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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s Regular Press Conference on October 14, 2024
2024-10-14 23:06

CCTV: China announced Premier Li Qiang will attend the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. What’s China’s expectation of the SCO meeting?

Mao Ning: Since the founding of Shanghai Cooperation Organization 23 years ago, SCO member states have all along upheld the Shanghai Spirit, ridden on the trend of the times, enhanced good-neighborliness and friendship, deepened cooperation in various fields, and greatly contributed to the security and stability of the Eurasian continent and the development and prosperity of countries in the region. As changes unseen in a century unfold at a faster pace in our world, the international community hopes the organization will shoulder greater responsibility and achieve greater progress in practical cooperation.

When attending the SCO summit in Astana this July, President Xi Jinping put forward the important initiative of building a common home of solidarity and mutual trust, peace and tranquility, prosperity and development, good-neighborliness and friendship, and fairness and justice. President Xi Jinping reached important consensus with leaders of the SCO member states on advocating solidarity and cooperation, upholding international fairness and justice, and improving SCO operation mechanisms, and set the course for SCO’s development under the new circumstances. After the Astana summit, China took the rotating presidency of SCO and will host the summit next year. At this meeting of the Council of Heads of Government, Premier Li Qiang will have an in-depth exchange of view with leaders of the participating countries on implementing the consensus reached at the Astana summit and advancing SCO’s practical cooperation. China believes that this meeting will produce positive outcomes and give a stronger boost to the security, stability and development of regional countries.

Yonhap News Agency: The ROK government nominated former presidential chief of staff Kim Dae-ki as the new ambassador to China. What impact will the rotation have on ROK-China high-level exchanges including leaders’ exchanges? The post of Chinese Ambassador to the ROK has been vacant for over three months. When will Beijing appoint a new ambassador?

Mao Ning: Ambassadors act as bridges for the growth of relations between countries. We stand ready to maintain communication with the ROK on the nomination of new ambassador to promote the sound and steady growth of China-ROK relations. 

On the appointment of Chinese ambassador to the ROK, I have no information to share with you. You may follow the Foreign Ministry’s website for any update.

AFP: China has announced that it is conducting military drills in the waters around Taiwan. Could the Foreign Ministry give us more information on the specific goal and content of the drills? Could you please tell us when the drills will end? How does the Ministry respond to those voices claiming that China is undermining regional peace and stability?

Mao Ning: What you asked about is not related to China’s foreign affairs and I’d refer you to competent authorities. What I can tell you is that “Taiwan independence” is as incompatible with cross-Strait peace as fire with water, and provocations by “Taiwan independence” forces will be responded with countermeasures. China has always been committed to maintaining regional peace and stability, to which countries in this region bear witness. For anyone who cares about peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, they need to stand against “Taiwan independence” first and foremost. 

NHK: The Spokesperson of the US Department of State expressed serious concerns over the military drills. What’s your comment on that?

Mao Ning: Taiwan is part of China, and the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair that brooks no external interference. If the US truly cares about peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and regional prosperity, it needs to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, act on its leaders’ commitment of not supporting “Taiwan independence,” stop arming Taiwan,and stop sending any wrong signal to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.

The Paper: From October 11 to 14, Premier Li Qiang paid an official visit to Laos and Viet Nam. Could you share with us the details and major outcomes of the visit?

Mao Ning: Laos and Viet Nam are China’s soc