China Foreign Office Spokesperson Wang Wenbin held a press conference on July 11, 2022.

Excerpts

AFP: According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, the?Chinese?leader will attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November. Can you confirm this?

Wang Wenbin: China values the role of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) as an important multilateral economic cooperation mechanism and supports the efforts of Thailand, the APEC chair, to host a successful meeting. We stand ready to work with all sides for positive outcomes from the meeting.

CCTV: At the recent G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bali, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for upholding true multilateralism and put forward a cooperation initiative on global food security. Can you offer more details to us?

Wang Wenbin: On July 8, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bali. The meeting consisted of two sessions: the first session on “strengthening multilateralism” and the second on “addressing food and energy security”.?

During the first session, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang noted that as world peace and development is confronted with major challenges, it is imperative that we revisit?the original purpose of solidarity and cooperation and work as cooperation partners for true multilateralism. ….We hope to work with all sides to facilitate talks, and we always stand firmly on the side of peace. We hope to work with all parties on macroeconomic policy coordination to promote inclusive recovery and growth of the world economy.

During the second session, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang made clear China’s position on food and energy security, expounded on China’s contributions to safeguarding global food security, and put forward China’s cooperation initiative on global food security.   

 We also stand ready to work with all parties to stay committed to the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, follow through upon the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping to overcome differences with solidarity, replace confrontation with cooperation, translate the spirit of multilateralism into concrete actions for safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, and jointly build a world of peace, development and win-win cooperation.?

NHK: Japan’s ruling coalition scored a victory in elections at the House of Councillors. With no parliamentary elections in the next three years to come, this will secure a favorable environment for the Kishida administration to govern. What’s your expectation for the Japanese side? As forces supporting revising the Constitution hold more than two thirds of the seats, which is needed to propose an amendment in the Diet, the issue of constitutional amendment is expected to become a major item on the domestic political agenda in Japan. What’s China’s comment?

Wang Wenbin: China stands ready to work with the Japanese side to continue to develop a bilateral relationship of good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation in accordance with the principles of the four China-Japan political documents.

Due to historical reasons, the issue of constitutional amendment by Japan receives close attention from the international community and Japan’s Asian neighbors. We hope Japan will earnestly learn the lessons of history, stay committed to the path of peaceful development, and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community with concrete actions.?

AFP: China heard many Western countries’ statements on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. I wonder whether China’s position will change on the war in Ukraine??

Wang Wenbin:  As State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed out, China will continue to promote peace talks on the Ukraine issue and always stand on the side of peace. We look forward to peace through dialogue and consultation, a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities as soon as possible, and the prevention of a protracted and escalating conflict. We believe that serious and comprehensive dialogue should be encouraged to jointly build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture.

AFP: My question is about State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Chinese side put forth four lists to the US side, including the list of US wrongdoings that must stop. Can you share with us some details about the lists? Also, did China express its readiness to change its behavior to improve China-US relations?

Wang Wenbin: As you said, State?Councilor?and?Foreign?Minister?Wang?Yi?put forth four lists to the US side during the meeting with the US Secretary of State. They include the updated list of US wrongdoings that must stop and the updated list of key individual cases that the US must resolve, which were first presented to the US side at last year’s meeting in Tianjin. The other two lists are the list of Acts in the 117th Congress of high concern to China and the list of cooperation proposals in eight areas including climate change, public health and people-to-people exchange. The lists once again demonstrate China’s serious position that the US must stop exercising containment and suppression, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, and stop undermining China’s sovereignty, security and development interests. The lists also reflect China’s constructive attitude about conducting practical cooperation with the US on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits. We hope the US side can take China’s lists seriously, and take real actions to fulfill the commitments made by President Biden and the US government.

NHK: The funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will take place tomorrow. Does the Chinese government plan to send someone to attend the funeral? Another question, US Secretary of State Blinken said in Bangkok the US expects that the Chinese and US leaders will have an opportunity to speak in the weeks ahead. Do you have more information on that?

Wang Wenbin: On your first question, the Chinese side has not yet been officially informed by the Japanese government of official funerary arrangements in Japan. We will study the matter once we receive official information from the Japanese side.

On your second question, I have no information to offer at this moment. It needs to be stressed that it’s important to maintain head-of-state exchanges between China and the US. Any specifics would need to be discussed and determined by both sides through diplomatic channels, and enabling conditions and atmosphere would also need to be created for such interactions.

Bloomberg: Just a question on the Sri Lankan situation. The leader Rajapaksa is on the verge of being ousted after months of protests. I’d like to seek the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s comment on the situation in Sri Lanka.

Wang Wenbin: China is closely following the latest developments in Sri Lanka. As a friendly neighbor and cooperation partner, we sincerely hope that all sectors in Sri Lanka could bear in mind the fundamental interests of their country and people and work together in solidarity to overcome the current difficulties and strive to restore stability, revitalize the economy and improve people’s livelihoods at an early date.

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