Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs website
China News Service Reporter: According to reports, with the mediation of Norway, the Venezuelan government and opposition restarted dialogue on Mexico City on November 26, reaching a consensus on improving Venezuelan social livelihood. The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada issued a joint statement to welcome this, urging the two sides to reach a comprehensive agreement through dialogue, and stressing that if the dialogue makes substantial progress, it is willing to reconsider the sanctions policy against the CPPCC. What is China’s comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: China is happy to see the Venezuelan government and opposition restart dialogue, and looks forward to the two sides moving towards each other and reaching a political solution as soon as possible. We have always firmly uphold the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations, and always believe that the Venezuelan issue should be resolved through dialogue and consultation within the framework of its own constitution and legal system. China appreciates and supports the efforts of relevant countries to persuade peace and promote talks and is willing to continue to play an active and constructive role in the Venezuela issue.
At the same time, China reiterated its opposition to interference in other countries' internal affairs, oppose unilateral sanctions and the so-called " long-arm jurisdiction ", and oppose various political bullying. Facts have proved that sanctions and pressures are unpopular, which can only increase Venezuela's economic and livelihood difficulties. We call on relevant countries to stop interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs as soon as possible, abolish unilateral sanctions, and contribute more positive energy to Venezuela's peace, stability and development.
AFP reporter: On November 28, British Prime Minister Sunak accused China of epidemic prevention policies, including beating and arresting a BBC reporter. What is China’s comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: The British remarks ignore the facts, distort black and white, and roughly interfere in China's internal affairs. China firmly opposes this. Yesterday I had a preliminary introduction to the situation. It is understood from Shanghai that the relevant facts are as follows:
27, in order to maintain social order, the Shanghai police persuaded people to gather at the intersection in accordance with the law, including a BBC reporter stationed in Shanghai. When the police clearly informed the reporter that he was about to persuade the on-site personnel to leave, the reporter refused to leave and had not revealed his identity as a reporter to the police. The police forced him to leave and after conducting necessary identity verification and legal notification, he was asked to leave on his own. The relevant procedures were carried out completely under the framework of laws and regulations. The BBC reporter refused to cooperate during the police's law enforcement process, but acted like a victim. The BBC immediately distorted the facts and hyped up the BBC reporter being "arrestled and beaten" by the police at work, and splashed dirty water on China. This obviously adheres to the BBC's usual style of malicious collisions.
It must be emphasized that foreign journalists enjoy the right to report news in China according to law, and must also abide by China's laws and regulations. They should present a reporter's certificate in advance when interviewing and reporting, and shall not engage in activities that are inconsistent with the identity of journalists. This is no exception to any media and has nothing to do with the so-called freedom of the press. There are many foreign media in China. Why do the BBC always have problems on the spot? This is a question that should be taken seriously.
Taking this opportunity, I also have several questions. I would like to ask the British side to answer:
first, how does the British government treat domestic protesters? In 2020, a march against anti-epidemic lockdown measures broke out in London, and British police arrested more than 150 people. In 2021, British police arrested more than 200 people in a large-scale march against government policy to cut public spending. From the public video materials, we can see that several British police surrounded the protesters with bare hands, punched and kicked him, letting him cry and begged, and even being unmoved.
Second, how does the British government treat journalists? Everyone should not forget that a few years ago, a Chinese journalist was convicted by a British court just because he exercised his legitimate rights to ask questions and express his opinions at the border meeting of the Conservative Party Annual Meeting of the UK, but was obstructed and even violated in every way. British journalist Graham Phillips became the first British citizen to be sanctioned by his own government just because he created reports that were "not suitable for the West".
Third, how does the BBC report on China? From "underworld filter" to distorted reports involving Xinjiang and Hong Kong, many people are impressed by the "black history" of the BBC's malicious smear and attack on China.Since 2019, the BBC has ignored the atrocities of the rioters in reports on Hong Kong, but accused "Hong Kong police of violent law enforcement." In reports on Xinjiang, BBC reporters in Beijing only used a few non-real-view satellite images and so-called reports from anti-China people, and fabricated "Lie of the Century" to attack and smear Xinjiang. In reports on epidemic-related epidemics, videos of road anti-terrorism exercises have even been used as "evidence" for China's violent epidemic prevention. Why do BBC always appear in various scenes? Should BBC reporters report on news or create news?
The British side should respect the facts, be cautious in words and actions, put away the hypocritical double standards, and stop playing with the double standards.
Indian Broadcasting Corporation reporter: The Chinese Embassy in the Maldives said that Malaysia denied that it had participated in the China- Indian Ocean Regional Development Cooperation Forum held on November 21 "repentant". Australia also denied participating. What is China’s response to this?
Zhao Lijian: I already said at the press conference yesterday that you should go to the competent department for this issue. Afterwards, my colleagues also provided you with relevant contact information. If you have specific questions, you can report them to the competent authorities.
Hubei Radio and Television reporter: According to reports, Vajira, a former economist at , said in an interview that China's sustained economic development will bring more vitality to , the world economy, . China stands on the right side of the history of economic globalization , and believes that China's high-quality development has broad prospects and will bring more confidence and opportunities to the global economic recovery. What is the spokesperson’s comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: In the past decade, China's average economic growth rate has been 6.6%, and its average contribution rate to world economic growth has exceeded 30%. Last year, China's GDP accounted for 18.5% of the world's total economy, with a total foreign trade of US$6.9 trillion, ranking firmly in the world's second largest economy and largest trading country. Faced with the complex and severe domestic and international situation, China's economy has not changed in a steady and long-term manner, and has always been a positive energy for global prosperity and development.
In his speech at the 29th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' informal meeting , President Xi Jinping pointed out that history has repeatedly proved that openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation are the right way to the world. China has always been an advocate and promoter of an open world economy. We promote high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road", put forward global development initiatives and promote the implementation of the initiatives, tighten the economic ties of various countries, share China's development opportunities, and continuously help implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Openness is the only way to development and progress. China will insist on implementing opening up to the outside world in a larger scope, wider field and deeper level, adhere to the path of Chinese-style modernization, build a higher-level open economic system, and provide continuous impetus for the recovery of the world economy.
CCTV reporter: According to reports, on the 26th, the chairman of the Equatorial Guinea Election Commission announced that the ruling Democratic Party candidate of the ruling party of Equatorial Guinea and the current president Obiang won the presidential election with a vote of 94.9%. What is China’s comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: China congratulates Equatorial Guinea for successfully holding the general election and President Obiang won the election. We believe that under President Obiang, the country construction of Equatorial Guinea will achieve greater achievements.
Equatorial Guinea is China's good brother and good partner. The two countries have strong political mutual trust and maintain a high level of development in bilateral relations. China attaches great importance to the development of relations with Equatorial Guinea and is willing to continue to work together with the Chiang Kai-shek side, continuously deepen cooperation in various fields, and promote the comprehensive cooperative partnership between the two countries to a new level.
" Beijing Daily " reporter: According to reports, the Bangladesh Kanapuri River Tunnel project, which was undertaken and implemented by Chinese companies, held a completion ceremony for the South Line Tunnel. The tunnel is the first underwater tunnel in Bangladesh and the first underwater tunnel in South Asia. What is China’s comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: China congratulates on the completion of the South Line Tunnel of the Canapri River Underwater Tunnel. The Canapri River Tunnel Project is an important part of the Bangladesh-China India-Myanmar Economic Corridor.The completion of the southern tunnel of the project is another important achievement of China's joint construction of the "Belt and Road" with neighboring countries. It is of great significance to improve local transportation, improve the Asian highway network, and promote the connectivity between Bangladesh and neighboring countries. After the tunnel is completed, the drive from Chittagong Airport to the Industrial Park will be shortened from 4 hours to 20 minutes.
infrastructure is the cornerstone of connectivity and a priority area for the construction of the "Belt and Road". We are pleased to see that with the joint efforts of all parties, the "Belt and Road" infrastructure projects have been implemented in an orderly manner, and good news has been frequently reported. I believe everyone has also noticed a news last weekend that since the Croatian Peresakac Bridge built by a Chinese company was opened to traffic in July this year, more than 1 million cars have passed by safely and in good condition. The bridge has become a bridge of cooperation, development and friendship between China and Czech Republic. Looking to the future, China is willing to work with all parties to promote better docking with the development strategies and regional cooperation initiatives of various countries, jointly promote infrastructure construction, and strive to achieve larger and more convenient interconnection, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and benefit people of all countries.
Indian Broadcasting Corporation reporter: Regarding the Kanapuri River Tunnel project in Bangladesh that you mentioned, is this project part of the Bangladesh China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor? Is this project within the China-Bangladesh bilateral agreement?
Zhao Lijian: This is a bilateral project between China and Bangladesh, and it is also under the framework of the Bangladesh China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor.
