Home Meetings & Statements Events & Activities China & UN Documents About China 中文
  Home > Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on February 18, 2022

2022-02-18 19:23

Xinhua News Agency: Recently, China and France signed the Fourth Round China-France Third-Party Market Cooperation Pilot Project List. Can you give us more details?

Wang Wenbin: To follow through on the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries on developing the third-party market cooperation, China and France recently signed the Fourth Round China-France Third-Party Market Cooperation Pilot Project List. The list includes seven projects in such areas as infrastructure, environmental protection and new energy with a total value of over $1.7 billion. The cooperation involves such areas as Africa and Central and Eastern Europe, and will play an active role in promoting the economic and social development of third countries.

China-France relations have maintained the sound momentum of development. On February 16, President Xi Jinping and President Emmanuel Macron had their eighth successful conversation over the phone since the start of COVID-19. They agreed to accelerate the implementation of the Fourth Round China-France Third-Party Market Cooperation Pilot Project List. For the next step, the two sides will create conditions and build platforms for companies to carry out cooperation in third-party markets and implement more demonstration projects for the benefit of all parties. 

People’s Daily: Tomorrow will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Argentina. How does China assess the relations over the past 50 years? What celebrations will be held?

Wang Wenbin: As you said, tomorrow will mark the 50th anniversary of China-Argentina diplomatic ties. Over the past five decades, China-Argentina friendship has demonstrated great vitality and born fruits like a giant tree. President Alberto Fernández attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games and paid a successful visit to China not long ago, and President Xi Jinping had a friendly and fruitful meeting with him. The two heads of state spoke highly of the development of the bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties, and agreed to jointly usher in the next 50 years of glory for China-Argentina comprehensive strategic partnership.

To celebrate the anniversary, the two heads of state announced the launch of the China-Argentina Friendship and Cooperation Year 2022, during which the two sides will hold wide-ranging exchange and activities throughout the whole year. The two heads of state will exchange congratulatory messages on the 50th anniversary. A video contest themed with the Friendship and Cooperation Year has begun. Well-known Argentine bloggers Brian González and Brian O’Shea invited friends from China and Argentina to share stories about friendship between the two countries. China Philately will issue a commemorative cover for the 50th anniversary of China-Argentina diplomatic ties. Chinese provinces and cities like Beijing and Sichuan will also host various activities with their Argentine sister provinces/cities. Please stay tuned.

CRI: Yesterday, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the China-Sri Lanka political parties’ conference commemorating the 65th anniversary of China-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations and the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact. Can you tell us more about it and share your expectation of China-Sri Lanka relations going forward?

Wang Wenbin: On February 17, the Communist Party of China (CPC) and major political parties of Sri Lanka jointly held a meeting to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Sri Lanka and the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Rice-Rubber Pact. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, sent a congratulatory letter to the conference. Leaders of about 20 major political parties and 700 representatives from various sectors in Sri Lanka attended the meeting. Sri Lanka’s political parties highly appreciated China’s remarkable achievements under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and thanked China for its strong support to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka sees China as a true friend and stands ready to work with the CPC to carry forward the spirit of the Rice-Rubber Pact, deepen political mutual trust and advance cooperation in various fields under the guidance of inter-party relations. Political parties on the Sri Lankan side also congratulated on the success of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games and wished the 20th National Congress of the CPC a complete success.

China and Sri Lanka enjoy a long history of exchanges. Our relations have withstood the test of time and the evolving international landscape. We have set a good example of friendly co-existence and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries of different size. In 2014, President Xi Jinping paid a historic state visit to Sri Lanka, opening a new chapter in China-Sri Lanka friendly cooperation. As we celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka and the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact, China is ready to work with Sri Lanka to carry forward the spirit of the Rubber-Rice Pact characterized by independence, self-reliance, unity and mutual support, further deepen the traditional friendship, enhance political mutual trust, and strengthen solidarity against COVID-19. We will elevate practical cooperation such as the Belt and Road cooperation, have closer coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and consolidate and expand China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership to bring more benefits to the two countries and two peoples. 

Bloomberg: The US added the e-commerce ecosystem of the Chinese messaging platform WeChat and the online marketplace AliExpress to its list of markets for counterfeiting and piracy. That’s according to the US trade representative statement. What’s the Foreign Ministry’s comment?

Wang Wenbin: I’ll refer you to the competent authorities for the question.

I would like to stress that China always attaches high importance to the protection of intellectual property rights. The progress we have achieved in recent years is witnessed by all. I would like to share some facts with you here. In 2021, a total of 110,000 invention patents were approved and authorized for overseas applicants in China, up by 23 percent year on year. Overseas applicants registered a total of 194,000 trademarks in China, up by 5.2 percent year on year. Among them, authorized invention patents and registered trademarks applied for by US enterprises increased by 32.1 percent and 17.3 percent respectively. The number of intellectual properties held by overseas applicants in China keeps growing fast, indicating overseas enterprises’ strong confidence in China’s intellectual property protection and business environment.

China also encourages Chinese companies to conduct cooperation overseas in accordance with market principles and host country laws and regulations. We urge the US side to stop politicizing economic and trade issues, view Chinese companies’ efforts and achievements in IPR protection in a comprehensive, objective and just manner, and foster an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese and US companies to conduct cooperation on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect, so as to promote the sound and steady development of China-US economic and trade ties.

NHK: Can you share the number of foreign dignitaries expected to attend the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games? 

Wang Wenbin: I would refer you to the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG).

CNR: According to reports, a US State Department spokesperson said recently that Nepal must decide whether it will ratify the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact between the two countries by February 28, otherwise it will have an impact on the US-Nepal bilateral relationship. At present, differences persist between various political parties in Nepal and no agreement has been reached to submit the compact to the Parliament for review. Besides, there were demonstrations against the MCC project in Nepal. Does China have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: We’ve noted relevant reports. China is glad to see the international community conducting development cooperation with Nepal to contribute to its economic growth and livelihood improvement. However, such cooperation should be based on full respect for the will of the Nepalese people and come with no political strings attached. We oppose coercive diplomacy and actions that pursue selfish agenda at the expense of Nepal’s sovereignty and interests. 

As Nepal’s friendly close neighbor and development partner, China will, as always, support the Nepalese people in choosing their development path independently, support Nepal in making the right choice in keeping with its national interests and people’s will, and continue to provide assistance and support for the country’s socioeconomic development to the best of our capability.

CCTV: On February 17, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at the UN Security Council that US information indicates that Russia “takes steps down the path to war” and is “preparing to launch an attack against Ukraine in the coming days”. By sharing the intelligence, he added, the US aims “not to start a war, but to prevent one”. Does China have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: The credibility of the US intelligence community has been tested on many occasions, including Iraq and Ukraine.

I would like to stress once again that in seeking a political resolution of the Ukraine issue, nobody should put up a smokescreen of war and use it as leverage, or threaten others with sanctions and pressure, still less resort to the means of inciting bloc confrontation. Efforts should be made on the basis of the Minsk-2 agreement to properly treat the reasonable security concerns of all sides including Russia through dialogue and negotiation, and work for the full resolution of the Ukraine crisis and related issues.

PTI: Further to what you said about Sri Lankan political parties’ conference and President Xi’s address. Was there any discussion about Sri Lanka’s recent request to China about rescheduling its debt and also the financial crisis being faced by the country and China’s assistance in this regard? 

Wang Wenbin: I just shared the information about the meeting to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Sri Lanka and the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Rice-Rubber Pact.

As to your question about the specifics, I can tell you that China and Sri Lanka have been promoting practical cooperation in various areas on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. China will work with Sri Lanka to continue to uphold the spirit of the Rubber-Rice Pact characterized by independence, self-reliance, unity and mutual support, elevate practical cooperation such as the Belt and Road cooperation, and make greater efforts in promoting further development of the bilateral relations.

Beijing Youth Daily: We have noted that Beijing 2022 has recently won kudos from the IOC, heads of delegation and athletes from many countries, who shared that the Olympic Games are very successful. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: We are delighted to see that since the beginning of the Games, all the work, including organization of the events, has won high recognition and appreciation from IOC officials, delegations and athletes at the Games.

IOC President Thomas Bach said at a press conference that Beijing 2022 is “very successful”. The athletes have demonstrated “outstanding performance with unprecedented Olympic spirit”. He added that the athletes are “more than happy”, and are “extremely happy with the venues, the villages and the services being offered”.

Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi also noted that “the operations were very successful from the very beginning. This says a lot about the quality of the organization, the attention to the details”, adding that “the organizers are doing everything to support the athletes”. Heads of US and British delegations to the Games also pointed out the Olympic Games are splendid and the facilities of the venues and services are impressive. Their athletes are satisfied and enjoy the Games in Beijing. Olympians from many countries could not hold back their praises, and showed understanding and observance of COVID-19 protocols.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, the Beijing Olympic Winter Games began as scheduled and are successfully held in an inspiring manner. Beijing 2022 is also the first Winter Games after “together” was integrated into the Olympic motto. In this gathering under the Olympic flag, world athletes are competing against others and themselves. When presenting the best of themselves, the Olympians are living up to the Olympic motto of “Faster, Higher, Stronger -- Together”. China will continue to work with all parties to ensure a perfect conclusion of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games and a successful opening of the Paralympic Games, and make new contribution to the development of the Olympic cause and humanity’s solidarity and progress.

PTI: Further to what you said about the French and Chinese joint cooperation in investment in other countries, you spoke of Africa, where the two countries are probably going to invest. Are there any other places where this particular kind of investments is planned? What is the kind of the amount of investment that is being contemplated by the two countries?

Wang Wenbin: I just briefed you on the signing of the Fourth Round China-France Third-Party Market Cooperation Pilot Project List. The list includes seven projects in such areas as infrastructure, environmental protection and new energy with a total value of over $1.7 billion. And the cooperation involves such areas as Africa and Central and Eastern Europe. The Chinese competent authority has released a readout, and you may refer to that.

Suggest to a friend
  Print