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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s Regular Press Conference on December 22, 2022

2022-12-22 18:01:24

China Daily: China and New Zealand have recently marked the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations with a series of activities, which have received people’s attention. How does China see its relations with New Zealand?

Mao Ning: Today marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand. To celebrate this important occasion, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Governor-General of New Zealand Cindy Kiro. Premier Li Keqiang exchanged congratulatory messages with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

President Xi Jinping stressed that China and New Zealand are important cooperation partners. Over the last 50 years of diplomatic engagement, China-New Zealand relations have maintained sound and steady growth and created many “firsts”. Cooperation in various areas has brought benefits to the two peoples and contributed significantly to peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Premier Li Keqiang noted that China stands ready to work with New Zealand to further strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, expand exchanges, and advance cooperation, with a view to new, bigger progress in China-New Zealand relations.

The leaders of New Zealand noted that New Zealand’s relationship with China is one of its most important bilateral relationships. New Zealand sees China as a key part of the region’s prosperity and stability. The two countries have achieved a great deal together over 50 years. New Zealand values the long history of people-to-people connections and hopes to renew and refresh the connections, deepen the trade and economic relationship and cultural and people exchanges, and further cooperation on global challenges such as climate change to the benefit of the peoples of the two countries and the planet.

China deeply values its relations with New Zealand. We stand ready to work with New Zealand to earnestly follow through on the important common understanding reached between the leaders of the two countries in Bangkok, take the 50th anniversary as a new starting point, and carry forward the spirit of “striving to be the first”, so as to advance the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership and bring more benefits to the peoples of the two countries.

Yonhap News Agency: A Spain-based organization issued a report recently, saying that China has established overseas police stations in many countries, including the ROK. The ROK Foreign Ministry said that activities of foreign institutions in the ROK need to follow the ROK’s laws and international rules. What is China’s response?

Mao Ning: China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, strictly observed international law, and respected the judicial sovereignty of all countries. The so-called “overseas police stations” simply do not exist.

Kyodo News: WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that the WHO is very concerned over the evolving situation in China. He said the WHO is supporting China to focus its efforts on vaccinating people and it needs more detailed information on the epidemic. What is China’s comment?

Mao Ning: Since COVID began, the Chinese side has been sharing information on the epidemic in a timely, open and transparent manner in accordance with the law and informing the WHO about China’s COVID situation. I would like to refer you to the competent authority for more specifics.

Yonhap News Agency: According to Hong Kong media reports, Beijing will adjust its quarantine policy for inbound travelers. Apart from what was shared yesterday, will China adjust its quarantine policy for inbound travelers?

Mao Ning: We will look at how the COVID situation evolves and continue to refine arrangements to facilitate cross-border travel.

Global Times: On December 21, a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel issued a report on the case filed by Hong Kong, China against the United States regarding the origin marking requirement, ruling that the measures imposed by the US on goods produced in Hong Kong are inconsistent with WTO rules. What is your comment?

Mao Ning: China welcomes the just ruling by the WTO panel. Hong Kong’s status as a separate customs territory is approved by the Chinese government, affirmed by the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and established by the multilateral rules of the WTO. It is not something that was granted to Hong Kong by one single WTO member. The US overstretched the concept of national security and politicized trade issues. This not only violates WTO rules but also hurts the US’s own interests. We urge the US to respect the ruling of the WTO panel, take concrete actions to correct its wrong move, uphold the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, and maintain the normal international trade order. China will firmly implement One Country, Two Systems, oppose interference in Hong Kong affairs by external forces, support Hong Kong in safeguarding its status as a separate customs territory, and support the region in cementing and improving its status as an international financial, shipping and trade center.

AFP: The German government says it has received permission to offer the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine to Germans living in China, and the first shipment is already on its way. Are there plans to expand access to the vaccine?

Mao Ning: China and Germany have reached agreement on providing vaccines from Germany for German nationals in China. The two sides will work out and implement relevant arrangements.

As to the specifics you asked about, I will refer you to the competent authorities.

TASS: Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Chairman of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev yesterday. What is your comment?

Mao Ning: At the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Chairman of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev paid a visit to China from December 20 to 21. On December 21, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Dmitry Medvedev. The two sides exchanged views on the relations between the two parties and between the two countries as well as international and regional issues of common concern. The Chinese side has released a readout of the meeting, and you may refer to that.

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