At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi will visit China on April 23.

China News Service: Yesterday, China and Indonesia held the First Ministerial Meeting of China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue. Could you share more details with us? 

Guo Jiakun: On April 21, the First Ministerial Meeting of China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue was successfully held in Beijing. As a milestone, this meeting is aimed at delivering the common understandings between President Xi Jinping and President Prabowo Subianto. The China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue mechanism is the first foreign and defense ministerial dialogue mechanism established by China in the world, which opens a new chapter of the strategic mutual trust and political and security cooperation between the two neighbors, two major emerging economies and two large developing countries.

The meeting had fruitful outcomes, which boosts the high-level exchanges between China and Indonesia, further aligns development strategies, adds new substances to security cooperation, contributes to a peaceful and stable South China Sea and an open world economy, and promotes multilateral strategic coordination. Both sides agree to hold the second meeting in Indonesia.

The meeting has injected fresh impetus into the development of China-Indonesia relationship and the solidarity and cooperation among Global South countries. This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Indonesia diplomatic relations, it is mostly timely and relevant for us to hold the First Ministerial Meeting of China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue. The meeting fully demonstrates the high-level strategic mutual trust between the two countries and adds new dimension to the China-Indonesia community with a shared future that carries regional and global influence. This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. The two countries agreed to jointly carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit, strengthen communications and coordination at the UN, BRICS, G20 and other platforms, and work together to make greater contributions to regional and global peace and stability.  

As Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted, the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century and faces severe impacts from unilateralism and hegemonism. Humanity is again standing at a crossroads. Under new circumstances, China is ready to work with Indonesia to stay committed as pacesetters in the mutual trust and mutual assistance between major countries and neighbors, locomotives in the modernization of developing countries, and drivers of openness, inclusiveness, cooperation and win-win, and jointly compose a resounding symphony of the Global South of seeking strength through unity.

Spanish Daily ABC: Yesterday Pope Francis passed. I wonder if you could comment on his legacy and what he meant for Vatican-China ties and the Catholic community in China.

Guo Jiakun: China expresses condolences over the passing of Pope Francis. In recent years, China and the Vatican have maintained constructive engagement and conducted useful exchanges. China stands ready to work with the Vatican for continued improvement of China-Vatican ties.

Shenzhen TV: It is learned that Myanmar’s ethnic armed group MNDAA withdrew from the urban areas of Lashio of the Shan State early this morning and handed control back to Tatmadaw. Sources say that the handover was brokered by China and China has sent a ceasefire monitoring group to Lashio recently. Is this true? Does this mean that China’s pledge of not interfering in Myanmar’s domestic affairs is no longer followed through?

Guo Jiakun: China and Myanmar are traditional friendly neighbors. To keep northern Myanmar peaceful and stable is in the interest of the two countries and peoples. China respects Myanmar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and actively facilitates Myanmar’s effort to advance the peace process in northern Myanmar in light of the will and aspirations of relevant parties in Myanmar.

To deliver on the common understandings reached at the peace talks in Kunming between the Myanmar government and ethnic armed organization Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), at their joint invitation, China has recently sent a ceasefire monitoring group to Lashio to oversee the ceasefire between Tatmadaw and the MNDAA and witnessed the smooth handover of the urban areas of Lashio. Both parties commended and thanked China for its constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in northern Myanmar. China will continue pushing forward the Kunming peace talks process and doing its part in ending the conflict and promoting peace talks to ensure peace and stability along the China-Myanmar border together with the parties in Myanmar.

Spanish Daily ABC: A follow-up question on my previous one, also regarding Pope Francis’ passing. Pope Francis publicly expressed several times his desire to visit China and meet with Chinese leader. I would like to ask, would the Vatican breaking diplomatic ties with Taiwan be a precondition on such a visit ever happening?

Guo Jiakun: In recent years, China and the Vatican have maintained constructive engagement, conducted useful exchanges, and had extensive communication on international issues.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. More and more countries have come to recognize and abide by the one-China principle. We hope relevant countries will see where the arc of history bends and come back to the right path of upholding the one-China principle.

Bloomberg: Just a follow-up question on the Pope. Does the Chinese government plan to send a representative to the funeral?

Guo Jiakun: I have no information to share at the moment.

Dragon TV: It is reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan recently issued a security alert on its official website, claiming that the public security situation in China is less than sound, and required Japanese schools to fully assess security situation before organizing study tours to China. What’s China’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: I am not sure what exactly is Japan’s basis for issuing this so-called “security alert.” 

By issuing this so-called “alert”, Japan seeks to spread fears about so-called security risks in China, which apparently has political motives behind it. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this, and has lodged serious protests with the Japanese side. 

China is an open, safe and inclusive country. We welcome people all over the world, including from Japan, to travel, study, do business and live in China. China will continue to work to protect the safety of Chinese and foreigners alike. We urge Japan to immediately stop doing the wrong thing and create a sound atmosphere for the travel of people between the two countries.

Bloomberg: Recently the Chinese government issued a safety warning for Chinese citizens in Japan, pointing to various instances of crime and other things which were particularly targeting Chinese nationals. So my question is, how is the safety warning by the Japanese hyping up and damaging relations, but a safety warning by the Chinese government is a fair and normal practice?

Guo Jiakun: I have made clear China’s position on the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s so-called “security alert.” Regarding China’s consular notice that you mentioned, there have been a lot of media reports on security risks surfacing in Japan. This is a fact that many have seen. The Chinese government has the responsibility and obligation to issue relevant consular notice for Chinese nationals in Japan. This is for protecting the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals overseas.

Reuters: Has China been invited to Pope Francis’ funeral and if it does receive an invite, does it plan to go? Secondly, just to follow up on your announcement about the Iranian Foreign Minister’s visit. I want to ask if you could share more information about his agenda in China, who he will meet and what will be discussed.

Guo Jiakun: On your first question, as I said just now, there is no information to share at the moment.

On your second question, China and Iran enjoy a long-standing friendship. Over the past 54 years since China and Iran established diplomatic ties, our two countries have rendered each other respect, trust and support, boosted the sound and steady growth of bilateral ties, and promoted regional and global peace and stability. During the visit, the two sides will have in-depth exchange of views on China-Iran relations and on international and regional hotspot issues of mutual interest. We believe that the upcoming visit is vital for the two sides to implement the important common understandings reached between the leaders of the two countries, deepen political mutual trust, advance cooperation in various fields and jointly defend multilateralism.

Bloomberg: Last weekend, the White House put out a new website which purports to tell the origins of the COVID epidemic and says that the epidemic began in a lab leak in China. Does China have a comment on this statement from the U.S. government?

Guo Jiakun: Rehashing the “lab leak” theory on relevant website and smearing China with unsubstantiated accusations is just another ploy the U.S. uses for political manipulation under the pretext of COVID origins-tracing. China firmly opposes it.

The origins-tracing of the virus is a serious scientific issue. China has actively supported and participated in global science-based origins-tracing in the spirit of science, openness and transparency. The U.S. needs to stop politicizing and weaponizing origins-tracing at once, and stop scapegoating others. The U.S. should stop playing deaf to the questions concerning its role in the pandemic. The U.S. still owes the international community a serious response to those legitimate concerns, and a responsible explanation to the people of the world.

EFE: Can you comment on the status of the 2018 agreement between China and the Holy See regarding bishops appointments and whether China is open to deepening cooperation in light of recent events?

Guo Jiakun: In recent years, China and the Vatican have maintained constructive engagement, and conducted useful exchanges. The provisional agreement regarding the appointment of bishops between China and the Vatican is smoothly implemented. China stands ready to work with the Vatican for continued improvement of China-Vatican ties.

Reuters: Could you share more details about which specific U.S. Congress members, government officials and NGO heads were sanctioned by China over Hong Kong-related issues as shared in yesterday’s announcement? Secondly, who has China sent to attend the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington this week?

Guo Jiakun: On your first question, as I said yesterday, in response to the U.S.’s illegal unilateral sanctions on officials of the agency representing the central government in Hong Kong and the government of the Hong Kong SAR, China, in accordance with the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, decided to sanction the U.S. congress members, officials and heads of NGOs who have acted egregiously on Hong Kong-related issues. Let me emphasize that what China took are reciprocal countermeasures.

Let me refer your second question to competent authorities.

Bloomberg: Just now in your answer on the COVID question, you said that the U.S. owes the world as the U.S. has a responsibility to the world to explain its own responsibility on the origins of the pandemic. Can you please explain a bit more what you mean by that? And what proof there is that the U.S. is responsible for the pandemic?

Guo Jiakun: China has made its position clear more than once on COVID origins-tracing. I want to stress that since the pandemic began, we have seen a lot of media reports about clues being found in multiple locations and countries around the world about the possible origins of the virus. The U.S. is one of those places, and once suffered from the Vaping Lung Disease and the issue of the Fort Detrick Biological Laboratory. We believe that the international community deserves a clear explanation from the U.S.

Reuters: I just want to follow up on my previous question. Usually when the Foreign Ministry announces sanctions on individuals or organizations, it names them. And so I wanted to ask, why is it that the Foreign Ministry this time has not named the U.S. Congress members, government officials and NGO heads it said yesterday were sanctioned over Hong Kong-related issues? 

Guo Jiakun: I have just answered this question. Let me again emphasize that what China took are reciprocal countermeasures. 

Reuters: Just to follow up on the Iranian Foreign Minister’s visit. I just want to clear up a question about the timing, because Iran has said that the Foreign Minister will be visiting today, but it seems from your announcement that he will actually arrive in Beijing tomorrow. Could you help us clarify that?

Guo Jiakun: As I just said, at the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi will visit China on April 23.

Bloomberg: From today, a delegation of Japanese MPs from the Komeito party will be visiting China and they’ll meet with Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee. There’s also a delegation from a cross-party group that is coming next week to meet with various party officials in China. What is your expectation for these meetings and what do you hope to achieve?

Guo Jiakun: China welcomes the visit of the delegation of Japanese Komeito led by its leader Tetsuo Saito. On the specifics of the visit, I’d refer you to competent authorities.