Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on July 7, 2020 |
2020-07-07 21:53 |
CRI: The ninth ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) was successfully held via videolink yesterday. As the world tackles severe challenges brought by COVID-19 and in terms of economic recovery, China and Arab states also face significant external pressure. What is China's consideration behind holding this meeting in this context? What outcomes have been achieved in China-Arab practical cooperation specifically through this meeting? Zhao Lijian: The ninth ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum was successfully held via videolink last night. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the meeting. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi co-chaired the meeting and delivered keynote and concluding remarks. The meeting was addressed by the Arab League Secretary-General and foreign ministers of all the 21 Arab League member states. It was no easy feat to hold this meeting. As COVID-19 wreaks havoc around the world, the future of all mankind and the destinies of all countries are unprecedentedly intertwined. The advent of this pandemic affected China and all Arab states and forced the cancellation or postponement of many institutional meetings between Arab states. Despite all these, both sides made joint efforts to overcome difficulties and hold this meeting as scheduled. This meeting bears far-reaching significance as it reflects the determination of China and Arab states to fight COVID-19 and advance China-Arab strategic partnership together. After discussions, three outcome documents were reached, namely the joint statement of China and Arab states on solidarity against COVID-19, the Amman declaration of the ninth ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, and the execution plan for 2020-2022 of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum. Through the joint statement of China and Arab states on solidarity against COVID-19, China and Arab states have gathered collective strength to fight the epidemics and tide over the difficulties together. Both sides stressed that solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon for the international community to defeat the epidemics, and called for the building of a community with a shared future and a community of health between China and Arab states in the joint fight against COVID-19. Both sides underlined the importance of multilateralism, the need to further strengthen and improve the UN-centered global governance system, support the key leading role of WHO, and call on international community to strengthen coordination and form synergy, and stand against discrimination against any specific country, region, ethnic group or individual. China is ready to continue providing assistance to Arab states in fighting the epidemics. The adoption of the Amman declaration demonstrates the political will of China and Arab states to support each other and share weal and woe. At the previous ministerial meeting, President Xi Jinping put forward the initiative of "jointly building a China-Arab community with a shared future for a new era", which became a bilateral consensus. The two sides agreed to hold a China-Arab summit at an appropriate time and to include the topic of building a China-Arab community with a shared future into the agenda of the summit. The Arab states emphasized that they support China's position on Hong Kong-related matters, support China's efforts to safeguard national security under the framework of "one country, two systems" and oppose foreign interference in China's internal affairs. They support China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, adhere to the one-China principle and oppose "Taiwan independence" in all forms. They support China's preventive counter-terrorism measures and de-radicalization efforts. They oppose anti-China separatist activities carried out by religious extremist, separatist and terrorist forces. Through the execution plan for 2020-2022, China and Arab states have mapped out practical cooperation and common development in the future. The two sides have reached 107 cooperation measures in 20 areas, including politics, economy, energy, production capacity, science, technology and health. Xinhua News Agency: Reports say China's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Zhang Jun recently deposited China's Instrument of Accession to the ATT to the UN Secretary General António Guterres. Could you comment on that? Zhao Lijian: On July 6, Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, deposited China's Instrument of Accession to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Depositing the Instrument of Accession marks the conclusion of all legal procedures for China's accession to the Treaty. The Treaty will enter into force for China 90 days after the deposit of the Instrument of Accession on July 6. Accession to the ATT is an important step in China's active participation in global arms trade governance to safeguard international and regional peace and stability. It demonstrates China's resolve and sincerity in supporting multilateralism, maintaining international arms control regime, and forging a community with a shared future for mankind. As a country in regular arms trade, China always strictly regulates export of military articles and has put in place a full-fledged policy and legal system of export control, with policies and management measures meeting or in some areas even exceeding ATT requirements. It is worth pointing out that China only allows export to sovereign states, not non-state actors. This fully demonstrates our high sense of responsibility. China calls on all parties to strictly regulate export of military items, disallow export to non-state actors, stop interfering in sovereign nations' internal affairs through arms export, and earnestly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. As a State Party to the ATT, China is ready to strengthen communication and cooperation with all countries to enhance the treaty's efficacy and universality and improve global arms trade governance. Associated Press of Pakistan: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said in an interview that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would take Pakistan on the path of rapid progress and development as its economic future was related to the CPEC. What's your comment? Zhao Lijian: China appreciates Prime Minister Imran Khan's remarks. As an important pilot program under the Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor follows the principle of consultation and cooperation for shared benefits and aims to promote the common development of China and Pakistan. Major progress has been made in the building of CPEC over the past six years or so, which significantly contributed to Pakistan's socioeconomic development, its people's well-being and regional connectivity. China firmly supports the development of CPEC and stands ready to work with Pakistan to fully implement the consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries, focus on cooperation on social development, livelihood, industry and agriculture while continuing advancing infrastructure construction in a bid to build CPEC into a demonstration program for the high-quality development of the BRI and bring more benefits to the two peoples. Reuters: First, WHO said that they are sending a team to China this week to investigate the origin of the coronavirus. Can you offer details on this team's visit, like when are they expected to arrive and what's their tentative itinerary? Second, immigration authorities in the US announced a change to the student visa policy for the upcoming university semester, saying students enrolled in fully-online schools will not be able to stay in the US. What is your comment on that? Zhao Lijian: On your first question, China believes that tracing th |