Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian’s Regular Press Conference on August 30, 2024 |
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2024-08-30 19:27 |
China News Service: Recently some African figures, such as former Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission Erastus Mwencha, and Director of the Diplomatic Society Kirtan Bhana, noted that in a world fraught with changes and instabilities, both Africa and China face complex challenges, and it is important that the two sides jointly uphold multilateralism, safeguard world peace and development, and contribute wisdom and strength to improving global governance. However, some in the West commented that by leveraging the concerns of the Global South about the current international system, China aims to challenge the “liberal world order.” What is your comment? Lin Jian: China and African countries both advocate and work for safeguarding international peace and security and promoting global development and prosperity. China and Africa endured colonialist and imperialist suppression and invasion. We supported each other and fought together on the road of anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism, and won independence of our countries and liberation of our nations. Therefore, we deeply cherish independence, self-determination, fairness and justice; we agree on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence; we are committed to building an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization; and we both aim to make the international order more just and equitable. China and Africa practice true multilateralism, uphold the international system with the UN at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter as the basis, and reject colonialist approaches and hegemonic moves. We firmly support each other’s core interests and uphold developing countries’ just position. We work to build an open world economy, tear down walls rather than erect walls, seek openness rather than exclusion, and enable developing countries to better share the benefit of economic globalization. We stand for bridging the gap between rich countries and poor ones, reject all forms of interference by big powers and economic coercion, and ask developed countries to face up to their historical responsibilities and deliver on their development commitments. We are committed to promoting the political settlement of international and regional hotspot issues, advocate dialogue to bridge differences and cooperation to resolve disputes, and call for ceasefire of the Ukraine crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We firmly support efforts of transcending cultural estrangement through exchanges and promoting inclusiveness and mutual learning among civilizations. We advocate that the representation and say of developing countries, especially African countries, need to be increased in the international governance system. China is the first to support the African Union’s full membership in the G20 and welcomes more African countries to join the big family of BRICS. China and Africa are the staunch forces for defending the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, upholding the purposes of the UN Charter, and safeguarding multilateralism and international fairness and justice. At the upcoming FOCAC Summit next week, the two sides will enhance unity and cooperation among developing countries to augment the strength of the Global South, jointly champion international fairness and justice, and advance the peace and development of the world. Phoenix TV: On August 29, a Hong Kong court convicted Stand News and relevant persons of conspiring to publish seditious articles. The US, the UK and the European Union said the conviction was an attack on Hong Kong’s media freedom. What’s the Foreign Ministry’s comments? Lin Jian: China deplores and opposes a handful of countries and institutions exploiting the judicial case in the Hong Kong SAR to vilify Hong Kong and interfere in China’s internal affairs. Let me stress that the rights and freedoms Hong Kong residents enjoy in accordance with law, including freedom of press, are fully protected. This is an undeniable fact. Meanwhile, Hong Kong upholds the rule of law where to abide by the law and bring lawbreakers to justice is a basic principle. Freedom of press is by no means a shield for illegal activities. We firmly support the judicial authorities of the Hong Kong SAR in performing duties in accordance with law and urge relevant countries and institutions to abide by the principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations, respect China’s sovereignty and the rule of law in the Hong Kong SAR, and stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs, which are China’s internal affairs, in any form. Reuters: The second six-month extension to the US-China science and technology agreement expired on Tuesday. Will China like to see this decades-old pact renewed? Are negotiation talks underway or has China no hope of tech cooperation with the US from now on? Lin Jian: The two sides are in communication on the China-US science and technology cooperation agreement. I’d refer you to competent authorities on the specifics. Dragon TV: The New Zealand Business Roundtable in China (NZBRiC) recently published the NZBRiC Business Outlook Report 2024, which says that 76 percent of respondents have a positive view for the Chinese economy in the coming year and 93 percent indicate this for the next three years. The report also shows that 84 percent of respondents say their company has increased or maintained total investments in China over the past three years, 88 percent also intend to increase or maintain China investments in the coming three years, and 61 percent anticipate increasing their China-based headcount in the next three years. What’s your comment? Lin Jian: We noted the report released by the New Zealand institution. The report categorized the survey in the New Zealand business community with three themes: opportunity, confidence and cooperation. It attests to the opportunities brought by China’s development, reflects the confidence in China’s economic outlook and highlights the aspiration for China-New Zealand cooperation. The report serves as another evidence that China’s development is an opportunity not a challenge to New Zealand, and that China-N |