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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on August 19, 2020
2020-08-19 19:18

I. At the invitation of the Singaporean government, Yang Jiechi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, will pay a visit to Singapore from August 19 to 20.

At the invitation of Suh Hoon, Director of the Office of National Security of the Republic of Korea, Yang Jiechi will travel to Busan for consultations from August 21 to 22.

II. At the invitation of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Foreign Minister Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi of the Republic of Indonesia will pay an official visit to China from August 19 to 21.

III. The Chinese government has decided to send a medical expert team to South Sudan and Guinea to help them fight COVID-19. The team of medical experts, organized by the National Health Commission and selected by the Anhui Provincial Health Commission, has set off on the early morning today.

CCTV: According to reports, on the afternoon of August 18, the first "Bay Area" train under the China-Europe freight train service left Shenzhen for Duisburg, Germany. Could you share more updates about the freight train service amid the COVID-19 pandemic?

Zhao Lijian: I have also taken note of the good news.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, global shipping by air and sea has been disrupted to varying degrees as operations are either suspended or running at reduced capacity. The weakened logistics has led to contraction of trade. Against such a backdrop, the China-Europe freight train service, as a land transportation artery like a modern railway version of camel caravans, has demonstrated its safety and efficiency, expanded services and added new routes, playing an important role in keeping logistics unimpeded and supply of materials stable in China, Europe and countries along the routes.

I'd like to share some figures with you. During the first six months this year, freight trips between China and Europe rose 36 percent year-on-year to 5,122, with the figure hitting a record high of 1,169 in June, and cargo shipment increased 41 percent to 461,000 TEUs. The positive momentum despite the trying times has given a strong boost to anti-epidemic cooperation between China, Europe and countries along the routes and effectively mitigated the pandemic's impact on China-Europe cooperation on industrial and supply chains.

As a project under China-Europe BRI cooperation, the freight train service's steady and orderly operation amid the ongoing pandemic sends out a message of China and relevant countries pursuing win-win cooperation and shows the BRI's defining feature of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. It has been a good exemplar for countries seeking to resume work and production and revive the economy. It will not only benefit countries along the routes, but also the global economic recovery and growth.

Yonhap News: You announced Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Yang Jiechi's visit to Busan. What will the two sides discuss during his visit?

Zhao Lijian: We will release information on this visit in due course. Please stay tuned.

Xinhua News Agency: Could you tell us the agenda of Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi's visit and China's expectations for this visit? What is China's view on the current China-Indonesia relationship?

Zhao Lijian: Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is the first foreign minister China receives as virus control is being conducted on an ongoing basis, which shows that China and Indonesia both attach high importance to the bilateral relations. During the visit, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with her to have in-depth discussions on bilateral relations, anti-epidemic cooperation and BRI cooperation. They will also exchange views on China-ASEAN relations and other international and regional issues of mutual interest.

As important neighbor to each other and major developing countries, China and Indonesia share broad common interests, which naturally makes the two cooperation partners. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Indonesia relationship has achieved rapid development. In particular, we achieved tangible outcomes in BRI cooperation and steady progress in such flagship projects as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor. Since COVID-19 broke out, high-level officials of the two countries have had multiple telephone calls. Our governments, militaries, localities and civil societies have lent mutual assistance to each other, demonstrating brotherly friendship.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Indonesia, presenting new development opportunities for bilateral relations. China stands ready to work with Indonesia to implement the consensus between the two heads of state, take epidemic response and development as the two main lines, deepen mutual trust and cooperation, jointly uphold multilateralism and international justice, advance greater progress in China-Indonesia relations and bring more benefits to people in China, Indonesia and the region.

Bloomberg: US President Trump said that he called off last weekend's trade talks with China and that China's handling of the virus is unthinkable. What is the Foreign Ministry's comment?

Zhao Lijian: With regard to the epidemic response issue, we have detailed our effective measures with a clear timeline on multiple occasions and the facts cannot be made clearer. Since COVID-19 broke out, China has been acting in an open, transparent and responsible manner, earnestly fulfilling our duties and obligations under the International Health Regulations (2005), making all-out efforts to contain the spread of the virus through the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough measures, and actively participating in international cooperation on epidemic control. The Chinese government always puts people and their lives front and center, and China's COVID-19 response can stand the test of time and history. China's enormous sacrifice and contribution to the global fight against COVID-19 is there for all to see.

Regarding the China-US trade talks, I would like to refer you to the competent authority.