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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on April 28, 2022

2022-04-28 20:48

The Foreign Ministers’ Meeting among China and Caribbean Countries Having Diplomatic Relations with China will be held on April 29 via videoconference. The meeting will be co-chaired by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, and attended by all nine Caribbean countries having diplomatic relations with China. The participants will have in-depth exchange of views on China-Caribbean countries relations and issues of mutual interest. 

AFP: According to a White House statement, President Biden will visit the Republic of Korea and Japan in May to advance the US’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. President Biden will also meet with the leaders of the Quad grouping. Does China have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: It is China’s consistent view that cooperation between countries and regional initiatives should be in keeping with the overriding trend and people’s aspiration and be conducive to promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity, rather than be aimed at forming exclusive cliques detrimental to mutual trust and cooperation among regional countries. The Quad grouping you mentioned is steeped in the obsolete Cold War and zero sum mentality and reeks of military confrontation. It runs counter to the trend of the times and is doomed to be rejected.

Xinhua News Agency: It is reported that on April 27, the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs and the US-Asia Institute co-hosted online the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the First China Trips by the US Congress. Many US congressional members and staff and heads of such US institutions as the Mansfield Center attended the event virtually. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: In 1972, cross-party leaders of the US Senate and House of Representatives led delegations to China in April and June respectively, which marked the beginning of the history of the US Congress’ exchanges with China and played a positive role in promoting the normalization of China-US relations. In the past 50 years, there are always members in the US Congress who are committed to advancing China-US friendship and cooperation. China appreciates this. 

In the meantime, we are also seeing that in recent years, some US lawmakers, out of ideological bias and selfish political interests, oppose China at every turn, try all means to clamor for containing and suppressing China, and push Congress to review and pass multiple negative bills on China. Such moves constitute interference in China’s internal affairs, undermine China’s interests and disrupt the development of China-US relations. This is not in line with the interests of the two countries and the two peoples, nor does it meet the expectation of the world’s people. 

China and the US both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. This is the historical experience from the bilateral exchanges that resumed five decades ago. We hope US lawmakers can draw wisdom from history, keep in mind the long-term interests of the two countries and the fundamental well-being of the two peoples, enhance dialogue and communication with China to manage differences and expand cooperation, and play a constructive role in bringing China-US relations back to the track of steady development. 

AFP: British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss yesterday criticized China for not condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, saying that China’s failure to play by global rules would cut short its rise as a superpower. Do you have any comment? Is China concerned that refusing to condemn Russia will affect its relations with the UK and Europe?

Wang Wenbin: You brought up British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss’s relevant remarks. I noted that she mentioned rules. International rules should be the norms governing international relations that are based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, rather than rules defined by a certain clique or bloc. 

Ms. Truss also mentioned NATO. Since the Cold War was long over, NATO, as a product of the Cold War and the world’s largest military alliance, should have made necessary adjustments in accordance with the changing times. However, NATO has long clung to the old security concept, engaged in bloc confrontation and become a tool for certain countries to seek hegemony. NATO claims to be a defensive organization, but in fact it is constantly creating confrontation and disturbances. NATO demands that other countries abide by the basic norms of international relations, yet has wantonly waged wars and dropped bombs in sovereign states, killing and displacing innocent civilians. NATO, a military organization in the North Atlantic, has in recent years come to the Asia-Pacific region to throw its weight around and stir up conflicts. The impact of NATO’s eastward expansion on the long-term peace and stability of Europe is worth reflecting upon. NATO has messed up Europe. Is it now trying to mess up the Asia-Pacific and even the world? 

As for China’s position on the Ukraine issue, it is consistent and clear. We always make independent judgments based on the merits of each matter.

CCTV: Can you share more information on the background of the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting among China and Caribbean Countries Having Diplomatic Relations with China? How does China view its relations with Caribbean countries?

Wang Wenbin: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between China and Caribbean countries. China and Caribbean countries have decided to hold this meeting where we can review history, take stock of past experience and build consensus so as to jointly bring China-Caribbean countries relations to new levels. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, the rotating coordinator on the Caribbean side, will co-chair this meeting and deliver remarks. The nine Caribbean countries having diplomatic relations with China will all attend the meeting. All sides will have in-depth exchange of views on China-Caribbean countries relations and issues of mutual interest, and discuss the prospect of bilateral relations. 

China and Caribbean countries enjoy long-standing friendship. The two sides are good friends, good partners and good brothers sharing the same ideal. Since the beginning of diplomatic relations between the two sides 50 years ago, especially since President Xi Jinping’s meeting with leaders of Caribbean countries having diplomatic ties with China in 2013, our comprehensive cooperative partnership has kept deepening and cooperation in various sectors has yielded fruitful outcomes, setting an exemplary model of countries pursuing common development on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Caribbean countries rendered each other support and assistance in solidarity, adding a new chapter to our friendship. China is ready to work with Caribbean countries to take the 50th anniversary as a new starting point to further enhance mutual political trust, deepen practical cooperation across the board and build a closer China-Caribbean countries community with a shared future. 

CRI: April 26 marked the World Intellectual Property Day. Could you share any information on China’s endeavor to strengthen intellectual property protection?

Wang Wenbin: The Chinese government attaches high importance to intellectual property rights (IPR) protection. As President Xi Jinping pointed out, innovation is the primary driving force for development and protecting IPR is protecting innovation. China has taken a series of concrete and effective measures and achieved significant outcomes in IPR protection. In 2021, China authorized 696,000 invention patents, with the average ownership of high-value invention patents reaching 7.5 per 10,000 people. Public satisfaction with IPR protection in China increased from 63.69 in 2012 to 80.61 out of 100 in 2021. China has the second largest number of science and technology clusters among the global top 100 S&T clusters. China ranks 12th in WIPO’s Global Innovation Index 2021, leading middle-income economies.

I want to stress that protecting intellectual property and promoting independent innovation is indispensable to the pursuit of high-quality economic development and a must for deepening opening-up and integrating with the global market. China’s equal treatment of Chinese and foreign companies in terms of IPR has won widespread recognition from the international community. The number of foreign companies’ IP application, authorization and ownership in China has increased year by year, and China has become a preferred venue for settling international IP disputes for more and more enterprises. The Business Confidence Survey 2021 released by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said that in 2021, more than half of respondents found IPR enforcement in China to be adequate or excellent. 

Apart from strengthening IPR protection in various areas and improving the business environment, the Chinese government has also been deepening and expanding cooperation in IPR protection with international organizations and other countries, and participating in the global IPR governance. During the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, China deposited the ratification paper of the Marrakesh Treaty to the Director-General of WIPO who came to China for the opening ceremony of the Games and completed the accession of the Hague Agreement. China has also earnestly complied with IPR-related provisions of RCEP, advanced consultations on IPR in relevant FTA negotiations, and become a staunch supporter, important participant and active contributor to international rules on IPR.

There is no end to IPR protection. When uncertainties about the world economic recovery are mounting, encouraging innovation-driven development through IPR protection has become a global consensus. China will join hands with all countries to strengthen communication and add more vitality to the global IPR ecosystem. By so doing, we can contribute to global economic recovery, bring benefit to the people of all countries with innovation outcomes and promote world economic recovery and development.

Bloomberg: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he’s been invited to this year’s Group of 20 summit in Indonesia. This comes as the US said it would like to see Russia ejected from the bloc over the war in Ukraine. Does the foreign ministry have a comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: G20 is the premier forum for international economic and financial cooperation. With the instability and uncertainty in the international situation, there is an urgent need for all members of the international community to work together for joint response. Countries should champion dialogue rather than stoke confrontation, uphold cooperation rather than create division, and safeguard world stability rather than further amplify the spillover effect of the conflict. G20 needs to focus on its mandate, avoid politicizing and weaponizing international economic and financial cooperation, and make positive contribution to promoting steady world economic recovery and improving global economic governance. 

AFP: Three Chinese citizens were killed and one injured in the terrorist attack in Pakistan. The so-called Balochistan Liberation Army later claimed responsibility for the attack, threatening China with more attacks unless China halts its projects in Pakistan. What’s China’s response to this? Is China concerned that terrorism will threaten its economic interests in Pakistan? 

Wang Wenbin: Yesterday I spoke on China’s position on the terrorist attack in Karachi. The treatment of the injured and the follow-up work of the victims are in orderly progress. The Pakistani side is going all out to investigate and hunt down the perpetrators.

I want to stress that terrorism is the common enemy of all humanity. China and Pakistan are resolved and able to cut off the evil claws of terrorists and make them pay the price. 

The iron-clad friendship enjoys popular support in both countries. China has always supported Pakistan’s national development. We will continue to support Pakistan’s economic and social development and improvement of people’s livelihood. The Pakistani government has pledged to strengthen security for Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan and not to allow any force to undermine the great China-Pakistan friendship and cooperation. We believe that the Pakistani side will earnestly take robust measures to ensure that China-Pakistan cooperation moves ahead in a safe and smooth manner. Any attempt to undermine China-Pakistan friendship and cooperation will be thwarted by the Chinese and Pakistani people.

We would also like to remind Chinese citizens, institutions and projects in Pakistan to take extra security precautions and pay close attention to security risks.

China Daily: According to some media in Taiwan, Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham openly asked the Taiwan authorities to purchase 24 Boeing 787 airplanes manufactured in his constituency the state of South Carolina, with a total value of $8 billion, during his visit to Taiwan this month. He wrote to press the Taiwan authorities to make a decision after he returned to the US. What is your comment?

Wang Wenbin: As for putting the bite on the Taiwan authorities, Mr. Graham is not alone. According to reports, US politicians like former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pocketed $150,000 during his visit to Taiwan for a couple of days.

Why would the US politicians bother to travel afar if not for the huge profits? While professing values like defending democracy, those visiting Taiwan are thinking about nothing but self-interests. And the DPP authorities are fooling no one but themselves when boasting about the US’ support. But it is our Taiwan compatriots that suffer, as they are tied to the chariot of “Taiwan independence” traveling toward the abyss with their hard-earned money spent on pleasing others. 

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