China News Service: The 31st regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government was held in St. Petersburg yesterday. Could you brief us on the details and outcomes of the meeting?

Mao Ning: On October 21, Premier Li Qiang co-chaired the 31st regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in St. Petersburg, and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During the meeting, the two heads of government listened to the work reports from various committees under the regular meeting. Both sides believed that the leadership of the two presidents serves as an important safeguard for the stable and sound development of bilateral relations. The two sides should take the important common understandings between the two presidents as the fundamental guideline, promote cooperation in key areas, foster new drivers for growth in frontier areas, enhance people-to-people exchanges, invigorate sub-national cooperation, and enhance communication and coordination on multilateral affairs so as to achieve more practical outcomes.

As Premier Li noted during his meeting with President Putin, the close coordination between China and Russia is a much needed force for stability in a changing and turbulent world. Since the beginning of this year, the two presidents have met twice, making plans for deepening China-Russia relationship and cooperation. China stands ready to strengthen strategic communication with Russia, consolidate political mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and continuously promote people’s well-being. The two sides will step up communication and coordination on major issues, collaborate closely on multilateral platforms, further unite the Global South, defend common interests and safeguard fairness and justice.

Reuters: Has China been in contact with Russia or the United States about a possible trilateral meeting between the three presidents? Is Beijing open to such a meeting and have any concrete arrangements been discussed?

Mao Ning: I have no information on that at the moment.

RT: The EU’s new Arctic strategy identifies China’s growing presence in the region and its cooperation with Russia as security concerns. And also EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned against allowing Russia and China to dominate Arctic shipping routes. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on this?

Mao Ning: The Arctic bears on the common interests of the international community. Countries’ right and freedom to carry out activities in the Arctic in accordance with the law needs to be fully respected. China’s activities in the Arctic are aimed at promoting the peace, stability and sustainable development of the region. They are in line with the international law. Dividing countries into blocs out of the Cold-War mentality and inciting geopolitical confrontation are not in the interest of peace, stability and development in the Arctic region.

China Daily: Yesterday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Djibouti Abdoulkader Houssein Omar issued the Joint Press Communiqué on Safeguarding Peace and Stability in the Horn of Africa and the Safety of Shipping Lanes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Could you elaborate on that?

Mao Ning: Yesterday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Djibouti Abdoulkader Houssein Omar in Beijing. They had an in-depth exchange of views on the Horn of Africa situation and the safety of shipping lanes across the Red Sea.

Both sides agreed that the recent escalation of tensions in the Red Sea has posed a serious threat to the global economy, especially the economic activities of regional countries in the Horn of Africa, and exacerbated security challenges such as piracy and terrorism. The two sides did not wish to see tensions in the region spill over into the Red Sea and called on relevant parties to observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, abide by the basic norms of international relations, and avoid escalating tensions in the region through dialogue and other diplomatic means. Both sides agreed that the Horn of Africa shall never become an arena for geopolitics, and the Middle East conflict should not spread to the Horn of Africa. Both sides underlined the importance of the freedom of navigation across the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and stressed that the right of navigation that commercial ships from all countries are entitled to under international law should be respected.

Both sides believed that easing the Middle East situation is the key to settling security challenges in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, and reaffirmed the support for restoring the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people. The ceasefire agreement should be upheld, continued efforts should be made for lasting peace in Gaza, the two-State solution outlined in relevant UN resolutions should be implemented, and a peaceful and lasting settlement of the conflicts should be achieved through diplomatic means. Djibouti commended President Xi Jinping’s initiatives and proposals on promoting peace and security in the Middle East and the four principles on the constructive participation of relevant parties in the resolution of African hotspot issues, and expressed support for China playing a constructive role in the Middle East issue.

Reuters: The Philippines said on Wednesday that it is exploring deeper cooperation with Taiwan to protect undersea cables and address so-called gray-zone activities, despite its one-China policy. What’s China’s response? Does Beijing consider such cooperation a violation of the one-China principle?

Mao Ning: There is no gray zone on the Taiwan question. The Philippine side should abide by the one-China principle with concrete actions. External interactions of China’s Taiwan region should be handled in strict accordance with the one-China principle.