At the invitation of Meng Jianzhu, the Chinese Chairman of the China-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Secretary of the Commission of Political and Legal Affairs under the CPC Central Committee, Rustam Azimov, the Uzbek Chairman of the Committee and First Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan will co-host with Meng Jianzhu the third conference of the China-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee and attend the China-Uzbekistan Forum on Economic Cooperation and Trade on June 15 in Rizhao, Shandong Province of China.
The third China-Central Asia Cooperation Forum will be held in Rizhao, Shandong Province on June 16. Meng Jianzhu, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Commission of Political and Legal Affairs under the CPC Central Committee, First Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Rustam Azimov, Vice Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Valery Dil as well as around 300 delegates from all walks of life of China and the five Central Asian countries will attend the forum. This forum will be co-hosted by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Good-neighborly and Friendly Cooperation Committee and the People's Government of Rizhao, under the theme of "jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt and developing connectivity".
Q: First, media reports say that three Hong Kong tourists were killed and another three severely injured in a car accident in Thailand. How will the Foreign Ministry help them? Second, China today published the Progress in China's Human Rights in 2014, which emphasizes that the Chinese government protects Chinese people's freedom of speech. How do you interpret it?
A: On your first question, we have noted the relevant report. We extend deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathies to their families and the injured. The Chinese diplomatic missions in Thailand will help the bereaved families deal with follow-up matters, and provide the injured with strong support and assistance in their medical treatment.
On your second question, the Information Office of the State Council published the white paper on Progress in China's Human Rights in 2014, which displays a full picture of the progress achieved in China's human rights endeavor. The white paper reads that in 2014, the Chinese people enjoyed more practical benefits from the development of the country, and China's human rights endeavor also made new progress. It also points out that the tremendous achievements China has made in its human rights endeavor fully demonstrate that it has taken the correct path of human rights development that suits its national conditions. Along this path, the right direction of human rights development will be upheld; the combination of the universal human rights principle with China's national conditions will safeguard, at a higher level, the Chinese people's rights to life and development; law-based governance will ensure that China's human rights development is enshrined in the legal system and institutions; all aspects of human rights will be developed with key areas and the coordinated development of human rights and other areas will be promoted. While pursuing national rejuvenation, we will make utmost efforts to develop all endeavors that are conducive to safeguarding and realizing human rights, enable everyone to develop themselves and contribute to society, and create for everyone opportunities to live a good life, fulfill their dreams and enjoy equal participation and development.
Q: The 12th Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum and the 1st Strategic and Political Dialogue at the Senior Officials' Level will be held in Cairo, Egypt. Please give us more details.
A: From June 9 to 10, the 12th SOM of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum and the 1st Strategic and Political Dialogue at the Senior Officials' Level will be held at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo, Egypt. Deng Li, the Director-General of the Department of West Asian and North African Affairs of the Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Secretary General of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum will lead the Chinese delegation to these meetings.
As a significant and institutional activity of the Forum, the SOM will assess the implementation of the working plan of the Forum in the past year, and discuss the preparation for the 7th ministers' conference of the Forum. The establishment of the Strategic and Political Dialogue at the Senior Officials' Level is one of the outcomes of the 6th ministers' conference of the Forum. China-Arab relations, regional situation and other international and regional issues of common interest will be discussed at the dialogue.
It is believed that these conferences will play a positive role in boosting China-Arab relationship and the building of the Forum.
Q: The G7 Summit is being held in Germany to discuss global and regional issues. The summit will adopt a joint declaration which is likely to cover issues such as the South China Sea, the Ukrainian crisis and sanctions on Russia. China and Russia are not parties to the G7 Summit. Does China hold a position on the summit?
A: With regard to the topics being discussed at the G7 Summit, I'd like to point out that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and the adjacent waters. China's construction on some maritime features of the Nansha Islands is fully within China's sovereignty, and other countries have no right to interfere.
As for the Ukrainian crisis and sanctions on Russia, we have enunciated our consistent opposition to using sanctions or threatening to use sanctions at will. We believe that dialogue and negotiation is the only way to solve the Ukrainian crisis. It is hoped that parties concerned would implement the Minsk agreement, press ahead with the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis and make utmost efforts to uproot the crisis.
