As the rotating president of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), China is holding a series of presidency events and making full preparations for the SCO summit in Tianjin. The official website of the SCO presidency has been officially launched. From today, China will keep releasing news on our work and preparations for the summit on the website. You are welcome to visit the website (www.scochina2025.org.cn/en).

CCTV: Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 this morning. He pointed out that China will step up efforts to promote self-reliance and strength in science and technology at a higher level and integrated development of technological and industrial innovation. We also noted that China has focused on developing new quality productive forces through scientific and technological innovation in recent years, and a series of frontier sci-tech outcomes have kept emerging. What is your comment on China’s sci-tech development and its international cooperation in this regard?

Guo Jiakun: This morning, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025. He pointed out that China’s firm commitment to an innovation-driven development strategy has led to a notable boost in our innovation capability, and a successful transition from old to new growth drivers. This has not only helped us tide over economic difficulties, but also lifted our medium- to long-term growth prospect and potential. You may have noticed the fruitful results of China’s sci-tech progress in recent years, ranging from digital networks and AI to aerospace and deep-sea exploration, and to daily necessities and infrastructure. Chinese people can truly feel that “science and technology brings a better life.”

At this year’s Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, participants are holding lively discussions on sci-tech cooperation topics including AI application and governance and digital capacity-building. They believe that China has achieved remarkable outcomes in developing new quality productive forces, and a series of new technologies have become new engines driving economic growth. China has always been committed to strengthening sci-tech innovation cooperation, promoting the sharing of sci-tech outcomes to better facilitate the development of countries around the world. China is actively working on establishing the China-Japan-ROK Innovation Cooperation Center, and is joining hands with the Lao PDR to build an AI Innovation Cooperation Center. China has also signed a cooperation agreement with Pakistan on selecting and training astronauts and the Chinese space station is expecting the first foreign astronaut.

History has proven time and again that only with opening-up and cooperation can a better prospect be embraced. China will continue to join hands with all parties to create an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for sci-tech development, bringing benefits to more countries and peoples.

AFP: Beijing authorities have resumed criticism of CK Hutchison’s sale of its Panama Canal ports. Two Chinese government offices overseeing Hong Kong affairs recently reposted an article that compared the deal to wrecking one’s own foundation. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comments on this?

Guo Jiakun: On your specific question, I’d refer you to competent authorities. Let me stress more broadly that China firmly opposes moves that infringe on and undermine other countries’ legitimate rights and interests through economic coercion, hegemonism and bullying.

CCTV: In the complex and turbulent global security landscape, the international community expects China’s greater role in promoting world peace and stability. Yesterday afternoon, a high-level dialogue on global governance was held at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025. Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong attended the event and delivered a keynote speech on “joining hands to implement the Global Security Initiative to safeguard world peace and security.” Could you share more details with us?

Guo Jiakun: On the afternoon of March 26, the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 hosted the high-level dialogue on global governance after the U.N. Summit of the Future. Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong attended the event upon invitation and delivered a keynote speech.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Last year, the U.N. Summit of the Future was held, during which the Pact for the Future was adopted. With the international landscape undergoing turbulence and transformation, peace and security is the top priority of global governance. President Xi Jinping, with a global vision and bearing in mind the well-being of all humanity, has put forward and promoted the Global Security Initiative (GSI), which is aimed at building the widest consensus and pooling efforts in the international community, improving global security governance and resolving security plights. Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong focused on sharing with the Chinese and foreign guests the essence and outcomes of the initiative. He said that we need to create synergies between the GSI and the Pact for the Future on global security governance, coordinate their implementation, and achieve mutual success. He also shared China’s proposals on strengthening security cooperation and promoting world peace and tranquility under the guidance of the GSI.

Guests from at home and abroad spoke highly of the progress and achievements of the GSI, and expressed their great expectation that the international community will jointly uphold and promote world peace and security. China will continue to work with the international community hand in hand to turn the GSI from consensus into action and the Pact for the Future from a vision into reality, build a community with a shared future for mankind, and usher in a brighter future with lasting peace and universal security.

RIA Novosti: U.S. President Donald Trump announced earlier that the United States will be charging 25 percent tariffs on all cars made outside the country. I wonder how this move will affect the trade cooperation between China and the United States.

Guo Jiakun: We noted that major trading partners of the U.S. have already responded. Trade and tariff wars have no winners. No country in the world thrive and prosper through imposing tariffs. The U.S. levies violate WTO rules, undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system, hurt the common interests of people from all countries and will not help address the U.S.’s own problem.

China Daily: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently said in Latin America China’s investments are “predatory practices,” which come attached with “a huge loan” that can never be repaid by the locals. What’s China’s response?

Guo Jiakun: The U.S. spreads disinformation on so-called China’s “predatory practices” to sow discord between China and other countries. Such malicious attempt will never succeed.

Investment cooperation between China and the rest of the world is based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, openness and mutual accommodation and win-win results. We respect the will of our partner countries, and the cooperation greatly boosted their economic development, improved people’s livelihood, and delivered tangibly to the local people. There’s nothing to support the so-called “debt trap” narrative. The world can see clearly who exactly is being coercive and predatory. We urge the U.S. to reflect on what it has done to developing countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through bullying and predatory behavior, and stop vilifying China.

Reuters: President Donald Trump said yesterday he would be willing to consider a reduction in tariffs on China in exchange for a deal on TikTok. Do you have any comment?

Guo Jiakun: China has stated its position on TikTok on multiple occasions. China’s opposition to imposing additional tariffs is consistent and clear.

Reuters: Can we just check your comment from the Foreign Ministry? Is the EU trade commissioner planning to visit from tomorrow?

Guo Jiakun: I’d refer you to competent authorities.