Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on April 14, 2021 |
2021-04-14 20:52 |
CCTV: Yesterday, Premier Li Keqiang held a virtual dialogue with US business leaders, where representatives of the US business community said that it is in the shared interests of both sides to avoid conflict and confrontation and bring US-China relations back onto the constructive track. Economic and trade cooperation is a cornerstone of US-China relations, they said, and "decoupling" can bring enormous instability to the two countries and even the whole world. I wonder if you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: This illustrates at least three points. First, mainstream public opinion in both countries is in favor of developing a relationship featuring no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. Second, economic and trade relations between China and the US are in essence mutually beneficial. Cooperation and dialogue with China, not decoupling or confrontation, is the strong aspiration of the US business community. Third, China's development and progress will remain a certain prospect for a long time to come. The US business community remains keen on cooperation with China and confident in China's growth prospects and market opportunities. I would like to stress that China-US economic and trade ties have strong roots and great resilience. Last year saw China-US trade grow against the odds amid multiple challenges. This shows that there are conditions, opportunities and needs on both sides for such cooperation. As a major developing country with a population of 1.4 billion, a 900 million-strong workforce, and 120 million market entities, China boasts a market with enormous potential, and China-US trade cooperation holds great promise. We would like to see US companies in China achieving greater success. We welcome as always businesses from all over the world including the US to take an active part in China's reform, opening-up and modernization, and will continue to facilitate their investment and operation in China. Together we can make a bigger pie of common interests, help keep industrial and supply chains secure and stable, and better realize win-win and all-win. Bloomberg: First, US climate envoy John Kerry will visit China this week, I believe he arrives today, to discuss curbing carbon emissions. Could you provide us with any details, as to who he will meet? The second question is, a US delegation will meet Taiwanese "President" Tsai Ing-wen during its trip to Taiwan. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on the US former officials' meeting with Tsai? Zhao Lijian: On your first question, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment has released information on the matter. At China's invitation, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry visits China from April 14 to 17. During his visit, China's special envoy on climate change Xie Zhenhua will have talks with him in Shanghai. The two will have exchanges on China-US climate cooperation and COP26 of the UNFCCC. On your second question, I need to point out that Tsai Ing-wen is only head of a Chinese region. China firmly opposes all forms of official interactions between the US and the Taiwan region. This position is consistent and clear. The Chinese side has lodged solemn representations with the US over the high-level government decision to send personnel to visit the Taiwan region. We urge the US side to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, stop immediately all official interactions with the Taiwan region, prudently handle Taiwan-related issues, and refrain from sending any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces to avoid further grave damage to China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Follow-up: Did you say there will be talks between John Kerry and Xie Zhenhua? Zhao Lijian: That's right. Beijing Daily: The Japanese government yesterday officially decided to dispose of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant accident by releasing it into the sea. The ROK has summoned the Japanese ambassador in Seoul to protest. Russia expressed serious concern, calling on Japan to show transparency and responsibility. The spokesperson of the European Commission said the Japanese government should ensure absolute safety of any discharge in full compliance with its national and international obligations. But we also noted that a Japanese official claimed the water is okay to drink. And the US even thanked Japan for its "transparent efforts". Do you have any comment on that? Zhao Lijian: According to Japanese media reports, Japan plans to start releasing more than 1 million tonnes of wastewater into the sea in two years and that process is expected to last 30 years. The amount, duration, scope of affected areas and the risk level is unprecedented. Here I would like to raise three questions for the Japanese side to answer. First, has the Japanese side really heard the doubts and concerns at home and abroad? Some lawmakers from Japan's ruling party said the decision is premature at this point because nuclear wastewater should be stored for a long time rather than being dumped into the sea. In a statement of protest, the Japan Fisheries Association said the government's decision will deal a heavy blow to the industry and is "absolutely unacceptable." Protests took place across Tokyo and Fukushima yesterday, with local residents holding posters reading "Oceans are weeping; Fishes are weeping; Earth is weeping". In addition to China, the ROK, Russia and the European Union, 311 environmental groups expressed their firm opposition to Japan. The Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Japan said that the Japanese government turned its back on the clear evidence that the technology and conditions for greater storage capacity is available, they have opted for dumping the water into the Pacific Ocean. The government has taken the wholly unjust decision in total disregard of the environment. Second, is Japan's move in line with international law? Japan's decision will set a precedent for discharging treated wastewater into the ocean after a serious nuclear accident. Japan is a contracting party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and should be aware of the relevant provisions of the Convention. States shall take all measures necessary to ensure that pollution arising from incidents or activities under their jurisdiction or control does not spread beyond the areas where they exercise sovereign rights in accordance with the Convention. However, due to such factors as currents, magnitude, migratory fish, the discharge of Japan's nuclear wastewater into the sea will inevitably cause cross-border impact. In accordance with UNCLOS, the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, and the Convention on Nuclear Safety, Japan is also obliged to unde |