Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s Regular Press Conference on January 13, 2025
CCTV: Vice Premier He Lifeng and British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves have just concluded the 11th China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue. Could you share with us the outcomes of the dialogue?
Guo Jiakun: On January 11, Vice Premier He Lifeng and British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves co-chaired the 11th China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue and the two sides reached 69 mutually beneficial outcomes.
During the dialogue, both sides expressed their shared will of upholding multilateralism and economic globalization and commitment to supporting the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core and building an open world economy. Both sides agreed that the China-UK cooperation is conducive to the development of both sides and will work together to keep the global industrial and supply chains safe and secure, stable and smooth and oppose decoupling and severing of supply chains. They also agreed to remove obstacles to two-way investment and promote a non-discriminatory and open business environment. The two sides reached multiple common understandings on industrial, agricultural and energy cooperation and agreed to convene a new round of meetings of the China-UK Joint Economic and Trade Commission, the Joint Commission on Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation and the China-UK Industrial Cooperation dialogue as soon as possible. The two sides also agreed to deepen the China-UK Industrial Cooperation Partnership and step up cooperation on combating climate change. Both sides underlined the financial sector as a highlight for cooperation and expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation on economic and financial policy and financial regulatory cooperation and reached a series of deliverables on two-way opening up of financial markets and connectivity.
The outcomes of this dialogue will benefit not just the two countries, but the world as a whole. They reflect the breadth and depth of the economic and financial cooperation between China and the UK, and the prevailing trend of economic globalization and multilateralism in the world. China stands ready to work with the UK to follow the guidance of the important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries, deliver on the outcomes of this dialogue, make more progress on practical cooperation, inject new impetus for bilateral relations and add new bright spots for global economic growth.
Yonhap News Agency: According to ROK media reports, Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduling a visit to the ROK as early as next month. Is Foreign Minister Wang Yi planning to visit the ROK?
Guo Jiakun: China and the ROK are important neighbors and cooperation partners. The sound and steady growth of bilateral relations is in the interest of both sides. On future high-level exchanges between China and the ROK, I have nothing specific to share.
Reuters: What is the Chinese government’s response to Friday’s decision by the US to include a Chinese port operator on its latest sanctions list targeting Russian oil? Is China considering any retaliation to this move?
Guo Jiakun: China opposes the US overstretching the concept of national security, and disrupting and restricting normal economic and trade exchanges. China stands against illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction that lack basis in international law or authorization by the UN Security Council.
Ukrinform News Agency: My question is on Russian-Ukrainian war issue. Ukrainian Defense Forces last week captured two North Korean soldiers, who were fighting on Russian side. This confirms North Korea’s direct participation in the Russian war against Ukraine and is also evidence that Russia is conducting military cooperation with North Korea and violating UN Security Council sanctions against the DPRK. What’s the Foreign Ministry’s comment on North Korea’s participation in Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine?
Guo Jiakun: I’m not familiar with what you mentioned. China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. We hope parties will work for deescalation and strive for political settlement.
Bloomberg: The Philippines said it filed a diplomatic protest against China’s “continued illegal presence and activities” within Manila’s “exclusive economic zone” in the South China Sea. That came after the Philippines said a large Coast Guard vessel, the CCG 5901, returned to the area. Would the Ministry like to comment on that?
Guo Jiakun: China’s sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea were established in the long course of history. They are solidly grounded in history and the law, and are consistent with international law and practices. China Coast Guard’s patrols and law enforcement activities in relevant waters are lawful, justified and beyond reproach. China calls on the Philippines to stop the malicious accusations.
China Daily: Last weekend, Foreign Minister Wang Yi concluded his visit to Africa at the start of the year. This visit received extensive media attention from Africa and globally. Commentators say that China’s interactions with Africa reflect China’s commitment to equality among all countries irrespective of size, and China’s cooperation with Africa is conducive to the continent’s sustainable development and stable and sustained economic growth. Could you further share with us the significance of Foreign Minister Wang’s Africa tour?
Guo Jiakun: Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Africa was a full success. Upon the conclusion of the visit, he took a media interview to give a full overview of the visit. The visit is a continuation of Chinese foreign ministers’ 35-year tradition to begin each year with a trip to Africa. The visit produced new common understandings and outcomes on implementing President Xi Jinping’s six propositions on modernization and ten partnership actions that China and Africa can pursue together, which were first announced at last year’s FOCAC Beijing summit.
The visit is the first Africa trip by China’s top diplomat since the characterization of China-Africa relations was elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. The visit cemented all-weather friendship between China and Africa and demonstrated the two sides’ resolve to jointly respond to the rapid changes in today’s world. Though the world keeps evolving, the long-standing commitment of China and Africa to supporting each other and treating each other as equals remains rock-solid. African leaders who met with Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed commitment to the one-China principle. They expressed sympathies over the earthquake in Xizang. The visit gave a further push to China-Africa cooperation in various fields, and created broad consensus and achieved tangible outcomes on enhancing inter-civilization exchanges, promoting green development, and deepening agricultural cooperation, among others. Both China and Africa are pursuing a modernization dream. Without Africa’s modernization, there will be no global modernization. This visit also contributed to China-Africa all-round coordination and stronger joint effort to redress the historical injustices to Africa, promote solidarity and prosperity of the Global South and build a just and equitable global governance system. China and Africa are on the forefront in building a community with a shared future for mankind and will become a shining example of this endeavor.
Reuters: Penpa Tsering, the leader of the “Tibetan government-in-exile” in India, said on Sunday that the PRC government should take into account traditional Tibetan needs and fundamental rights of the Tibetan people during reconstruction and rebuilding. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment?
Guo Jiakun: The so-called “Tibetan government-in-exile” is a pure separatist political group and recognized by no country in the world. We are fully aware and vigilant about the group’s separatist nature and political agenda.
On the earthquake in Dingri County, Xizang, we shared information from this podium on the disaster response and relief work last week. The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting to discuss and decide on next steps for the relief work. Since the earthquake struck, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, relevant localities and departments have responded swiftly and effectively. Members of the CPC, officials and the people there fought the disaster together as one. Rescuers braved the bitter cold and low oxygen levels on the high-altitude plateau and raced against time to find and rescue those who were trapped to minimize casualties. The disaster response and relief work is generally proceeding smoothly. We are confident in winning this tough battle of quake response and returning work and life to normal in the affected areas as soon as possible.
