At the invitation of First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov and Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Prikhodko of the Russian Federation, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius of the Republic of Lithuania, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic of the Republic of Serbia, and First Deputy Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of the State Council will host the 2nd session of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee and attend the 19th Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia, and visit Lithuania, Serbia and Kazakhstan from June 17 to 26.
At the invitation of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna of the Republic of Poland will pay an official visit to China from June 17 to 19. During the visit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will co-host with Foreign Minister Schetyna the 1st plenary session of the China-Poland Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee.
Q:Aung San Suu Kyi kicked off her visit to China today. Please brief us on the agenda. What does China expect from this visit?
A: The relevant department will release information of Madame Aung San Suu Kyi and her delegation’s visit to China in due course. The visit to China by the Myanmar National League for Democracy (NLD) delegation led by Madame Aung San Suu Kyi is part of the party-to-party exchanges between China and Myanmar. The CPC has long maintained friendly exchanges with different parties of Myanmar. It is hoped that this visit would further deepen mutual understanding and trust between the two parties and move forward the development of China-Myanmar cooperation in various fields.
Q: The US Department of State issued the 2015 Report on Adherence to and Compliance With Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments, which includes some contents about China. What is your comment?
A: China has made positive efforts and significant contributions in arms control and nonproliferation for many years, and the US has repeatedly offered approval to this through bilateral channels at various levels in the past year. Nevertheless, the US once again harped on the same old tune of making presumptuous comments on China’s compliance with its commitments in this year’s Report issued by the State Department. The Chinese side is confused and astonished by this, and also dissatisfied with this. The US Report made baseless and irresponsible accusations against China, we hereby express opposition to this. What the US did will not help advance international cooperation on arms control and nonproliferation based on equality, mutual trust and respect.
Q: According to media reports, several Chinese fishermen were released after serving a one-year sentence in the Philippines. Do you have any comment on this?
A: We have noted the relevant report. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and the adjacent waters. The Philippine side severely violates China’s sovereignty and jurisdiction by illegally detaining Chinese fishing vessels and fishermen in waters off China’s Nansha Islands and making the so-called “judicial decision”. Its move is illegal and invalid. The Chinese side strongly protests against and firmly opposes the Philippines’ illegal detention of Chinese personnel.
Q: Chinese-Australian senator Dio Wang today showed public support to the Chinese government’s position on the South China Sea issue. Are you aware of his remarks?
A: We have noted the relevant report. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and the adjacent waters. China’s construction on some maritime features of the Nansha Islands, which is justified, reasonable and lawful, falls well within China’s sovereignty. It aims to better provide international public services and fulfill China’s international obligations.
