Question: What are the Chinese side’s comments on relevant views about China at the Stockholm China Forum held on 30 May?
Answer: We have noticed the relevant remarks. We would like to express our views as follows:
First, we are concerned about the term “de-risking”. China never exports its system. It follows a path of peaceful development, pursues a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up, stays true to and safeguards the international order underpinned by international law, opposes hegemonic, domineering and bullying practices, and actively builds a human community with a shared future. China is committed to achieving high-quality development, continuing to expand high-standard opening up, and fostering an enabling investment environment that is based on market principles, governed by law and up to international standards. Noting the above, where does the risk in cooperation with China come from? Where does “de-risking” come from? If one seeks to decouple from China in the name of “de-risking”, it will decouple from opportunities, cooperation, stability, and development. All sides should abide by international trade rules and the spirit of contract, keep opening up to each other, and refrain from politicizing normal economic, trade and investment cooperation and interfering with the market.
The formation and development of the international industrial and supply chains are the results of economic globalization and market economy, both of which are strongly advocated and promoted by European countries.
The trade and investment cooperation between China and Sweden and China and the EU over the years has achieved fruitful outcomes, which benefits all sides. Facts show that China and Europe are two major markets for common development, two major partners for win-win cooperation and two major forces for world peace.
Second, China’s development path and political system are the choices of the Chinese people. They are in line with China’s national conditions, and have proved to be very successful. We have achieved a historic leap for lifting 1.4 billion people from poverty and providing them with a life of moderate prosperity. We have built the world's largest education system, social security system, health care system, and primary level democratic election system.
The Chinese government follows a people-centered philosophy, regards the right to subsistence and the right to development as the most basic human rights, and follows a path of human rights development that suits its own national conditions. China is a unified multi-ethnic country. Its 56 ethnic groups, diverse yet tight-knit, are closely united. Together, they form a community of solidarity and mutual assistance of the Chinese nation. The ethnic regions of China enjoy social stability, economic development, cultural prosperity, and religious harmony. We welcome non-prejudiced people from all over the world to come to China and witness the facts and understand the truth with their own eyes.
Democracy is the common value of all mankind. It is the right of people of all countries to choose their way of democratic development. Whether a country is democratic or not should be judged by its own people. The democratic system and democratic path of each country should be independently chosen by the people of the country according to their own national conditions. We are willing to conduct dialogues on democracy and human rights on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and oppose interference in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of democracy.
Third, the real status quo of the Taiwan question is that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, and Taiwan is a part of China. The Taiwan question is an internal matter of China and its resolution is a matter for the Chinese people.
The people that are really trying to change this status quo are the “Taiwan independence” separatists who have been promoting “incremental independence”, pushing for “de-sinicization”, and seeking to create the false impression of “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan”, and the external forces who have been meddling in the Taiwan question by fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle, selling arms to Taiwan, and peddling the narrative of “Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow”. Those who talk about peace in the Taiwan Strait but refuse to oppose “Taiwan independence” are in effect conniving at and supporting separatist activities, which is bound to have a serious impact on cross-Strait peace and stability. China firmly opposes it.
Forth, many countries in the world are maintaining trade links with Russia. There is nothing wrong with China conducting normal trade with Russia. The China-Russia relationship is based on no-alliance and no-confrontation, and it is not targeted at any third party. It is not a threat to any country, nor is it subject to any interference or discord sown by any third party. China and Russia will continue to carry out normal trade cooperation based on the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent. We have always made independent judgments based on the merits of the matter itself, and have always been actively promoting talks for peace. China is not responsible for creating the Ukraine crisis. We are not a party to the crisis, and have not provided weapons to any party to the conflict. The Chinese side does not accept any accusations on the Ukraine issue.
Fifth, China is a country ruled by Law. Gui Minhai is a someone that has committed crimes in China, and is supposed to be dealt with by the Chinese law. China does not recognize dual or multiple nationality. In 2018, Gui voluntarily applied for restoration of his Chinese citizenship, and the application was lawfully approved by relevant Chinese authorities. As such, he is no longer a Swedish citizen, and the Gui Minhai case is no longer a consular case between China and Sweden. To ask the Chinese side to release Gui is a disregard to relevant laws and regulations of China. It is also an interference in China’s judicial sovereignty and a violation against the spirit of rule of law.
Sixth, China has always viewed Europe as a comprehensive strategic partner, and supports Europe in staying committed to strategic autonomy and playing an important role internationally. China is glad to see Sweden playing a more important role in EU affairs. It is hoped that the Swedish side will continue to be committed to dialogue and cooperation as the mainstream of China-EU relations, and mutual benefit as the underlying tone of China’s cooperation with Europe, and jointly respond to global challenges. China is willing to strengthen economic, trade and investment cooperation with Sweden, deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and promote cooperation in multilateral fields such as climate change. China will continue to expand market access, strengthen intellectual property protection, and welcome more competitive Swedish companies to increase investment in China. At the same time, we hope that Sweden will provide Chinese companies with a fair, open and non-discriminatory business environment.