Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s Regular Press Conference on May 21, 2026

At the invitation of Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will pay an official visit to China from May 23 to 26.

CCTV: Russian President Putin has wrapped up his state visit to China. What does the Chinese side think of the visit?

Guo Jiakun: During President Putin's visit, President Xi held in-depth, friendly and fruitful talks with him. The two presidents reached important new common understandings on advancing the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. They signed the joint statement on further strengthening comprehensive strategic coordination and deepening good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation, and witnessed the signing of 20 cooperation documents in such fields as trade, education, science and technology. The two countries also issued the joint statement on advocating a multipolar world and new type of international relations. Another 20 cooperation documents were concluded covering some other areas.

President Xi noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination. Over the past three decades, the China-Russia relationship has been growing in stature and now stands at the highest level in history as a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era, setting a prime example of a new type of major-country relationship. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation Between China and Russia. Over the years, the two countries have always adhered to the treaty's established principle of non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party, and stayed committed to mutual respect, equality, good faith and win-win cooperation, making important contributions to safeguarding international fairness and justice and promoting a new type of international relations, and serving as a vital constant amid century-defining changes sweeping across the world.

Under the joint strategic guidance of the two presidents, China-Russia relations have reached a new starting point. The two sides should follow the trend of the times toward peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, and strive for higher-quality development of bilateral ties. First, we should build higher-quality political mutual trust and give each other firm strategic support. Second, we should empower higher-quality mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly advance our two countries' development and revitalization. Third, we should promote higher-quality people-to-people connectivity and strengthen the foundation of lasting friendship between the two nations. Fourth, we should pursue higher-quality international coordination to reform and improve global governance.

China stands ready to work with Russia to fully and effectively deliver on the important common understandings between the two presidents, fully seize the historic opportunities, and work to further solidify the foundation of mutual trust, enrich the substance of cooperation, and create an even brighter prospect for China-Russia friendship for the benefit of the two peoples.

Prensa Latina: The Cuban government has strongly rejected the recent accusation made by the United States against Cuban leader Raúl Castro. What is China's comment on this latest development?

Guo Jiakun: China consistently and firmly opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council. We stand against abusing judicial means and exerting pressure on Cuba under any pretext by external forces. The United States should stop brandishing sanctions or judicial proceedings at Cuba and stop resorting to the threat of force at every turn. China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its sovereignty and national dignity and opposing external interference.

Associated Press of Pakistan: You just announced Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit China. He will start his visit to China on Saturday. Could you share more detail about his program? How do you assess the current China-Pakistan relations? What outcome does China hope the visit to yield? The second part of my question, Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize the People's Republic of China. On May 21, 1951, the two nations officially established diplomatic relations. This year, they are celebrating the 75th anniversary of this historic partnership. What are your thoughts on this milestone?

Guo Jiakun: As you said, today marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang exchanged congratulatory messages respectively with their counterparts President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on this occasion. Since the beginning of this year, the two countries have held a variety of commemorative events.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's upcoming official visit is an important high-level exchange as we mark the 75th anniversary. During the visit, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang will meet and hold talks  with him respectively. They will have in-depth exchanges of views on China-Pakistan relations and issues of mutual interest to chart the course forward for bilateral ties in new circumstances. Besides, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend a reception celebrating the 75th anniversary and visit Zhejiang Province.

China and Pakistan are good friends and all-weather strategic cooperative partners. Over the past 75 years, China-Pakistan relations have withstood various tests and stood rock solid, setting a shining example for state-to-state relations. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two countries, we have had frequent high-level exchanges, made solid progress in practical cooperation, and achieved fruitful outcomes in high-quality cooperation on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The two sides maintain close communication and coordination on major international and regional issues, which helps us to safeguard common interests and advance peace, stability and development in the region. China hopes that both sides will take the upcoming visit as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen cooperation across the board, and write a new chapter in building an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.

Reuters: A follow-up to Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit this week, we'd like to get more information on the progress of the Siberia 2 pipeline. Has there been any progress made towards the completion of the pipeline?

Guo Jiakun: Under the strategic guidance of the heads of state of the two countries, China and Russia engage in close cooperation in many fields, including energy. China stands ready to work together with the Russian side to continue deepening practical cooperation in the principle of mutual respect and mutual benefit.

AFP: South Korean media outlets have reported citing sources that Chinese leader is likely to visit North Korea. Can the foreign ministry confirm this and provide a comment? (Similar question from Yonhap News Agency)

Guo Jiakun: China and the DPRK are friendly socialist neighbors. The two parties and two countries have a long-term tradition of friendly exchanges, which serves the interests of the two sides as well as peace and stability in the region. For your specific question, I have no information to offer at the moment.

Yonhap News Agency: After the China-U.S. presidential meeting, the White House wrote in its fact sheet that President Trump and President Xi confirmed their shared goal of denuclearizing North Korea. However, nothing related to denuclearization was mentioned in yesterday's China-Russia presidential meeting. What's your comment?

Guo Jiakun: China has released the readouts on the China-Russia and China-U.S. presidential meetings. China's position and policy on the Korean Peninsula issue maintains consistency and continuity. We will play a constructive role in advancing the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue in our own way.

AFP: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would speak with Taiwan's leader Lai Ching-te about a possible arms sale. Lai also said on Thursday he would be "happy" to talk to Trump. Can the foreign ministry comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: China's opposition to any official exchanges between the U.S. and China's Taiwan region, and the U.S.'s arms sales to Taiwan is consistent, clear and rock-firm. China urges the U.S. to implement the important common understandings between our two leaders, honor its commitments and statements, exercise extra caution in handling the Taiwan question, stop sending any wrong message to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as well as the momentum of steady development of China-U.S. relations with concrete actions.

Reuters: Moldova's foreign minister is visiting China this week. The last time a Moldovan foreign minister visited China was in 2018. Why is China stepping up its diplomatic engagement with Moldova now?

Guo Jiakun: China and Moldova are partners enjoying traditional friendship. In recent years, China-Moldova friendly cooperative relations are growing steadily with solid progress made in cooperation in various fields. We believe that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova Mihai Popsoi's official visit to China will help enhance mutual trust and cooperation between our two countries.

AFP: The foreign ministry has just released information that the Pakistani prime minister is visiting China. Can the foreign ministry tell us if the topic of Iran will be discussed during the visit?

Guo Jiakun: During Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to China, Chinese and Pakistani leaders will have in-depth exchanges of views on China-Pakistan relations and issues of mutual interest. On the Iran situation, China has made clear its position more than once. China supports Pakistan in playing a just and balanced mediating role for ending the conflict and bringing about peace. According to the four propositions on safeguarding and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East proposed by President Xi Jinping, China will work with Pakistan and the wider international community to make positive contributions to restoring peace and stability in the Middle East at an early date.

Bloomberg: The Financial Times has reported that the under-secretary of defense for policy in the U.S. has discussed a summer visit to Beijing with Chinese officials. It cites people familiar with the talks. However, the FT reports that China has signaled that it cannot approve a visit until President Trump decides how he will proceed with the arms package. And this is referring to the 14 billion weapons package to Taiwan. We're wondering if the foreign ministry has any response to this report.

Guo Jiakun: China's opposition to U.S. arms sales to China's Taiwan region is consistent and clear. As to your specific question, I would refer you to the Ministry of National Defense.