Zhao Lijian said that there is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. The PRC government is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This is a universally-recognized norm governing interna-tional relations and common consensus of the inter-national community. History brooks no falsification, facts cannot be denied, and right and wrong should not be distorted. The US has made solemn commit-ments on the Taiwan question and the one-China principle in the three China-US joint communiqués. The US’ latest modification of the fact sheet is a trick to obscure and hollow out the one-China principle. Such political manipulation of the Taiwan question and the attempt to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait will hurt the US itself.
The US should abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three joint communiqués, follow through on the political commitments on the Taiwan question it made to China, and fulfill Presi-dent Biden’s statement that the US does not support “Taiwan independence” with real actions. It should stop engaging in political manipulation of Taiwan-related issues and containing China with the Taiwan question.
Zhao said certain Western countries and organi-zation ganged up to maliciously smear the election of the Chief Executive of the HKSAR and grossly inter-fere in China’s internal affairs. China firmly rejects and strongly condemns this.
The just-concluded election of the Sixth-Term Chief Executive of the HKSAR is another successful implementation of the new electoral system in the HKSAR. The election process was conducted in a fair and just manner in accordance with laws and regulations. The election result is widely expected and welcomed by the people. It fully demonstrates the new vitality of the democratic practice in Hong Kong and the true democratic spirit. Certain coun-tries, in defiance of the facts about Hong Kong’s improved democracy and against the mainstream public opinion in Hong Kong for solidarity and progress, style themselves as a “lecturer” on democ-racy and make irresponsible remarks on the democ-ratic election in the SAR and Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, human rights and freedom. By doing so, they are only revealing their hypocrisy, double standards and the plots to contain China by destabilizing Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is China’s Hong Kong. The kind of electoral system and the choice of democratic path is purely China’s internal affair that allows no foreign interference. Relevant countries and organization should respect China’s sovereignty, abide by international law and basic norms governing inter-national relations, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and other internal affairs of China in any form. The Chinese government is firmly committed to fully and faithfully implementing the principle of One Country, Two Systems and developing sound democracy that suits Hong Kong’s reality. No external forces can attain the end with pressure and sabotage. We believe Hong Kong will open up a new prospect of good governance and write a new chapter of strides from stability to prosperity.
He said on the night of May 9, Special Repre-sentative of President Xi Jinping, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended and addressed the Leaders’ Meeting on Drought and Sustainable Land Governance in a pre-recorded video. He elaborated on China’s proposition on global drought and desertification governance, and shared the Xi Jinping thought on ecological progress, the Global Development Initiative, and China’s achievement in desertification prevention and treatment. He proposed that we need to make solid efforts to strengthen international cooperation, take firm actions to promote green development, and take effective steps to improve international rules. On behalf of China, he also called on all sides to increase support for Africa and work together to enhance drought and desertification prevention and treatment, achieve sustainable development, and create a cleaner and more beautiful world.
State Councilor Wang Yi’s remarks were warmly received among all parties at the meeting, especially African countries. They applauded China’s vigorous cooperation with Africa and active participation in global environmental governance, admired China’s exemplary achievement of becoming one the first countries to realize land degradation neutrality, and expressed their expectation that China will play a leading role in green and low-carbon development globally.
The summit is the high-level segment of the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Deserti-fication. It adopted the Abidjan Call to strengthen global desertification governance with political will and bolstered all parties’ ambitious vision for land restoration and drought response. The meeting was chaired by President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, and attended and addressed by leaders of more than 10 countries.
He said China congratulates the Philippines on the smooth presidential election. Our congratulations also go to the leading candidates. We hope and believe that various political forces in the Philippines will continue to work in solidarity for national re-newal and development.
China and the Philippines, facing each other across the waters, enjoy a long-standing traditional friendship. We are good partners for mutually-beneficial cooperation and fellow travelers on the road to common development. Under the strategic guidance of our heads of state, bilateral relations have been steadily upgraded. The flourishing relationship has delivered benefits to both peoples and contributed to regional peace and stability. China will continue to work together with the Philippines to stay committed to good-neighborliness and friendship, focus on post-COVID growth, expand win-win cooperation, and bring more tangible benefits to both peoples.
Zhao said we have noted the statement of Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia. It is China’s consistent belief that sanctions and pressures will win no sup-port, but would only inflict more hardships on Venezuela’s economy and people’s livelihood. China firmly opposes US unilateral sanctions and so-called “long-arm jurisdiction” on Venezuela. We always support Venezuela’s efforts to uphold justice and oppose hegemony.
The US has unceasingly slapped wilful sanctions in disregard of sovereign equality and other basic principles of international law and without UN mandates. By doing so, it seeks to obtain geo-political and economic interests to safeguard its own hegemony. This contradicts the overall interests of the international community, deviates from the overriding public opinion, and constitutes grave violation of international law.
Instead of solving problems, frequent sanctions imposed by the US have hurt the innocent and caused a series of humanitarian disasters. Venezuela is not the only country that suffers. Victims bearing direct consequences of US sanctions also include Cuba, the DPRK, Myanmar, Iran and Russia. And there are many more countries in the world that are subject to secondary sanctions. All these measures have also taken a toll on the global economic and financial order, and global energy and food security, making the already struggling world economy even worse.
The US attempt to crush other countries and de-stabilize the world through “sanctions diplomacy” will only end up hurting its own interests. The US should immediately lift illegal and unilateral sanc-tions, and stop the erroneous acts of interfering in other countries’ internal affairs and disrupting re-gional situation.
Zhao Lijian said on your first question, China believes that relevant communication and cooperation between the EU and Japan should be conducive to regional stability and development, and to the steady and smooth operation of the global supply chain.
