US is mutually beneficial. Differences and frictions need to be handled through dialogue and consultation. Trade and tariff wars have no winners and are in the interest of no one, still less the world.
CCTV: Today marks the one-year anniversary of the resumption of China-Nauru diplomatic ties. How does China assess the growth of this bilateral relationship over the past year and what’s China’s expectation of its future development?
Mao Ning: One year ago, China and Nauru reestablished diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level on the basis of the one-China principle. Since then, the bilateral relationship has enjoyed robust growth and achieved fruitful outcomes.
The two sides had increasingly close exchanges at various levels. In March last year, the President of Nauru David Adeang paid a successful state visit to China. President Xi Jinping held talks with him and the two sides agreed to enhance political mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation, and be good friends and good partners that respect each other and develop together. In September last year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Nauru’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Rouwen Aingnimea on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. They exchanged views on further deepening the friendly ties between China and Nauru. In December last year, Speaker of the Nauru Parliament Marcus Stephen led a delegation to visit China. Chairman Zhao Leji of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress held talks with Nauru’s Parliament Speaker and Chairman Wang Huning of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference met with him. All ministers of Nauru’s cabinet have visited China within a year.
Over the past year, the two sides carried out practical cooperation across the board. China supported Nauru’s purchase of cargo vessel to ensure the transportation of supplies. New energy buses manufactured by Chinese company helped Nauru realize energy conservation and emissions reduction goals. China’s medical team under the Brightness Action helped to treat cataract patients in Nauru. Multiple batches of personnel from various sectors and students in Nauru came to China for study and training. In other words, more and more people in Nauru are feeling tangibly the dividends of the resumption of China-Nauru diplomatic ties.
The growth of China-Nauru relations fully proves that establishing and developing relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and the arc of history bends, and serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples. China stands ready to work with Nauru to follow up on the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, further consolidate political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, promote new development in growing China-Nauru relations and bring more benefits to the two peoples. We also believe that more and more countries in the world will make the right decision that follows the trend of the times.
Bloomberg: I just wanted to follow up on Ukraine. President Donald Trump said during his address in Davos that he discussed the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their phone call on Friday, and that he said that he and Xi could hopefully work together and get that stopped. I was just wondering if the Foreign Ministry can confirm this, and if there’s any further comment on China’s next steps regarding Ukraine.
Mao Ning: Regarding the phone call between President Xi Jinping and President Trump, we’ve put out a press release, which you may refer to. On the Ukraine crisis, China will stay committed to promoting talks for peace and we are willing to maintain communication with all parties.
