Beijing Daily: Chile Week China is the largest-scale and highest-level promotion event that Chile has held in China for several consecutive years. As we speak, the ninth Chile Week China is unfolding in multiple cities, including Beijing, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Guangzhou, and the various unique activities have created many “Chile lovers” in China. What is your comment on this?
Lin Jian: China and Chile are good friends and good partners. The two countries have highly complementary economies, extensive common interests, and broad cooperation areas. Chile Week has been held in China for several consecutive years with steadily growing influence, bearing witness to the vigorous growth of China-Chile ties in recent years. China welcomes Chile to continue to hold Chile Week events in China. We are pleased to see increasingly closer mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries which delivers tangibly to our peoples.
RIA Novosti: In a threat to BRICS countries, Donald Trump who won the US elections said that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency to replace the Dollar or, they will face 100 percent Tariffs. What’s China’s comment?
Lin Jian: As an important platform of cooperation for emerging markets and developing countries, BRICS advocates openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, not bloc confrontation, and does not target any third party. The aim is to realize common development and prosperity. China stands ready to continue working with BRICS partners to deepen practical cooperation in various fields and make more contribution to the sustained and steady growth of the world economy.
Reuters: Does China plan to hold more war games around Taiwan once Lai Ching-te returns at the end of the week?
Lin Jian: The Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests. Nothing will deter China from upholding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. China will be closely watching the situation.
Beijing Youth Daily: Most recently, Iran held high-level talks with the UK, France, Germany, and the EU in Geneva mainly to exchange views on the Iranian nuclear issue. The two sides agreed to continue diplomatic dialogue in the near future. What’s China’s comment？
Lin Jian: We noted relevant reports. Dialogue and consultation is the right way forward for resolving the Iranian nuclear issue. Under the current circumstances, parties need to strive to maintain an enabling atmosphere for dialogue and consultation, and take constructive action for the resumption of negotiation on the Iranian nuclear issue. China stands by our objective and just position, and will actively promote talks and work with the other parties to advance the political resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue.
AFP: The US House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic released a report on COVID-19. They said that they believe that the virus probably leaked from the Chinese lab. Is China aware of this report? And do you have any comment on this?
Lin Jian: The so-called report by the US, without any substantial evidence, came up with a suggestive, misguided conclusion to frame and throw mud at China. This is a repetition of the old playbook of using the issue of origins tracing for political manipulation. There is nothing credible about that so-called conclusion.
Origins-tracing is a serious science issue. In the spirit of science, openness, and transparency, China has actively supported and participated in global science-based origins-tracing, and firmly opposed any form of political manipulation. It is “extremely unlikely” that the pandemic was caused by a lab leak—this is the authoritative conclusion reached by the experts of the WHO-China joint mission following their field trips to the lab in Wuhan and in-depth communication with researchers and it is a conclusion based on science. The conclusion is accurately reflected in the mission’s report and has been widely acknowledged by the international community, including the science community.
The US needs to stop politicizing and weaponizing origins-tracing at once, and stop scapegoating others. The US should stop keeping mum about the questions concerning its role in the pandemic, and respond as quickly as possible to the international community’s legitimate concerns, voluntarily share its data with the WHO about suspected early cases in the US, disclose what’s going on at Fort Detrick and US biological labs all over the world, and give a responsible explanation to the world.
The Paper: We’ve learned that seawater samples independently collected by Chinese expert in waters near Japan’s Fukushima have arrived in China. Can you confirm that?
Lin Jian: Based on the agreement between China and Japan, Japan agreed on long-term international monitoring arrangement within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over the ocean discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water, and agreed to ensure that China and all other stakeholders can carry out independent sampling and monitoring. In mid-October, organized by the IAEA, experts from China and other countries traveled to waters near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, independently took seawater samples and sealed the samples then and there. Recently the samples have arrived in China. Specialized research institutions in China are conducting rigorous and independent tests and analysis, and relevant progress will be made public in a timely manner.
Bloomberg: Australia’s Prime Minister Albanese has said that China has lifted restrictions on exports from Australian meat works, which would potentially pave the way for more exports of beef to China. Can the Foreign Ministry confirm this and also maybe elaborate on, you know, what type of signals might be sent in terms of the China-Australia relations?
Lin Jian: For specific economic and trade issues, I’d refer you to competent Chinese authorities. What I can tell you is that China stands ready to work with Australia to continue properly resolving each other’s concerns through dialogue and consultation in an effort to foster more mature and stable bilateral relations for the benefit of the two peoples.
CNR: It was reported that on November 29, leader of Kosovo Albin Kurti said that a canal that sends water to two power plants in northern Kosovo was hit by Serbian criminal groups, which may have temporarily cut part of the power and drinking water supply. The attack was aimed at damaging Kosovo’s critical infrastructure. Kosovo’s police has arrested eight suspects. Most of them belong to the ethnic-Serbian group Civilna Zastita (Civil Protection), which is designated by Kosovo as a terrorist group. Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric strongly condemned the attack, and added that Kosovo’s accusations against Serbia are “baseless” and “a deliberate diversion” which serve “only to escalate tensions.” What is China’s comment on this?
Lin Jian: China noted the reports and condemns acts that damage important infrastructure. On the Kosovo issue, China, as always, respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, and calls on relevant parties to continue engaging in practical and constructive dialogue and actively seek a lasting solution to the issue. In this process, the security and lawful rights and interests of all ethnic groups in Kosovo should be protected.
AFP: A question on chips. We saw yesterday that China made a statement on the new US export controls on chip manufacturing equipment, saying that China would take measures to safeguard its rights and interests. I’m just wondering if you could provide any details on what measures China will take in response?
Lin Jian: China has lodged serious protests with the US for once again updating the export controls on semiconductors and sanctioning Chinese companies, and maliciously suppressing China’s technology progress.
Let me reiterate that China firmly opposes the US’s overstretching the concept of national security, abusing export controls, and wantonly imposing illegal unilateral sanctions and “long-arm jurisdiction” over Chinese companies. Such practices gravely disrupt the international economic and trade order, destabilize global industrial and supply chains and harm the interests of all countries. China calls on the US to respect the laws of market economy and the principle of fair competition. We will do what is necessary to firmly safeguard our security and development interests.
Shenzhen TV: On December 3, Beijing time, the 79th UN General Assembly held a plenary meeting and adopted the resolution submitted by China entitled “promoting international cooperation on peaceful uses in the context of international security.” Could you offer more information on the resolution?
Lin Jian: China welcomes the adoption at the UNGA of the resolution entitled “promoting international cooperation on peaceful uses in the context of international security” again. The resolution asks for strengthening the role of the UN, promoting dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equal participation of all countries and setting guiding principles to safeguard developing countries’ legitimate right of peaceful use of science and technology. The resolution specifically urges certain countries to stop abusing export control and imposing unlawful unilateral coercive measures.
China is happy to see that the concept of peaceful use of science and technology is winning greater support and the voice calling for exchanges and cooperation while opposing “small yards with high fences” is growing stronger in the world. China stands ready to work with all sides to push for the full and effective implementation of this resolution, and enable technology progress to contribute to humanity’s peace and development. Meanwhile, we would like to urge certain countries once again to listen to the concerns of the international community and correct their wrongdoings.
