The eighth Greater Mekong Subregion Summit will take place in Kunming, Yunnan on 6-7 November. Premier of the State Council Li Qiang will lead the summit. Leaders of the five Mekong countries of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam, and President of the Asian Development Bank will attend the summit at the invitation.
PTI: India has already declared that disengagement has taken place in the Depsang and Demchok areas, which are the two friction points in Eastern Ladakh, and patrolling has also started from Saturday. Do you have anything to say about that? And also, could you just elaborate how China sees the disengagement process that is now underway at that part of the Line of Actual Control?
Mao Ning: Chinese and Indian troops are executing the agreements the two sides have reached on issues regarding the border area, and so far, everything is in order.
CCTV: You just announced that Premier Li Qiang will attend the eighth Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit. Could you tell us a little bit about the background of this meeting and what China expects?
Mao Ning: The eighth GMS Summit will be held in Kunming, Yunnan from November 6 to 7. Premier Li Qiang will attend the meeting and chair it. The theme of the event is “Toward a Better Community Through Innovation-driven Development.”
The GMS has, since its establishment over three decades ago, through concerted efforts from the six GMS member countries-China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam as well as the Asian Development Bank, promoted vigorous coordination in economic and social development and regional integration and brought tangible benefits to the people of these countries. It is, therefore, the time when, amidst sluggish economic recovery and geopolitical turbulence in the world, we need to strengthen our solidarity and cooperation and concentrate on development and prosperity. The purpose of this summit is for China to have in-depth exchanges with other parties, placing an emphasis on openness, innovation, connectivity, and coordination, to strive for new progress in cooperation in key areas, including regional connectivity, trade and investment, agriculture and poverty alleviation, and make greater contributions to promoting sustainable development and economic integration in the region. TASS: The vote counting of the second round of Moldova’s presidential election is almost over. Incumbent President Maia Sandu won 55 percent of the votes, according to reports. How does China comment on it? How can China expect its future relations with Moldova?
Mao Ning: Moldova is a friendly partner to China. China has respected the choice of the people of Moldova at all times and sincerely hopes the country will continue to maintain stability and achieve prosperity. China is willing to work with Moldova to advance the sustained growth of bilateral relations.
Bloomberg: We have reports that Japan’s national security adviser is visiting China and on that trip he is working for high-level interactions between the two countries. Can the Ministry confirm this visit? Are there plans for such high-level interactions?
Mao Ning: On the sidelines of the summit, Secretary General of Japan’s National Security Secretariat Takeo Akiba visited China today. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi had a new round of China-Japan high-level political dialogue with him this morning.
China Daily: Botswana’s presidential election was held on October 30. Duma Boko, president of the Umbrella for Democratic Change, was elected as Botswana’s new President and was sworn in on November 1. Has China any comment on that?
Congratulations to Botswana on the peaceful presidential election and to Mr. Duma Boko for his election and swearing-in as President of Botswana. We wish Botswana all success in national development under the leadership of President Duma Boko.
Botswana is one of China’s key cooperation partners in southern Africa. Both peoples enjoy a deep traditional friendship and fruitful practical cooperation which has brought both sides considerable benefit. China attaches importance to working together with Botswana in expanding strategic partnership through multiple positive measures based on the implementation of the outcome of FOCAC Beijing Summit.
AFP: North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui declared from Moscow on Friday, saying North Korea will remain in the camp of its strategic partner Russia until this partner emerges victorious in the battle of Ukraine. How do you respond to these recent declarations by North Korean official sources?
Mao Ning: As for bilateral communications between Russia and the DPRK, we have stated our standpoint many times. The point regarding the Ukraine crisis remains that China’s policy position is steady and firm.
Global Times: Reports said the incumbent President of Palau Surangel Whipps who is also running for general election claims that China was ratcheting up the pressure and asked him to sever the country’s “diplomatic relations” with Taiwan. Another contender, Tommy Esang Remengesau Jr denied analysis and comments labeling him as pro-China. Do you have any comment?
Mao Ning: Currently, some 183 countries around the globe have already established diplomatic relations with China based on the principle of one China. In this regard, the momentum of history is irreversible. At present, only an extremely small number of countries around the world still maintain so-called “diplomatic ties” with the Taiwan region. Such practice is directly contrary to the interests of the countries and their people as well as UNGA Resolution 2758, infringing upon China’s sovereignty, and thus must be corrected.
China urges these countries to implement their international law obligations promptly, take the right course in history, and act correctly to really meet fundamental and long-term interests in an early date. Those who suit their actions to the times are wise, as it is said in a Chinese idiom. It would be greatly appreciated by China if there were visionaries in those countries to identify the direction in which history and the times are heading and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China and choose the right side of international fairness and justice as early as possible. It’s never too late to forge new friendships. China is ready to open up new chapters for relations with these countries based on the one-China principle.