Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s Regular Press Conference on February 21, 2025

Xinhua News Agency: Since last July, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has entered “Beijing Time.” What has China done after taking over the rotating SCO presidency and is there anything in the pipeline?

Guo Jiakun: After taking the SCO presidency, China follows the guidance of President Xi Jinping’s proposal to build a common home of the SCO featuring solidarity and mutual trust, peace and tranquility, prosperity and development, good-neighborliness and friendship, and fairness and justice, acts on the slogan of “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move,” and promotes deeper SCO cooperation in politics, security, trade, cultural and people-to-people exchange, and mechanism building, among other fields.

China hosted the meeting of the Council of the Regional Anti-terrorist Structure of the SCO, the meeting of the border defense leaders of the SCO, and the joint anti-terrorism drill to further promote security cooperation and mutual trust among member states. We hosted the SCO Countries Worker Skills Contest, the e-commerce live streaming event, and the SCO Countries Publishing Industry Conference to deepen and solidify practical cooperation. We hosted the SCO Think Tank forum, the Youth Campus, the SCO Kunming Marathon, and the SCO Women’s Forum to strengthen understanding and friendship among our people all over the world. With a focus on the SCO Year of Sustainable Development, China hosted training programs in such fields as green development, poverty reduction, environmental information sharing, and green low-carbon technology. We stay focused on fostering new forces for growth and deliver tangibly for countries in the region and their people. Going forward, besides ministerial meetings in various fields, China will host a variety of events, including the SCO political parties forum, roundtable dialogue on global governance, the Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, the SCO Film Festival, Television Festival, and Art Festival.

The SCO Summit will be the culmination of the events this year. Leaders of SCO member states will gather in China again to discuss future development and cooperation. China is working intensively to fulfill its duty as the SCO chair to host a summit featuring friendship, solidarity and fruitful results. We will work with all parties to lead the SCO into a new stage of high-quality development featuring greater solidarity, coordination, dynamism and productiveness.

Reuters: China did not reiterate at yesterday’s G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting the point that all stakeholders should be involved in peace talks on the war in Ukraine. Does this indicate a change in China’s position and which countries does China hope to see participate in the talks? 

Guo Jiakun: China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear.

CCTV: It’s reported U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said yesterday that he will hold a call with the Chinese side today. Can you confirm that?

Guo Jiakun: It is learned that Chinese lead person for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs and Vice Premier He Lifeng will have a video call with U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent this evening at the U.S. request to talk about important issues between China and the U.S. in the economic field.

Beijing Daily: According to reports, the first group of 200 Chinese citizens suspected of involvement in fraud returned to China from Myanmar via Thailand under the escort of Chinese police yesterday. What’s your comment on the law enforcement operation jointly conducted by China, Myanmar and Thailand? What steps will be taken going forward?

Guo Jiakun: Recently, in response to a flurry of vicious cases of online gambling and scam along the border between Thailand and Myanmar, China, Thailand and Myanmar have jointly launched an operation to combat these crimes. Several scam sites have been eradicated and a large group of suspects arrested. According to what I learned, apart from this first group of 200 Chinese suspects, many more are expected to be repatriated to China in batches going forward. We appreciate the strong steps taken by Thailand and Myanmar to dismantle the scam gangs and protect the life and property of citizens from China and other countries.

Online gambling and scam does no one good and will eventually be punished by law. From the rescue of Chinese citizens from scam centers to the swift and sharp joint operation with Thailand and Myanmar, China has always been firmly resolved in working together with other countries to combat cross-border online gambling and scam and protecting the life  and lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens. The Foreign Ministry and our diplomatic missions overseas will continue to provide stronger consular protection and assistance and do everything we can to keep Chinese citizens safe and protect their well-beings.

Reuters: The British government has lined up a mandarin-speaking diplomat whose father was the governor of Hong Kong and sinologist as its next Ambassador to China, Reuters has learned. Would the Foreign Ministry like to comment on this and what hope does China have for its relationship with the UK going forward?

Guo Jiakun: At present, the relationship between China and the U.K. is showing a momentum of improvement and growth, and our exchanges and cooperation in various fields have been advanced steadily. Embassies  have played an important and positive role in this process. Regarding the media reports you mentioned, I have no information to offer for the time being.

AFP: Philippine police yesterday arrested more than 450 people, including 137 Chinese nationals in a raid on an allegedly Chinese-run offshore gaming operator in Manila. Initial interrogation suggests that it had been operating as a scam center targeting victims in China and India with sports betting and investment schemes. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this？

Guo Jiakun: The Chinese government is committed to cracking down on gambling and relevant crimes and always asks overseas Chinese nationals strictly abide by local laws and regulations and refrain from engaging in any illegal and criminal activities. We urge the Philippines to completely eradicate the scourge inflicted by offshore gambling as soon as possible. China stands ready to work with the Philippines to jointly combat crimes and we also call on the Philippines to conduct law enforcement in a just manner and ensure the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals in the Philippines.

AFP: Australia’s Foreign Minister today voiced concern over live-fire drills conducted by three Chinese warships sailing off the country’s east coast. Australia’s Defense Department had been monitoring the Chinese navy vessels since they were spotted in international waters last week. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this？ 

Guo Jiakun: A Chinese fleet organized by the PLA Southern Theater Command is conducting far seas exercise. The drill was carried out in a safe, standard and professional manner and in accordance with relevant international law and international practice.