Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s Regular Press Conference on September 2, 2025

Shenzhen TV: Yesterday, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative when hosting the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus" Meeting in Tianjin, which has been well received by the international community. Participating leaders and people from many countries said that the Global Governance Initiative has contributed Chinese wisdom and plan for building a more just and equitable global governance system and injected robust momentum into the pursuit of a community with a shared future for humanity. What's your comment?

Guo Jiakun: The Global Governance Initiative (GGI) put forward by President Xi Jinping is the highlight of the SCO Tianjin Summit. It has made this summit a grand gathering that lights up humanity's road forward.

Marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations, this year is a "big year" for global governance. The GGI is a timely response to the hope of the people across the world and provides what the world urgently needs. It has been warmly welcomed and supported by leaders and heads of international organizations participating in the SCO summit, and will surely be more actively endorsed and more widely recognized by the international community.

The five core concepts of the Global Governance Initiative outline the principles, methods, and pathways to reform and improve global governance. Sovereign equality is the foremost premise of global governance. International rule of law is the fundamental safeguard. Multilateralism is the basic pathway. The people-centered approach is the underpinning value, and taking real actions is an important principle. They are consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and is helpful for all the countries to advance the reform and building of the global governance system to meet the need of our times via the UN and other multilateral mechanisms and better cope with the challenges of the times.

The GGI is yet another important public good provided by China, following the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). The four initiatives have their respective priorities and can be pursued simultaneously. They will each be a source of stability and certainty for a changing and turbulent world and demonstrate China's commitment to taking up its responsibility in international affairs.

We will strengthen coordination and communication with the UN and all the parties to implement the Global Governance Initiative, build a more just and equitable global governance system, and join hands to build a community with a shared future for humanity. 

CCTV: It's reported that China and Russia are discussing new steps to facilitate cross-border travel. Did it come up in the meeting between Chinese and Russian leaders? Is there any outcome? Can you give us some details?

Guo Jiakun: To further facilitate cross-border travel, China decided to expand its visa waiver program and extend visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from Russia on a trial basis from September 15, 2025 to September 14, 2026. Ordinary passport holders from Russia can be exempted from visa to enter China and stay for no more than 30 days for business, tourism, family/friends visit, exchange and transit purposes.

Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Russia relations have been moving forward on a high level. China attaches high importance to facilitating cross-border travel between the two countries and supports our two peoples in strengthening exchanges and making positive contribution to promoting the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. We welcome more friends from Russia to visit China.

Bloomberg: Can you confirm a report that Russia and China have agreed on a Power of Siberia 2 pipeline deal that will allow Gazprom to deliver 50 billion cubic meters of gas to China via Mongolia?

Guo Jiakun: China and Russia carry out practical cooperation in various areas, including energy, under the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit. On the specific project, I'd refer you to competent authorities.

Beijing Youth Daily: It's reported that recently, the Djibouti prime minister has conferred the "Independence Day Medal" on all members of the Chinese medical team there. Not long ago, the president of Tanzania's Zanzibar also gave a decoration to the Chinese medical team in the country. What's your comment?

Guo Jiakun: We congratulate the Chinese medical teams in Africa on winning more awards.

Since 1963, China has sent medical teams to over 40 African countries who treated close to 300 million African patients. They also helped local people train their own medical teams by clinical teaching and other means. Team members have worked with local medical staff on the front line, and taken concrete actions or even sacrificed their precious lives to put into action the extraordinary dedication, commitment, love and fighting spirit of Chinese medical teams. They have won the support of African people and enhanced China-Africa friendship.

Both China and Africa belong to the Global South. We are good friends in pursuit of shared goals and fellow companions on the path of development. China stands ready to work with Africa to deepen health cooperation and friendship and jointly build the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

AFP: The U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said yesterday that the Shanghai Cooperation Summit is largely performative, and branded India, China, and Russia as "bad actors", as India and China are supporting Russia. What's your response?

Guo Jiakun: Since the establishment of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) 24 years ago, the member states have upheld the Shanghai Spirit, namely mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations, and pursuit of common development, and shared opportunities and pursued common development. They have brought about groundbreaking and historic achievements, and set up a stellar example of a new type of international relations.

The SCO has grown into a big family of 27 countries, covering Asia, Europe and Africa, with nearly half of the global population and a quarter of global economic output. The SCO has become the largest regional cooperation organization that covers the biggest population and area with the greatest development potential.

The Tianjin Summit is the largest-ever SCO summit. It planned for high-quality development, charted the course for humanity's progress, and produced the most fruitful outcomes. Eight major outcomes have been achieved in Tianjin Summit. The development strategy of the SCO within the next decade has been formulated. The summit has sent out a just voice of defending the victorious outcome of World War II, made clear the just position in support of the multilateral trading system, launched four security centers, made a political decision to establish an SCO development bank, set up six platforms on practical cooperation, made six action plans for high-quality development, and achieved new breakthroughs in the organization's reform. 

The successful Tianjin Summit will lead the SCO into a new stage of high-quality development featuring stronger solidarity, coordination, dynamism and productiveness, and will definitely become an important milestone in the history of the organization.

On your question regarding the Ukraine crisis, China always upholds an objective and just position on this issue, which is totally aboveboard as the world can see.

Reuters: I wanted to ask if there's any update on the attendance for tomorrow's parade commemorating the end of World War Two. In particular, will there be any foreign troops and from which countries?

Guo Jiakun: I'd refer you to competent authorities.

AFP: Ukraine's Foreign Ministry urged China to play "a more active role" during President Putin's visit and "help find peace." What's the Foreign Ministry's comment? 

Guo Jiakun: China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. Since day one of the crisis, China has been committed to upholding an objective and just position and promoting talks for peace. China stands ready to work with the international community, in light of the will of the parties concerned, to continue playing a constructive role for the political settlement of the crisis.

RIA Novosti: There were media reports that leaders of China, Russia and North Korea could meet in Beijing during their visits here for the military parade. Could you provide any details if you have?

Guo Jiakun: We will release information in due course about the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. On your specific question, I have no information to share.

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In light of the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, there will be no regular press conference on September 3. The press conference will resume on Thursday, September 4. Questions can still be submitted to the Spokesperson's Office via fax, email or Wechat.