Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s Regular Press Conference on June 30, 2026

At the invitation of Denmark's Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, and Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi will visit the four countries from July 2 to 8.

Xinhua News Agency: To follow up on your announcement, how does China view its relations with Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway? What do you expect to achieve through Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit?

Guo Jiakun: Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway are among the first European countries to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with New China, and we have a profound history of friendly ties. Recent years have seen steady and robust development of relations between China and the four countries, with fruitful cooperation in green transition, trade and investment, and sci-tech innovation, and broad-based consensus on upholding multilateralism and free trade and joint response to global challenges, including climate change. During the visit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will hold talks with his counterparts in the four countries respectively to have in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest.

Denmark is China's comprehensive strategic partner in Northern Europe. This will be the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Denmark in 15 years, and the first high-level face-to-face meeting after the new Danish government took office. China hopes to consolidate mutual trust, expand cooperation and deepen friendship with Denmark through the visit to open up new prospects for the China-Denmark comprehensive strategic partnership.

Sweden is China's largest trading partner in Northern Europe. The upcoming visit will be the first by a Chinese foreign minister to Sweden in 22 years. Through the visit, China looks forward to enhancing communication, deepening mutual trust and expanding cooperation with Sweden to consolidate the sound momentum of growth in bilateral relations.

China and Finland are future-oriented new-type cooperative partners. Recent years have seen successive visits to China by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Speaker of Finnish Parliament Jussi Halla-aho, and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. The two sides have had close high-level exchanges and fruitful practical cooperation in various fields. China hopes that the visit will enable the two sides to better deliver on the important common understandings between the leaders and provide fresh impetus for the development of the China-Finland partnership.

Norway is one of the first countries to recognize China's market economy status. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre visited China in 2024 as the two countries marked the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, which gave a strong boost to the development of bilateral ties. Through the visit, China will work with Norway to deliver on the important common understandings between the leaders, have in-depth exchanges of views on green transition, global governance, and other bilateral and multilateral issues, and promote the continued steady and sound development of China-Norway relations.

AFP: EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič held talks with Chinese Commerce Minister on Monday. The two sides vowed to tackle their trade frictions through dialogue despite the EU warning that the status quo was not an option. What is the foreign ministry's comment?

Guo Jiakun: For more specifics about the meeting, I would refer you to the competent Chinese authorities.

We would like to stress that China and the EU are partners, not rivals. China-EU economic and trade cooperation is mutually-beneficial and win-win in nature. The root cause of the EU's problems does not lie with China. The key to resolving issues in bilateral trade lies in deepening cooperation and realizing shared development. China is willing to step up communication and consultation with the EU to properly handle trade differences in a constructive manner based on the principles of equality, respect and mutual benefit, and jointly safeguard the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

CGTN: Recently a succession of events under the China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) cooperation framework were held in China, including the seventh Local Leaders' Meeting, Young Political Leaders Forum 2026, and the fourth Spokespersons Dialogue. Could you offer more information on China-CEEC cooperation?

Guo Jiakun: The China-CEEC cooperation mechanism is a trans-regional platform jointly initiated by both sides. Over the past 14 years since its establishment, parties have remained committed to the principles of equality, mutual benefit in cooperation, openness and inclusiveness against the backdrop of a fluid international landscape. Today, it has grown into a full-fledged mechanism with deepening cooperation and a series of outcomes delivering tangible benefits to various parties. The mechanism serves not only as an accelerator for bilateral relations and propeller for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, but also as a stellar example of building a community with a shared future for humanity in Europe.

Last month, the seventh China-CEEC Local Leaders' Meeting and the 2026 Shandong International Friendship Cities Cooperation and Exchange Week was held with great success in Jinan. Earlier this month, representatives of political parties, legislatures, think tanks and youth organizations of member countries gathered in Wuhan, Hubei for the China-CEEC Young Political Leaders Forum 2026. Yesterday China's State Council Information Office hosted the fourth China-CEEC Spokespersons Dialogue. All these events, aimed at deepening friendship and exchange and developing a shared vision for cooperation, have injected fresh momentum into China-CEEC cooperation.

For China, growing ties with central and eastern European countries has always been a strategic and long-term choice. We are ready to work together with all member countries to stay true to the mission and purpose of China-CEEC cooperation and make continued efforts to enrich and strengthen the mechanism so as to renew traditional friendship and provide stability and impetus to China-Europe relations.

China Daily: This year is the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Over the past six months, both sides have held activities that are well-received and actively participated by the two peoples. Could you update us on that and plans for events in the second half of the year?

Guo Jiakun: The year of 2026 is the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. This is an important consensus agreed by President Xi Jinping and African leaders. It aims to further promote China-Africa friendship, bring hearts closer, foster stronger bond, and pool greater strengths. This January, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the launching ceremony, pointing out the direction and principles of China-Africa people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, and providing guidance for carrying out relevant activities. The China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges is warmly welcomed by various sectors in China and African countries. Nearly 500 diverse activities have been held so far, characterized by three features. 

First, numerous highlights. On major milestones including extending zero-tariff treatment to 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China across the board starting from May 1, the 70th anniversary of China-Africa diplomatic relations, and the 50th anniversary of the full opening of the TAZARA Railway, the two sides have held a series of featured events, pooling strengths for the shared pursuit of modernization.

Second, broad coverage. The nearly 500 activities cover such areas as insights-sharing, mutual learning among civilizations, practical cooperation, youth exchanges and green development, which have tremendously enriched China-Africa people-to-people exchanges.

Third, extensive participation. The relevant activities cover all 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China and the African Union, attract active participation from Chinese and African people, and bring warmth of China-Africa friendship to every household. Chinese and African people have together composed a symphony featuring mutual understanding and affinity in the new era. 

More exciting events are to be held in the second half of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. We stand ready to work with the African side, jointly advance various activities, deepen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, and inject new impetus for building the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. 

Bloomberg: There have been reports that the Indian embassy in Beijing recently met with the Xinhua officials to discuss the return of Chinese journalists to India following an absence of accredited Chinese media since 2023. Can the foreign ministry confirm these talks and provide an update on the progress?

Guo Jiakun: I'm not aware of the specifics. China is always ready to promote cooperation with India in various areas on an equal and friendly basis, including cooperation in the media sector.