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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s Regular Press Conference on October 24, 2023
2023-10-24 18:14

At the invitation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit the US from October 26 to 28.

CCTV: We have noted that since the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China has engaged actively in diplomatic mediation efforts. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has spoken on the phone with foreign ministers of multiple countries and Zhai Jun, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East issue, has been to Arab countries for shuttle diplomacy, actively promoting ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. China’s mediation efforts and policy proposals have been commended by the international community. How do you comment on this?

Mao Ning: Since the outbreak of the current round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China has maintained close communication with relevant parties, actively participated in the consultations at the UN Security Council, and made every effort to promote peace talks and help deescalate the situation. The international community, especially the many Arab countries, commends China’s just position and the role it has played as a responsible major country. It is widely held that the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind advocated by President Xi Jinping sets the direction for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli issue. It has also been said that the proposal put forward by Foreign Minister Wang Yi on ending the conflict is well-targeted. China has received appreciation for its important role in promoting a political settlement of the Palestinian issue and maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East.

We sincerely hope that the Palestinian question will be resolved in a comprehensive, just and lasting manner on the basis of the two-state solution. On the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, our position is highly consistent with that of the Arab states. We all hope that the fighting will stop as soon as possible in order to prevent the situation from escalating or even spiraling out of control. We oppose acts that are against civilians and violate international law and call for protecting civilians and providing humanitarian aid to prevent an even worse humanitarian disaster. We all support the two-state solution and the realization of Palestinian people’s right to statehood and survival and their right of return, which we believe is the only viable way out of the Palestinian question. We all call for a more authoritative, influential and broad-based international peace conference to be held as soon as possible, an early resumption of peace talks and formulation of a timetable and road map to that end.

China will firmly support all efforts that are conducive to dialogue, ceasefire and peace and will do its best on everything conducive to the implementation of the two-state solution and a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question. China is ready to work together with the international community to make relentless efforts to that end.

Shenzhen TV: We noted that Under-Secretary-General of the UN for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance Catherine Pollard has arrived in Beijing and started her visit to China. Could you share more on that?

Mao Ning: Today is the 78th United Nations Day. We welcome Under-Secretary-General of the UN for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance Catherine Pollard to China. China always supports true multilateralism and the international system with the UN at its core. This year, UN Secretary-General António Guterres attended the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China, and several Under-Secretary-Generals have also paid visits to China. China’s invitation to Under-Secretary-General Catherine Pollard to visit China demonstrates our firm support for the work of the UN. 

China is the biggest developing country and the second largest contributor to the UN’s regular budget and peacekeeping assessments. We always pay our assessed contributions in full, providing strong support to the UN with concrete actions. We also work to ensure that every penny of the UN could be fully leveraged to deliver tangible results. During Under-Secretary-General Catherine Pollard’s visit to China, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and officials of relevant ministries will meet with her to have in-depth exchanges of views on topics in such fields as finance, management and human resources. We believe this visit will further strengthen the practical cooperation between China and the UN, support and promote a sound and steady progress of the work of the UN.

Bloomberg: Just to follow up on the visit by Foreign Minister Wang Yi to the US. Bloomberg is reporting that he will have meetings with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Can you confirm these details and offer any more details about the trip to the US?

Mao Ning: During his visit to the US, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will have in-depth exchanges of views with US high-level officials on bilateral relations and regional and international issues of shared interests, have friendly communication with various quarters in the US and state China’s principled position and legitimate concerns on the bilateral relations. We hope that the US will work with China to follow through on the important common understandings between the two heads of state, enhance communication and dialogue, expand practical cooperation, properly manage differences and jointly bring the bilateral relations back to the track of sound and steady development. On the schedule of Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit, we will release information in due course.

Hubei Media Group: The 16th Senior Officials Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held on October 23 in Beijing. Can you brief us on the outcomes of the meeting?

Mao Ning: Thank you for following China-Africa relations and FOCAC. This Senior Officials Meeting is another gathering of the 55 members of FOCAC. Nearly 300 participants, including senior officials and representatives of African members, senior officials of members of the Chinese FOCAC Follow-up Committee and observers from some international and regional organizations, attended this meeting.

Participants focused on China’s report on the implement