At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President Miloš Zeman of the Czech Republic will pay a state visit to China from October 24 to 27.
During President Zeman's visit to China, he will hold talks and meet with Chinese leaders. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Czech Republic. The Chinese side will take the visit as an opportunity to promote bilateral relations with the Czech side based on mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation.
I would like to brief you about measures taken by the Chinese side in support of West African countries' fight against the Ebola epidemic. The Chinese government immediately extended a helping hand to West African countries upon the outbreak of Ebola at the beginning of this year. We have provided, in April, August and September, three batches of humanitarian assistance to West African countries worth a total of 234 million yuan. Materials for disease prevention and medical treatment, food and cash are included in the assistance. We have also sent nearly 200 experts and medical workers to West African countries to combat the Ebola epidemic on the ground with local people. All these measures are well received by the international community, and lauded by West African countries, the UN and the World Health Organization. Yesterday, Premier Li Keqiang announced at the summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting that the Chinese side will provide a fourth batch of assistance amounting to at least 100 million yuan to West African countries. 60 ambulances, 100 motorcycles, 10,000 kits for disease prevention and nursing as well as 150,000 sets of personal protective equipment are included in the assistance. On top of that, the Chinese side will send dozens more experts, and plan on the training of 10,000 medical workers and cadres for disease prevention at community level.
With the contagion of Ebola virus in West Africa, we will continue to stand with West African countries to tide over the difficulty, and fight till we win the battle against the severe epidemic.
Q: On October 17, over 100 members from a cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visited the Yasukuni Shrine. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to the shrine. What is China's comment on that?
A: China is deeply concerned about and firmly opposed to the negative trends relating to the Yasukuni Shrine that are emerging in Japan.
We would like to reiterate that only when Japan earnestly faces up to and deeply reflects upon its history of aggression, and makes a clean break with militarism, can China-Japan relations achieve sound and stable development. We urge the Japanese side to deal with relevant issues in a responsible way, abide by the statements and commitments it has made so far on historical issues, and take concrete actions to gain the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.
Q: There has been a great pressure on the US government to impose the travel ban on visitors from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, given the spread of the Ebola epidemic. Is China considering the same move?
A: We have noted what the US is considering. Since the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic in some West African countries, the Chinese side has been in close communication and cooperation with them, endeavoring to help them overcome difficulties. The Chinese side has not taken any move similar to what the US is considering. We are ready to pull through together with West African countries, make energetic efforts to curb the epidemic and secure the victory of the battle.
Q: How will Japanese Prime Minister Abe's presentation of the ritual offering to the Yasukuni Shrine affect the chance of realizing a meeting between Chinese and Japanese leaders on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting?
A: As I pointed out just now, we are deeply concerned about and firmly opposed to the negative trends relating to the Yasukuni Shrine that are emerging in Japan. I have reiterated that Japan has to face up to and deeply reflect upon its history of aggression, and make a clean break with militarism. Only then can China-Japan relations achieve sound and stable development. The Japanese side should show its good faith in properly dealing with major and sensitive issues in bilateral relations and take concrete actions to remove the political obstacles impeding the development of bilateral relations.
