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China Daily: We note that the Chinese medical team on COVID-19 to Ethiopia and Djibouti has fulfilled its mission and returned to China on May 12. Can you give us more details about your work abroad?
Zhao Lijian: The team of medical experts from Ethiopia and Djibouti was one of the first COVID-19 experts sent by the Chinese government to Africa.
The experts arrived in Ethiopia on April 16 and then traveled to Djibouti on April 30. In the past month, they shared experiences and knowledge about epidemics with WHO officials in the African Union, CDC Africa and local medical institutions and health officials. Experts visited designated hospitals, quarantine centers, and test centers, discussed the epidemics with local medical workers, and made calibrated proposals for containment and treatment. His dedication and professionalism have been highly praised by the African side. On 10 May, the Prime Minister of Djibouti, Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, awarded the Republic of Djibouti’s Independence Day Medal to the 12 members of the expert team for their contributions to the country.
After the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, China sent five medical teams to Africa and conducted nearly 30 video conferences with African countries. The more than 40 medical teams already working in Africa also took active steps, conducting around 400 training activities to share the anti-epidemic experience and training more than 20,000 local medical workers. These numbers vividly demonstrate a closer China-Africa community with a shared future. China will continue to stand firm with our African brothers and support their efforts to fight COVID-19 for the final victory against the virus.
CRI: According to reports, yesterday the countries of China and the Caribbean with diplomatic relations held a special videoconference of Deputy Foreign Ministers on COVID-19. What does China think of the results of this meeting? With the pandemic wreaking havoc around the world, how does China plan to offer more support and assistance to Caribbean states whose national public health systems are relatively fragile?
Zhao Lijian: Yesterday, the countries of China and the Caribbean that have diplomatic relations with him held a special meeting of deputy foreign ministers on COVID-19 through a video link. Delegates from China and nine Caribbean states attended the virtual meeting jointly organized by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zheng Zeguang, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kenneth Darroux, from the Community of Dominica. They held an in-depth exchange on issues including the domestic situation and response of COVID-19, China-Caribbean cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, and the coordination and cooperation of the two parties in international affairs, reaching a broad consensus.
This was an important meeting between China and the Caribbean countries at a crucial juncture in the global fight against COVID-19. All parties expressed their willingness to improve cooperation in prevention and control and jointly defend global health security. The Caribbean side also voiced its objection to the practices of politicization, stigmatization and labeling under the guise of the pandemic, and support for WHO’s leading role in the global response. The Caribbean countries reiterated their commitment to the One-China principle and to mutual assistance with China in matters related to the main interests and main concerns of each one. China highly appreciates this.
China and the Caribbean countries have been supporting and helping each other in the fight against COVID-19, adding a new chapter to the friendship between China and the Caribbean. This virtual conference served to direct the cooperation of the two parties in the next stage in the fight against the pandemic.
Going forward, China will continue to strongly support the Caribbean side’s efforts against COVID-19, share our containment experience and treatment solutions, offer supplies and technical assistance, and facilitate foreign purchase of medical supplies in China. In the meantime, we will actively expand comprehensive practical cooperation with Caribbean countries in areas such as trade and investment and strengthen communication and coordination in international and regional organizations to elevate relations to a new level.
The pandemic will eventually pass, but what China and the Caribbean countries have is a lasting relationship. The friendship and cooperation between the two parties, after the test of this pandemic, will emerge stronger and deeper.
AFP: Regarding the French government’s plan to sell arms to Taiwan, I understand that the Foreign Ministry strongly opposes that and demands that the French side withdraw its plan, but the French company simply refuted criticism from China. I wonder what is your answer to that.
Zhao Lijian: Our position is consistent and clear: we strongly oppose other countries that sell arms to the Taiwan region or carry out military exchanges with it. We have expressed serious concerns to the French side.
Once again, we urge the French side to seriously abide by the one-China principle and withdraw its arms sales plan to avoid further damage to China-France relations.
ABC Australia: Australian Commerce Minister Simon Birmingham has said he is seeking talks with his Chinese trade counterpart to discuss both the suspension of four Australian meat export certification companies and possible barley tariffs. Would the Chinese side be willing to facilitate talks at the political level on these two issues?
Zhao Lijian: I spoke of China’s position in recent days on Australian beef exports and tariffs on Australian barley.
As we said, China’s position on its relationship with Australia is clear and consistent. Strong and stable ties between China and Australia serve the common interests of both, but efforts are required on both sides to ensure such a relationship. We hope that Australia can work with us to maintain mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit and strive to advance bilateral cooperation and mutual trust, as does the comprehensive strategic partnership of both parties.
On the specific matter you mentioned, I will leave it to the competent authorities.
The document: The National Research Council of Canada reportedly said on May 12 that the Canadian side is working with China’s CanSino Biologics Inc. to prepare the ground for future vaccine testing in Canada. The company plans to file clinical trial applications with the Canadian health authorities. How does China view health cooperation between the two countries, including vaccine development? And how do you see the cooperation of the two countries in the fight against COVID-19 since it broke out?
Zhao Lijian: Since COVID-19 broke out, China and Canada have been supporting and helping each other with strong antivirus cooperation. The 32 tons of medical supplies donated by the Chinese government just arrived in Canada the other day. China has also been facilitating the commercial purchase of Canadian medical supplies in China.
The virus poses a challenge to all humanity, since it does not respect borders. The development of vaccines is of vital importance for the prevention and control of the pandemic and, therefore, is the key to defeating the virus. China is actively seeking international cooperation in drug and vaccine research and development with many countries, including Canada. We are ready to work with the Canadian side and the rest of the world to accelerate the development and production of COVID-19 medical products and contribute to global public health security and the joint response to the pandemic.
Bloomberg: A London-based researcher named Benjamin Strick says that between April 25 and May 3, he identified more than 1,000 Twitter accounts that were associated with an alleged Chinese disinformation effort. The accounts have been used to promote content that attacks critics of the Chinese government and to spread conspiracy theories, according to this researcher. I wonder if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has any comment on it.
Zhao Lijian: Twitter has responded to some allegations about China by spreading disinformation on this platform, and denied the claims.
China opposes creating or spreading disinformation. The allegations in relevant reports from China spreading disinformation on Twitter are unfounded.
AFP: US Republican senators on Tuesday proposed new legislation, which will give US executive authorities the power to impose sanctions on China if it does not fully account for the coronavirus outbreak. Does China have any reaction to this move by the United States Republican Senators?
Zhao Lijian: This act sponsored by several American lawmakers does not show respect for the facts. By pressing for investigations based on the presumption of guilt, it is intended to shirk responsibility for the clumsy United States’ response to China. This is highly immoral. We strongly oppose it.
Since the outbreak began, China has been acting openly, transparently and responsibly. We have maintained close communication and cooperation with WHO and support its global efforts against COVID-19 with concrete actions. All of these have been recognized by the international community. We also support the assessment of country response at the right time to promote international cooperation in health and global governance of public health so that we can better react to similar challenges in the future.
China has passed legislation that prohibits all illegal hunting, trade, transportation, and consumption of wild animals. There are no so-called “wet wildlife markets” in China. What you can find are farmers markets and live seafood and poultry markets. Such markets not only exist in China, but are also commonplace in many other countries. There is no international law that restricts its operation.
The Politician website previously released a 57-page memo that the Republican National Senate Committee sent to electoral organizations, which it encouraged to “actively attack China” in response to the coronavirus crisis. He highlighted three main lines of assault, including attributing the spread of the virus to China’s cover-up. The note boils down to attacking China whenever the outbreak is mentioned. It is possible that EE. USA I want to continue putting on this blame China show, but your script has been so exposed that there is no point in going ahead.
A word of advice to Americans: Don’t dig too deep into the show to lose sight of reality. These American politicians should focus their attention and energy on fighting the outbreak and protecting the American people, doing what they are supposed to do, and contributing constructively to global cooperation against COVID-19, rather than brainstorming to distract the attention and deflect responsibility.
Bloomberg: The President of the Paris Club has said that China is expected to provide debt relief to other nations that joined the deal by participating in a global push to stop debt repayment to poor countries that need the funds to combat the pandemic. We wonder if this is true?
Zhao Lijian: China is not a member of the Paris Club. Since 2013, China has been regularly attending its activities on an ad hoc basis. Our communication with the members of the Paris Club flows smoothly.
Due to the outbreak, the world economy is facing increasing downward pressure and increasing factors of uncertainty and instability. Many developing countries face challenges of economic development and increasing risks of default.
China, upholding the vision of building a community of shared future for all humanity and putting justice before interests, has contributed to poverty reduction and development in other developing countries, as its capacity allows. China recently joined the G20 initiative to “support a suspension of debt service payments for the poorest countries” that has frozen both principal repayments and interest payments for these countries since May 1, 2020 to the end of 2020. China will strengthen communication and cooperation with all parties should implement follow-up measures of this initiative. We also call on relevant multilateral financial institutions and private creditors to take appropriate measures to reduce the debt burden of developing countries.
We will continue to work with all parties to minimize the negative impacts that this pandemic has caused on the world economy and the economies of all countries and achieve development for all.
CNN: There are reports that debris from the Chinese Long March-5B rocket launched last week fell on at least two villages on the Ivory Coast in Africa. Could you confirm and offer more information?
Zhao Lijian: I have no information about it and I refer it to the competent authorities.
Reuters: The US administration is pressing a retirement savings fund not to invest in certain Chinese companies, which it says violates human rights or threatens national security. What is your comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: As we said repeatedly, in an era of globalization, the interests of all countries are very intertwined. The nature of economic cooperation between China and the United States is mutually beneficial. In recent years, China’s capital market has attracted investors from around the world, including the US. USA This shows confidence in China’s continued growth and bright prospects, as well as recognition of its efforts to deepen reform and opening up the capital market.
It is inconsistent with the laws of the economy to obstruct or even politicize the normal investment of the United States in the Chinese markets under the pretext of national security. It will only cost them business opportunities and undermine the interests of American investors.
Reuters: A United States government commission has said the WHO’s exclusion of Taiwan has led to the loss of more lives in the pandemic. Do you have any comments on this?
Zhao Lijian: I think you were referring to the China Economic and Security Review Commission, USA. USA Their reports are always distorting and prejudiced facts.
China’s position on the participation of the Taiwan region in WHO activities is clear and consistent. It must be managed in accordance with the One China principle. Under this precondition, the Central Government of China has made adequate arrangements for the Taiwan region’s participation in global health issues, ensuring that the region can deal with local or global public health emergencies in a timely manner and effective. The Taiwan region is never excluded from the WHO global anti-epidemic system.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the DPP authorities in Taiwan have been doing everything possible to make reckless political maneuvers and exaggerate Taiwan’s participation in the WHO and the World Health Assembly. Its true intention is to request foreign support and seek independence under the pretext of the pandemic. We strongly oppose that. Your scheme will never be successful.
China urges the relevant party in the United States to comply with the One-China principle and stop supporting the political maneuvers of the Taiwanese authorities to seek independence under the guise of the epidemic response, in order to avoid disrupting global solidarity and cooperation against the pandemic.
