At the invitation of Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha, from December 14 to 20, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan, hold the 2nd China-Kazakhstan Regular Prime Ministers' Meeting, attend the 13th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States, attend the 3rd Meeting of Heads of Government of Central and Eastern European Countries and China to be held in Serbia, pay an official visit to Serbia, and attend the 5th Summit of the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program to be held in Thailand.
As mutually agreed upon by China and the US, the 25th Meeting of China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade will be held in Chicago, the US, from December 16 to 18. Vice Premier Wang Yang of the State Council, US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and US Trade Representative Michael Froman will co-chair the meeting.
Q: After Maldives was hit by a fresh water crisis. China offered humanitarian assistance to Maldives. What is Maldives' response to China's assistance?
A: Since Maldives was hit by the fresh water crisis, China answered to Maldives' urgent call by providing humanitarian assistance at short notice. It highlights the fact that China and its neighboring countries belong to a community of shared destiny. President Yameen of Maldives said on December 9, when Male was cut off fresh water, the Chinese government responded at the earliest time possible, mobilized resources swiftly, transported large amounts of fresh water to Maldives, and provided emergency aid in cash. The Maldivian government and people are deeply grateful for China's kindness and generous help.
At present, the fresh water crisis is yet to be altogether lifted, China will remain in close contact with the Maldivian side and follow up with further assistance in accordance with their needs.
Q: The US Senate released a report on December 9 showing that the US Central Intelligence Agency tortured terrorist suspects. Does China condemn such actions?
A: We have noted relevant report. China consistently opposes torture. We believe that the US side should reflect upon and rectify its relevant behavior, earnestly obey and implement the provisions of international conventions.
Follow-up question: The report also mentioned the existence of 9 black sites. What is China's comment on that?
A: I have already elaborated on China's position.
Q: December 10 is the International Human Rights Day. Can you talk about the current conditions of human rights in China? What has China done to improve its domestic human rights record and enhance international cooperation in the field of human rights?
A: China attaches great importance to improving and protecting human rights. To guarantee 1.3 billion people's right to subsistence and development has always been on the top of our priority. We have been working vigorously to promote economic and social development, elevate people's living standards in an all-round way, steadily move forward the build-up of democracy and rule-of-law, and earnestly implement the constitutional principle that the state respects and guarantees human rights. As a result, the Chinese people are now enjoying a higher level of human rights at every metric. The 3rd and the 4th plenary sessions of the 18th CPC Central Committee laid out strategic plans respectively for comprehensively deepening reform and pushing forward the governance of the state by rule-of-law, which charted the course and drew the blueprint for China's future development, and again demonstrated China's confidence and resolve to improve and protect human rights.
It is China's long-standing position to carry out constructive dialogue and cooperation in the field of human rights on the basis of equality and mutual respect. We have been engaging in human rights dialogue and communication with various countries so as to enhance understanding and narrow differences. China has been playing a positive role in participating in the UN human rights endeavors and opposed to politicizing human rights issue and adopting double standards. Together with other countries, China will uphold the approach of addressing human rights issue in an impartial, objective, and non-selective way, and make positive contributions to the international human rights cause.
