Xinhua News Agency: Today, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang concluded his visit to Switzerland and the Netherlands. Could you share more details with us, including the important understandings reached between the two sides?

Mao Ning: From January 19 to 24, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang visited Switzerland and the Netherlands at their invitation. This visit on a tight schedule focuses on implementing the important common understandings between the Chinese and European leaders and produces fruitful results. It is a good start for the high-level exchanges between China and the Europe this year.

During the visit to Switzerland, China and Switzerland spoke positively of the growth of bilateral relations. Both sides agreed to maintain the sound momentum of high-level exchanges, organize events to celebrate the China-Switzerland Year of Culture and Tourism and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, accelerate the negotiations on an upgrade of the China-Switzerland free trade agreement, deepen cooperation in such fields as innovation, finance, and people-to-people and cultural exchange, strengthen communication and coordination on multilateral affairs, jointly support multilateralism and the free trade system, and open new ground for the innovative strategic partnership between the two countries.

During the visit to the Netherlands, China and the Netherlands had an extensive and in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. Both sides applauded the practical cooperation in trade, economic exchange, agriculture and water conservancy, among other fields, and agreed to uphold open cooperation, continue exploring drivers of cooperation in green development, technological innovation and other fields, and jointly keep the global industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded. The two countries expressed their firm support for multilateralism and willingness to strengthen communication on major international issues, jointly tackle global challenges such as climate change, and contribute to world peace, stability, development and progress.

AFP: India said yesterday that its Foreign Secretary will visit Beijing from Sunday to Monday. Can China confirm this visit and give any additional details?

Mao Ning: Last October, President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached important common understandings on improving and growing bilateral relations when they met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan. Recently, both sides have acted to earnestly implement these common understandings. Chinese and Indian foreign ministers and defense ministers met with each other on multilateral occasions. The 23rd meeting between the Special Representatives of China and India on the boundary question was concluded with positive outcomes. Both sides agreed to improve and strengthen interactions, resume institutional dialogues as well as exchanges and cooperation in various fields and work to bring the China-India relations back on the track of sound and steady growth at an early date.

We welcome Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri’s travel to China for the meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism between China and India. We will release relevant information in due course and please stay tuned.

RIA Novosti: US President Donald Trump said he hoped that China will play a major and constructive role in ending the conflict in Ukraine. Does China plan to take any new measures to help resolve the Ukraine crisis?

Mao Ning: Dialogue and negotiation is the only viable way to resolve the Ukraine crisis. We are happy to see that all parties play a constructive role and build conditions for deescalation and the political settlement of the crisis. China will continue to promote peace talks and stands ready to maintain communication with other parties.

NBC: President Trump told the Davos meeting he likes very much President Xi, but wants a fair trade deal. So is China willing to engage the Trump administration to resolve what he described as “ridiculous” 1.1 trillion trade deficit?

Mao Ning: The China-U.S. trade and economic cooperation is mutually beneficial and win-win. China has never deliberately sought a trade surplus with the U.S. Despite differences and frictions, the two countries have huge common interests and space for cooperation, and that’s where both sides can strengthen dialogue and consultation.

Reuters: Please could you confirm whether the case of a Japanese school boy stabbed to death in Shenzhen in September was heard today at Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court?

Mao Ning: What I can tell you is that the case is in judicial process and China’s judicial authorities will handle the case in accordance with the law. For anything specific, I’d refer you to competent Chinese authorities.

DPA: Leader of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and CDU’s candidate for chancellor Friedrich Merz said yesterday, “I say to all representatives of the German economy that the decision to invest in China is a decision involving great risk.” He also said that China does not abide by Germany’s “rule of law standards.” Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this?

Mao Ning: China and Germany are comprehensive strategic partners. Over the past 53 years of diplomatic ties, the two countries have developed bilateral relations under the principles of mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences, exchanges and mutual learning, and mutual benefit. We have written success stories of China-Germany practical cooperation and delivered tangibly for the peoples of the two countries. China hopes that Germany will view China’s development in an objective and rational way, uphold the tradition of friendly ties, recognize the mutually beneficial nature of China-Germany cooperation, and do more things that serve the interests of both countries and peoples. We also welcome German politicians to visit China and gain first-hand experience of China’s dynamism and vibrancy in the new era.

AFP: US President Donald Trump in an interview with Fox News said he would prefer not to have to impose tariffs on China, but that