CCTV: Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the General Debate of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Can you share more details with us?

Lin Jian: On September 28 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi attended the General Debate of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York, and delivered a statement entitled “Building on Past Achievements and Forging Ahead  Together Toward a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind.”

Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted we are facing a changing and turbulent world and meanwhile, we are also embracing a world full of hope. The security of all countries is tied together, the development of all countries is deeply integrated, each civilization has its own strengths and countries should all enjoy sovereign equality. The United Nations embodies the aspirations of people across the world for lasting peace and common prosperity, and bears witness to the glorious journey of the international community coming together in pursuit of progress. The role of the UN should be strengthened, not weakened.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi elaborated on the significance of Chinese modernization to the world. He pointed out that the People’s Republic of China will soon celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding. Over the past 75 years, no matter how the world changes, China’s dedication has not changed. It is dedicated to pursuing happiness for the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It is also dedicated to human progress and world harmony. In the course of seeking its own development, China has kept in mind the common interests of the whole world, generating new opportunities for the world through its own development. The Third Plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee made an important decision on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. It set in motion a new journey where China joins hands with the world in common development and progress. Chinese modernization will contribute robustly to world peace and stability, to the common development for all, to improving global governance, and to the advancement of human civilization. Every step in China’s development is an increase in the force for peace. China does not only care about its own development. We are ready to develop hand in hand with all countries. China believes that different civilizations should respect and learn from one another, and jointly contribute to the progress of human civilization.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated China’s proposal on improving global governance and noted that President Xi Jinping has put forth the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative in recent years. They carry China’s wisdom for resolving various difficult issues confronting humanity, and bring impetus from China for improving global governance. China’s proposal is to put development at the top of the global agenda, uphold the equity and openness of the international system, stay firmly committed to a path of green, low-carbon and sustainable development, and support the UN’s role as the main channel for global AI governance. China maintains that all countries’ right to independently choose their path of human rights development should be respected. No country should impose its own will on others.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated China’s stance on the Taiwan question and stressed that Resolution 2758 once and for all resolved the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the UN, and made clear that there is no such thing as “two Chinas,” or “one China, one Taiwan.” On this matter of principle, there is no gray zone or room for ambiguity. Foreign Minister Wang Yi also made clear China’s position on hotspot issues, including the Ukraine crisis, the question of Palestine, the issue of Afghanistan and the Korean Peninsula.

Nikkei: The new president of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan Shigeru Ishiba mentioned the Shenzhen incident in an NHK program and expressed disapproval over Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson’s comment that “Similar cases may happen in any country,” saying that this should not be overlooked and that this incident will have an impact on Japan-China relations. What is your comment?

Lin Jian: Let me say again that we regret and are saddened by this tragic incident. It is an individual case and is under investigation in accordance with the law. We hope Japan can view the case in a calm and rational way. I want to stress again that the Chinese government never allows any illegal or violent activities, and China will as always protect the safety of all foreign nationals in China. We hope and believe individual cases will not affect the exchanges and cooperation between China and Japan.

Nikkei: In the same program, President Ishiba also mentioned the importance of interaction and communication between the leaders of Japan and China. What is your comment on this?

Lin Jian: China and Japan are close neighbors and important economies in Asia and the world who share extensive common interests and broad space for cooperation. China is open to dialogue and exchange with Japan at various levels. We hope Japan will work with us and play a constructive role to improve and develop our relations.

NHK: Shigeru Ishiba will take office as Japan’s Prime Minister tomorrow and form his Cabinet. It’s reported that he will probably choose trusted followers for foreign minister, defense minister, and other important positions. Media comments say that this shows he attaches importance to diplomatic and security safeguards, which is the first step to realizing an Asian NATO. What’s your response to the personnel appointment in Ishiba’s Cabinet? Second, Ishiba is expected to attend the leaders’ meetings on East Asian cooperation in Laos next month. Is China willing to hold a meeting between the two leaders?

Lin Jian: On your first question, relevant personnel appointment is Japan’s internal affairs. China has no comment on that. We hope that Japan will abide by the principles and common understandings reached in the four China-Japan political documents, have an objective and right perception of China, take a positive and rational China policy, take concrete efforts to comprehensively advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit, and work with China to promote the sustained, sound and steady development of China-Japan relations. 

On your second question, I have no information to share.

China News Service: We noted that on the margins of the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced visa-free policy to Portugal, Greece, Cyprus and Slovenia. Could you share more details with us?

Lin Jian: To further promote cross-border travel, China decided to expand its visa waiver program and extend the visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from Portugal, Greece, Cyprus and Slovenia on a trial basis. From October 15, 2024 to December 31, 2025, ordinary passport holders from these four countries can be exempted from visa to enter China and stay for no more than 15 days for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes. In that spirit, we encourage relevant countries to offer more visa facilitation measures to Chinese nationals.

AFP: Taiwan’s defense ministry said on Sunday that it was on heightened alert after detecting multiple waves of missile firing in Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang. Does China have a comment on this?

Lin Jian: Taiwan is a province of China and there is no such thing as “Taiwan’s defense ministry.” This is not a question about China’s foreign affairs either.

Phoenix TV: The White House announced on its website the decision to provide around US$ 567 million military assistance to China’s Taiwan region. What’s China’s comment?

Lin Jian: The US again provides weapons to China’s Taiwan region, which seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, especially the August 17 Communiqué of 1982. The move is in fact emboldening Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities as they cling to the stance of “Taiwan independence” and make deliberate provocations on the one-China principle. This once again shows that the separatist moves for “Taiwan independence” and connivance and support for such moves from US-led external forces are the biggest threat facing cross-Strait peace and stability and cause the greatest disruption to the real status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Let me be clear, “Taiwan independence” separatism is a dead end and what the US has done to assist the “Taiwan independence” attempt by arming Taiwan will only backfire.

We urge the US to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, and stop arming Taiwan in any form. No matter how many weapons the US provides to the Taiwan region, it will never weaken our firm will in opposing “Taiwan independence,” and safeguarding China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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During the National Day holiday, there will be no regular press conference from October 1 to 7. The press conference will resume on October 8. During the holiday, questions can be submitted to the Spokesperson’s Office via fax, email or WeChat. 

Happy National Day Holiday!