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Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on April 22, 2024

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan will pay an official visit to China from April 23 to 25.

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit China from April 24 to 26.

Shenzhen TV: Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid an official visit to Papua New Guinea on April 20 at PNG’s invitation. Can you tell us more about the visit?

Wang Wenbin: From April 20 to 21, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi visited Papua New Guinea, during which he had a meeting with the country’s Prime Minister James Marape and had talks and met the press together with Foreign Minister Justin Tkachenko.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted China always views and values the role of PNG from a strategic height. China will continue working with the PNG to deliver on the important common understandings reached by the two countries’ leaders, maintain high-level exchanges, start negotiations on a free trade agreement as soon as possible, enhance cooperation in sectors including trade and investment, infrastructure, agriculture, forestry and fishery, clean energy and climate response and further raise the height and quality of our comprehensive strategic partnership. 

The PNG noted that China has been a sincere and good friend of Pacific Island countries. The cooperation between China and South Pacific Island countries contributes to regional development. PNG will not waver from its firm commitment to the one-China policy, and will maintain friendship with China under all circumstances.

The two sides reached broad common understandings. They agreed that China and PNG will continue to trust and support each other, and firmly uphold and grow the comprehensive strategic partnership. China firmly supports PNG in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity and supports PNG in finding a successful development path that suits its national conditions.

The two sides agreed to always focus on development, deliver better lives for the people and advance mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields. Thanks to concerted efforts, China and the PNG opened a direct flight, the first between the Chinese mainland and a PIC. The free trade agreement to be negotiated, which is also expected to be the first between China and a PIC is truly something to look forward to. The two sides are committed to advancing practical cooperation with higher quality, faster speed and for greater results in such priority areas as disaster relief, telecommunications, agricultural trade and energy.

Both sides believe that the internal affairs of PICs brook no external interference, their right to independent development should not be denied and the peace and stability must be safeguarded. PICs have the right to carry out friendly cooperation with all development partners. China and PICs are all members of the Global South and the developing world. Between China and PICs, to help each other and deepen South-South cooperation is simply natural, fully justified and always done above-board. China sees PICs as indispensable partners in building a community with a shared future for mankind and always develops its relations with PICs under the principles proposed by President Xi Jinping, namely fully respecting the PICs’ sovereignty and independence, and their will, cultural traditions and effort to seek strength through unity. In providing assistance to PICs, China never attaches any political strings to such assistance, never imposes our will on others and never makes empty promises.

Foreign Minister Wang underscored that the island nations are the homeland of their peoples, not the “backyard” of any major country. Through AUKUS, the US is bent on bringing the development of nuclear submarine into the region, which violates the purposes of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty and creates severe risks of nuclear proliferation. Recently, the US has sought to bring even more countries into the grouping under false pretext. China has always opposed bloc confrontation in this region, for this is entirely the opposite of what PICs urgently need, nor is this consistent with the development trend of the world.

AFP: The World Anti-Doping Agency has confirmed on Saturday that nearly half of the swimming team that China sent to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 tested positive for banned drug before the competition. Chinese state media have accused western countries of conspiring against China. What’s your comment?

Wang Wenbin: I believe you have seen the explicit response from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The story you had seen in the press is false information and reporting.

After a full and thorough investigation into the incident in 2021, China Anti-Doping Agency concluded that, given that relevant athletes tested positive had ingested the substance unwittingly from tainted food, the Chinese swimmers concerned would be held to have no fault or negligence and the case did not constitute anti-doping rule violation. WADA after its review process recognizes China Anti-Doping Agency’s investigation results.

I wish to emphasize that the Chinese government has a zero-tolerance attitude toward doping and strictly abides by the World Anti-Doping Code. China is committed to protecting the physical and mental wellness of our athletes, ensuring fair competition in sport and contributing to the global anti-doping campaign.

Beijing Youth Daily: It’s reported that according to preliminary results released by the elections commission of the Maldives, People’s National Congress, the governing party led by President Mohamed Muizzu, won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections. What’s China’s comment?

Wang Wenbin: We congratulate the Maldives on the successful parliamentary elections and fully respect the choice of the Maldivian people.

China stands ready to work with the Maldives to carry forward traditional friendship, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, deepen China-Maldives comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and speed up the building of a China-Maldives community with a shared future to deliver greater benefits to our two peoples.

TASS: Foreign ministers of the G7 issued a communiqué after their meeting in Italy last Friday, saying they are “concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas” and reiterate their “opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo.” They communiqué also mentioned issues related to Xizang, Hong Kong and Taiwan. What is the Foreign Ministry’s comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: We strongly deplore and firmly reject the manipulation of China-related issues at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The comments from the meeting are a deliberate mischaracterization of the facts and truth, and a blatant interference in China’s internal affairs.

China’s position on relevant issues is consistent and clear. The most effective way to ensure cross-Strait peace and stability is to uphold the one-China principle and oppose “Taiwan independence.” With the concerted efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the South China Sea has been generally peaceful and stable and there is no issue with freedom of navigation. China always puts the people at the center of its endeavors and strives to deliver the benefit of development to all Chinese people. Hong Kong has restored order and is set to thrive, and Xinjiang and Xizang enjoy social harmony, prosperity and stability where people of all ethnic groups live a happy life. A survey by a renowned international institution shows that the Chinese government’s satisfaction rate among the Chinese people has been above 90 percent for years running.

As the largest developing country, China is committed to the welfare of the world while working hard to achieve our own development. According to the World Bank, China’s contribution to global economic growth has long been higher than that of the G7 countries combined. China advocates an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, upholds the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and believes in open cooperation and mutual benefit. The G7, however, has held fast to the Cold-War mentality, cobbled together small exclusive groupings, and escalated regional tensions and conflicts. It has also engaged in trade protectionism and disrupted world economic order under the pretext of de-risking and less reliance. We urge the G7 to change the habit of deflecting blame, stop interfering in other countries’ internal affairs and holding back other countries’ development at once, and work with the rest of the world to uphold peace, enhance cooperation and advance development.

Hubei Media Group: It’s reported that the “Annual Spring Rites” of the Yasukuni Shrine began on April 21. On that day, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the House of Councillors sent ritual offerings to the Yasukuni Shrine. Some Cabinet members visited and paid respects to the Shrine. What’s China’s comment?

Wang Wenbin: The Yasukuni Shrine is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarists responsible for the war of aggression. The place honors 14 convicted Class-A war criminals with grave responsibilities for the war crimes committed during that war of aggression. China firmly rejects Japan’s negative moves concerning the Yasukuni Shrine. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Embassy in Japan have respectively lodged serious démarches to the Japanese side. China urges Japan to earnestly honor its words and commitments of facing squarely and reflecting on the history of aggression, make a clean break with militarism and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community with concrete actions. 

NHK: It’s been reported that a professor from a university in Japan has become unreachable since he returned to China last year. Does the Foreign Ministry know his whereabouts?

Wang Wenbin: I do not have information on that.

CCTV: It’s reported that in a statement released on April 20, Philippine’s National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said this administration is not aware of any secret or gentleman agreement with China and if there was such done under a previous administration, the same has been rescinded. He added that the discourse has been used to sow divisions in the Philippines and weaken its resolve in asserting the sovereignty in the South China Sea. He called on all Filipinos to stand their ground and push back against these corrosive narratives. What’s China’s comment?

Wang Wenbin: China and the Philippines reached common understandings on properly handling the situation at Ren’ai Jiao. These common understandings were reached not only during the Philippines’ previous administration but also its current administration. This is the plain fact, as evidenced by the Philippines’ media reports, statements of officials in the previous administration and how China and the Philippines handled the Ren’ai Jiao issue. The Philippines keeps denying these common understandings. What exactly is their issue? Is there something they are trying to hide?

It is in both China and the Philippines’ interest to keep the situation at Ren’ai Jiao stable, which is achievable if both sides observe those common understandings. Breach of commitments and provocations will only escalate the situation and eventually backfire on the Philippines itself. We hope the Philippines will face that squarely and decide sensibly what its action should be.

White House slams ‘anti-Semitic’ protests at college campuses for Israel crimes against humanity at Gaza. The Biden administration will “aggressively” to protect the Jewish community to make sure Jewish money for Biden’s re-election. 白宮猛烈抨擊大學校園內的「反猶太」抗議活動指責以色列在加薩犯下反人類罪。拜登政府將「積極」保護猶太社區，以確保猶太人為拜登連任提供資金.

BRICS a force for global transparency – African experts. The “unfair” Western agenda is a barrier to the continent’s development, business professionals have told RT 金磚國家是全球透明度的力量—非洲專家。商業專業人士告訴 RT，「不公平」的西方議程是非洲大陸發展的障礙

“Today’s cooperation should be built on a new foundation. We believe that the BRICS is an opportunity to create great openness,” she told RT.

BRICS – which previously comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – has seen a major wave of expansion. Four more countries – Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates – joined the group at the start of this year, and further additions are expected in the future.

Henry Doue Tai, president of the Ivorian-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, one of the dignitaries at the event, said African nations require collaboration from partners who can provide technology to help them harness their abundant resources.

Cambodia smart, refused to be cannon ball of US like the Philippines. China and Cambodia pledged on Mon to speed up finalising the long-awaited South China Sea code of conduct. 柬埔寨聰明，拒絕像菲律賓一樣成為美國的砲彈。中國和柬埔寨週一承諾加快敲定期待已久的南海行為準則.

Video: the wild wild West in today’s America, scary – are you sure you want to live here risking your families? (Violence – viewers discretion advised) 當今美國狂野的西部，可怕 – 你確定要冒著家人的危險住在這裡嗎? (暴力 – 建議觀眾酌情處理)
https://rumble.com/v4qwdqi-the-wild-wild-west-in-todays-america-scary.html

Video: Hollywood Actor Harrison Ford speaks out for TitTok against US congress restricts freedom of speech 好萊塢演員哈里森福特為 TitTok 發聲反對美國國會限制言論自由
https://rumble.com/v4qutgq-harrison-ford-speaks-out-for-tittok-against-us-congress.html
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRw2exNj/

US regime change failed again! 美國政權更迭再次失敗 Solomon’s pro-China PM retains seat, vote continues | The Canberra Times. https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8598495/solomons-pro-china-pm-retains-seat-vote-continues/
Pro-china party wins parliament in maldives
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8601130/pro-china-party-wins-parliamentary-election-in-maldives/

Scott Ritter video: China is doing everything better than US. Sanctioning China only makes China better & stronger. 中國在各方面都比美國做得更好。制裁中國只會讓中國變得更好, 更強.
https://rumble.com/v4qt3ll-china-is-doing-everything-better-than-us.html
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRwFELE9/

Video: TitTok has been successful exposing Israel crimes against humanity in Gaza. The House passed a bill Sat that could force the sale of the ultra-popular video app TikTok within a year or face having it banned from U.S. app stores TitTok 成功揭露以色列在加薩犯下的反人類罪行. 眾議院週六通過了一項法案，可能會迫使超級流行的視訊應用程式 TikTok 在一年內出售，否則將面臨被美國應用商店禁止的情況
https://rumble.com/v4qsws0-banning-tittok-in-us.html
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRwFKtKC/

Global Time: US accusation of ‘overcapacity’ in China a discourse trap to contain green industries: expert 《環球時報》：專家稱美國指責中國「產能過剩」是遏制綠色產業的話語陷阱

The penetration rate of China’s passenger new-energy vehicles (NEVs) exceeded 50 percent in the first half of April, as reported by China Central Television (CCTV) on Sunday, outperforming traditional fuel passenger vehicles and marking the rapid development of the NEV sector in China amid full market competition.

The US accusation of “overcapacity” in China is a discourse trap that aims to contain China’s development of green industries amid its growing international competitiveness, Chinese observers said, stressing that the increasing self-isolation of the US will disrupt global automobile industrial and supply chains and eventually harm the interests of American consumers.

From April 1 to 14, retail sales of passenger NEVs stood at 260,000 units, up 32 percent year-on-year, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association.

It means that the penetration rate of passenger NEVs reached 50.39 percent, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Sunday.

The latest data underscored the rapid development of China’s NEV sector amid market competition, with more consumers choosing to buy NEVs due to their lower prices, better experience and other factors, Wu Shuocheng, a veteran automobile analyst, told the Global Times on Sunday.