Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s Regular Press Conference on June 24, 2026

CCTV: The 17th Summer Davos themed "Innovating at Scale" is being held in Dalian. Premier Li Qiang addressed the opening plenary this morning and was warmly echoed by global participants. Parties spoke highly of China's innovation achievements and the prospect of "China Opportunity 2.0" and expressed readiness to enhance innovation cooperation with China. Can you give us more details?

Guo Jiakun: The 17th Summer Davos officially opened in Dalian this morning. Premier of the State Council Li Qiang attended and addressed the opening plenary. In his address, Premier Li shared China's innovation stories and offered thoughts on global innovation cooperation based on China's economic development practice.

Premier Li noted that entering the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China's economy has made new headway while navigating a changing situation. Amid increased volatility in the international landscape, four keywords-stability, innovation, dynamism and integration-together present a comprehensive outlook of China's economy. The Chinese economy got off to a good start. It withstood the challenges, forged ahead and demonstrated strong resilience and a promising outlook, bringing much needed certainty to this increasingly uncertain world.

Premier Li noted that innovation-driven development is the key to China's long-term, steady and sustained economic success. China's innovation has been forged through relentless research and development efforts, tempered through extensive application across industries, and cultivated through a robust ecosystem. Recently many foreign institutions and media have been talking about "China Opportunity 2.0". Apart from its huge market, China is also offering more innovation dividends to the world through its technological breakthroughs and industrial upgrade. For enterprises worldwide, "China Opportunity 2.0" represents all-round innovation-driven empowerment and high-return investment prospects. For global development, "China Opportunity 2.0" means broader access to advanced technologies and more widely shared benefits. As has been proven, China's achievements in emerging technologies present to the world opportunities and empowerment, rather than challenges and threats.

Premier Li stressed that innovation and cooperation is the answer to tackle challenges to global growth. There should be joint efforts to deepen connectivity and collaboration, foster an open world economy, keep global industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded, and seek greater synergy for innovation. We must uphold the principle of technology for good, improve global governance institutions and rules for such areas as artificial intelligence, boost regulatory efficiency, and pursue more effective collective governance. China will further expand market access and continue fostering a world-class business environment. We sincerely welcome enterprises from all countries to invest and operate in China to make full use of new opportunities brought by China's development.

Kyodo News: According to reports, two Japanese employees were detained in Dalian in May by the Chinese government for their involvement in exporting rare earth-related products. Is this case related to the Chinese government's tightening of rare earth export restrictions?

Guo Jiakun: As we've learned, two Japanese nationals were detained by Chinese competent authorities for violating Chinese laws. China has informed the Japanese side about the case. It is important that the Japanese side advise its nationals and businesses in China to abide by China's laws and regulations.

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting: As Iran's comprehensive strategic partner, how will China use its influence to hold the American side accountable, ensure full implementation of the memorandum, and help Iran achieve lasting peace in the entire region?

Guo Jiakun: China believes in dialogue and negotiation as the way to address regional hotspot issues and differences among parties, and opposes the threat or use of force. The U.S. and Iran signed the memorandum, in which they undertake to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, not to initiate any military operation against each other and refrain from interfering in each other's internal affairs. The document has sent a positive signal to the world and should be jointly safeguarded and implemented. China always upholds a just position, supports all efforts conducive to peace, supports the Iranian side in defending its sovereignty, security and national dignity, and supports Iran in improving its relations with Gulf states and regional countries. China stands ready to follow the spirit of President Xi Jinping's four propositions, continue to provide assistance in its own way and play a constructive role for the early restoration of regional peace and tranquility.

China News Service: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi has just attended the 16th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisors and High Representatives on National Security in India. Can you share more details?

Guo Jiakun: From June 22 to 23, Director Wang Yi attended the 16th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisors and High Representatives on National Security in New Delhi. He had a friendly exchange of views with Prime Minister Modi and had bilateral meetings with heads of delegation from multiple countries.

With the conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran giving way to dialogue, Director Wang Yi said in the meeting that the hundred-day-long conflict has dealt a serious blow to the region and beyond, from which four lessons can be drawn: the importance of safeguarding international rules, respecting national sovereignty, establishing a new vision of security, and understanding the new forms of war. He added that facing interwoven conventional and non-conventional security threats, it is the right time for BRICS countries to enhance dialogue and cooperation on security affairs.

He said that BRICS cooperation over the past 20 years has turned the grouping into a staunch force for global peace, development and justice. Amid complex and profound changes in the international landscape, BRICS countries need to step up to their responsibilities to defend the international order, build consensus on tackling difficulties on security, take stronger actions to respond to global challenges, and pool collective wisdom to improve the governance in emerging sectors. 

He also noted that through this meeting, BRICS countries have reached consensus on safeguarding multilateralism, voiced support for independence, self-reliance, solidarity and mutual assistance among the BRICS and the Global South, and charted a clear course to better leverage this meeting mechanism and maintain communication and coordination on major international and regional hotspot issues, adding new meanings to greater BRICS cooperation.

Next year, China will be the rotating chair of BRICS. China looks forward to working with all BRICS partners to actively act on the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the four global initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping, and promote development for prosperity, strengthen security for stability, foster civilizational exchanges for mutual trust, and improve global governance for justice, so that we can open up a future of peace and prosperity together.

NHK: Regarding the case of the two Japanese nationals who were detained in China, can you give us more details? 

Guo Jiakun: I shared information on this case. I'd refer you to competent authorities for any additional inquiry.

Shenzhen TV: Thai media recently released an article titled "Comfort women must not be erased" which mentioned that "the system of comfort stations established by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War constituted institutionalized military sexual slavery across occupied Asia" and that regional countries including Thailand and the Philippines due to multiple reasons are reluctant to face up to or even deliberately downplay this historical memory and risk narrowing collective consciousness of the truth among generations. Weeks ago, Auckland, a city in New Zealand, scrapped the plan of installing a statue commemorating "comfort women" due to pressure from Japan. In recent years, Japan also blocked proposals of erecting such statues in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Australia and the Philippines. What's your comment?

Guo Jiakun: China's position on the issue of "comfort women" is amply clear. The forced recruitment of "comfort women" is a serious crime against humanity during Japan's militarist aggression and expansion and gruesome violation of basic human rights of victims from China, the Korean Peninsula, and Southeast Asia. There are solid evidence of those atrocities, which shall not be denied. Mr. Yohei Kono, who passed away not long ago, issued an official statement on the "comfort women" issue to acknowledge the Japanese government's responsibility and express remorse and apology when he served as Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary.

However, some forces in Japan have long been trying to deny and even erase the history of Japanese aggression, downplay the issue of "comfort women" and deprive the victims of their right to seek truth and compensation, constantly rubbing salt into the wounds of these victims. There was strong public outrage among civil groups and people across the society when the Japanese government obstructed other countries' effort to honor "comfort women" with memorial statues. Months ago, UN human rights experts expressed grave concern on the issue of "comfort women" and called on Japan to make official apologies and ensure adequate compensation. We urge the Japanese authorities to face up to the history of Japanese aggression, sincerely recognize its crimes and make apologies, stop covering up the truth and stifling justice and stop its reckless remilitarization.

We also noted that the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women urged the mainstreaming of "comfort women" in educational curricula in the Philippines. History is the best antidote. Victim countries need to foster a right view of the WWII history, uphold true history, prevent past tragedies from repeating themselves and jointly safeguard the hard-won peace and stability in the Asia Pacific.