Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on October 13, 2021
2021/10/13

Shenzhen TV: It is learned that Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu recently visited the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh". What is China's comment?

Zhao Lijian: China's position on the China-India boundary issue is consistent and clear-cut. The Chinese government has never recognized the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh" established unilaterally and illegally by the Indian side and firmly opposes the Indian leader's visit to this above-mentioned area.

China urges the Indian side to earnestly respect China's major concerns, stop taking any action that would complicate and expand the boundary issue, and refrain from undermining mutual trust and bilateral relations. It should instead take real actions to maintain peace and stability in the China-India border area, and help to bring China-India relations back onto the track of sound and steady development.

China News Service: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on October 12 that "Russia, like the overwhelming majority of other countries, considers Taiwan to be part of the People's Republic of China. We have proceeded and will proceed from this premise in our foreign policy." Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: We highly appreciate Foreign Minister Lavrov's remarks on Taiwan.

I would like to reiterate that there is only one China in the world. 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. This is a basic fact recognized by the international community.

We believe that China's just cause of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposing secession and realizing national reunification will continue to win the understanding and support of the international community including Russia. We stand ready to abide by the consensus on firm support to each other in four respects together with Russia. China firmly supports Russia's efforts to safeguard sovereignty and regime security and oppose external interference.

The Global Times: The first part of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is held in Kunming between October 11 and 15. We noticed that the CBD has more parties than almost any other international conventions on environment. But the United States, after signing the convention in the 1990s, has not ratified it yet. What is your comment?

Zhao Lijian: The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was opened for signature at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. For years, the convention has provided outstanding guidance for the protection of global biodiversity and has been joined by more countries than almost any other international conventions on environment.

The CBD has 196 parties. The US, however, has not ratified the treaty 30 years after signing, and has not announced plans to ratify it. Some people commented that environmental protection is in conflict with the interests of big capitalists, and the US is reluctant to make concessions and sacrifices for global public interests. As the largest country in the world, the absence of the US has undermined global efforts in protecting biodiversity and preventing the extinction of species.

For quite some time, the US has called on countries on many international occasions to address challenges with unity and through joint actions. The US side should stop seeking instant benefits when participating in international affairs at an early date, shoulder its due international responsibilities and obligations, bear in mind the wellbeing of the world's people and take concrete actions to win the trust of the international community.

CNR: On October 12 local time, at the first plenary session of the 8th State Duma of Russia, Vyacheslav Volodin nominated by the United Russia party was reelected as Chairman of the State Duma. What is China's comment?

Zhao Lijian: The State Duma elections are a major event in Russia's political life. As Russia's comprehensive strategic partner of coordination, China welcomes the smooth formation of the new State Duma. Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Li Zhanshu has sent congratulations to Chairman Volodin at the first instance. The inter-legislature exchange is an integral part of China-Russia relations. China will continue to deepen cooperation between the two legislatures with Russia and substantiate the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

Beijing Daily: Ex-Pentagon software chief Nicolas Chaillan said China is heading towards global dominance because of its advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning and cyber capabilities. He added that he plans to testify to Congress about the Chinese cyber threat to US supremacy. Besides, a US poll shows that most Americans see China and Russia as the main threat to US cyber security. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: The Chinese government attaches high importance to the issue of cyber security and is committed to improving national cyber security. This week is the Cyber Security Week in China and the theme for this year is "cyber security for the people and relying on the people", advocating that the government, enterprises, non-governmental organizations and netizens are all involved in building a line of defense for cyber security.

Cyber security is a global challenge and no country can keep itself away from it. Maintaining cyber security is a shared responsibility of the international community. We oppose cyber attack in all its forms, oppose any institution or individual's mud-slinging at China under the pretext of cyber security, oppose certain country's pursuit of supremacy and wanton act to smear other countries and fool its people under the disguise of cyber security. All countries should work together on cyber security, strengthen dialogue and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, jointly deal with cyber threats and ensure that digital technology will truly deliver benefits to all people.

Associated Press of Pakistan: Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, while chairing a high level meeting, directed the authorities concerned to make all-out efforts to facilitate Chinese investors in the special economic zones being constructed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. What is your response?

Zhao Lijian: China appreciates the great importance Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Pakistani government attach to China-Pakistan industrial cooperation and the active efforts they have made in this regard.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and industrial cooperation is an important part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor cooperation. China is ready to maintain close communication with Pakistan, form an efficient and pragmatic cooperation mechanism, deepen industrial cooperation between the two countries and jointly build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.

Bloomberg: Just asking on reports that Harvard University's Chinese language program will relocate to Taipei from Beijing, with the program director citing an unfriendly environment in China's mainland as the reason, I'd like to ask if the foreign ministry has a comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: I am not aware of the situation you mentioned and refer you to our competent authorities. I want to stress that China always welcomes foreign students to study in China, attaches great importance to protecting their legitimate rights and interests and actively responds to their legitimate concerns and appeals. We oppose any practice to politicize people-to-people and cultural exchanges.