Shenzhen TV: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is about to conclude his visit to China. How does China view the outcomes of his visit? What’s China’s expectation of China-Germany relations in the future?

Mao Ning: This is German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s first visit to China since he took office. He is also the first foreign leader that China receives in the Year of the Horse. Yesterday, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang met and had talks with Chancellor Merz respectively. The two sides issued the Joint Press Statement Between the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Germany. 

Leaders of the two countries were of the view that the international landscape is undergoing the most profound transformations since the end of WWII. China and Germany are the world’s second and third largest economies and major countries with global impact. The two countries should enhance strategic communication, strengthen strategic mutual trust, uphold open cooperation, firmly support multilateralism and free trade, firmly safeguard the status of the UN, abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and deepen the China-Germany all-around strategic partnership to deliver more tangibly for the two peoples and contribute to a peaceful and prosperous world. Both sides agreed to continue holding and making full use of dialogue mechanisms between the two countries including the inter-governmental consultation mechanism. The two sides also said that despite respective concerns on some specific economic and trade issues, the two countries stand ready to have exchanges and enhance understanding in a candid, friendly and open way, properly resolve each other’s concerns through dialogue, and ensure long-term, balanced, reliable and sustainable development of economic and trade ties.  

Practical cooperation is the biggest highlight in China-Germany relations. Thirty heads of leading companies from Germany accompanied Chancellor Merz during the visit, which says a lot about Germany’s expectation of and confidence in deepening practical China-Germany cooperation. The two countries will foster greater synergy between China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Germany’s development strategies and achieve mutually beneficial cooperation of higher standards. During the visit, Premier Li Qiang and Chancellor Merz witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in such areas as green transition, customs, sports and media. Together with over 60 Chinese and German business leaders, they also attended the symposium of the China-Germany economic advisory committee. German companies are optimistic of the prospects of China’s economy and have expressed their readiness to scale up investment in China and share the opportunities of Chinese modernization.

Chancellor Merz’s visit is fruitful and bears significance. It once again demonstrates that both China and Germany are committed to upholding the stable and constructive bilateral relations, further deepening mutually beneficial cooperation and properly resolving differences through candid and open dialogue with mutual respect. Through this visit, China is ready to work with Germany to open a new chapter of bilateral relations and inject stability and positive energy into the changing and turbulent world.

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting: My question is in regards to China’s response. If the U.S. attacks Iran, would China join Russia to support Iran against any U.S. aggression?

Mao Ning: We are closely following the developments regarding Iran. China advocates resolving issues through political and diplomatic channels and opposes the use or threat of force in international relations. The people of China and Iran enjoy traditional friendship. China supports the Iranian government and people in upholding their nation’s stability and legitimate rights and interests. We hope various parties will cherish peace, exercise restraint, and resolve differences through dialogue. China stands ready to continue playing its role as a responsible major country to this end.

Yonhap News Agency: General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) Kim Jong Un said at the Ninth WPK Congress that if Washington “respects our present [nuclear] position... and withdraws its hostile policy... there is no reason why we cannot get along well with the United States.” He also called the ROK’s appeasement effort “a clumsy deceptive farce and a poor work,” and added that the DPRK has nothing to discuss with the ROK. What is China’s comment?

Mao Ning: As a close neighbor of the Korean Peninsula, China pays attention to the developments on the Peninsula. A peaceful and stable Peninsula and a political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue are in the interest of all parties. It’s hoped parties will work together to this end.