At the invitation of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry of Sri Lanka will visit China from June 24 to 30.

CCTV: Premier Li Qiang is in Germany for an official visit and the seventh China-Germany inter-governmental consultation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Could you share more information?

Mao Ning: At the invitation of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang is paying an official visit to Germany and has held the seventh China-Germany inter-governmental consultation from June 18 to 21. This is Premier Li Qiang’s first overseas trip since he took office and a trip to renew friendship and deepen cooperation. Chancellor Scholz held a welcome ceremony for Premier Li. They held talks and co-chaired the seventh China-Germany inter-governmental consultation. They jointly witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation agreements, met the press, and attended the China-Germany Economic and Technical Cooperation Forum and a round table for Chinese and German entrepreneurs.

The seventh China-Germany inter-governmental consultation is a highlight in this trip. It is the first face-to-face consultation since the start of COVID-19 and the first time for the two new governments to fully engage with each other, which gives the occasion special importance for coordinating and advancing China-Germany practical cooperation in various fields. Both sides attached high importance to the consultation. Leading officials of 22 ministries including foreign policy, commerce and trade, industry, finance, judiciary, transportation, education, science and technology, health, environmental protection, development, among others, held consultations in their respective fields and reported to the Premier and the Chancellor how bilateral cooperation is progressing. During the consultation, both sides reached a host of important outcomes, including agreeing to set up a dialogue and cooperation mechanism on climate change and green transition, hold the third China-Germany High Level Financial Dialogue as well as new editions of Sino-German Environmental Forum and health dialogue, and continue to deepen cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, investment, automobile manufacturing, high-tech, new energy, digital economy and people-to-people exchanges, step up exchanges at all levels and in various fields, engage in diplomatic consultation and dialogue and jointly respond to global challenges.

Both sides agreed that this round of China-Germany Inter-governmental Consultation has been highly efficient, pragmatic and productive. China-Germany cooperation has a solid foundation and is full of vitality. To deepen cooperation at a higher level and seek higher standards and quality, and jointly keep the global production and supply chains stable serves the interests of both countries and is of global significance. China stands ready to continue to follow the principles of mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences, exchanges and mutual learning, and win-win cooperation as we work together with Germany to deliver what has been agreed by the two leaders to boost the healthy and steady growth of China-Germany relations and make China and Germany’s due contribution to global stability and prosperity as two major countries. 

AFP: Two Chinese nationals were convicted on Tuesday in the US. They were accused of forcibly repatriating Chinese citizens to China. Do you have any reaction to that?

Mao Ning: The need to fight cross-border crimes, repatriate corrupt fugitives and recover illegal proceeds is widely recognized by the international community. It is a just cause. China’s law enforcement cooperation with any country in the world is conducted in strict accordance with international law with full respect for the laws and judicial sovereignty of other countries and commitment to protecting the lawful rights and interests of criminal suspects. The relevant operation is fully justified. The US, on the other hand, has chosen to ignore the facts, deliberately distorted China’s efforts as something sinister and even resorted to judicial action. China firmly opposes this. 

We urge the US to immediately right its wrongdoing, fulfill its obligations under the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the UN Convention against Corruption and other international treaties, step up to its international responsibilities and stop America from turning into a safe haven for criminals.

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In observance of the Dragon Boat Festival, the MFA regular press conference will be adjourned from June 22 (Thursday) to 23 (Friday), and resumed on June 26 (Monday). During the holiday, you can reach the spokesperson’s office by fax, email or WeChat as usual.