Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s Regular Press Conference on August 31, 2026

At the invitation of the government of the Russian Federation, from September 2 to 4, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang will travel to Russia to attend the 11th Eastern Economic Forum and hold the 13th meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee, the 23rd meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee, and the 8th China-Russia Energy Business Forum.

Xinhua News Agency: With rescue efforts still underway following the mudslide in Gyirong, could you please provide further details on the progress of rescue work related to foreign countries?

Guo Jiakun: The devastating mudslide, triggered by a sudden glacial collapse in Nepal's border area, has caused massive casualties and left many unaccounted for in both China and Nepal. While urgently carrying out rescue and relief efforts at home, China also immediately reached out to Nepal to support its emergency response and disaster relief. President Xi Jinping sent a condolence message to Nepali President Ram Chandra Poudel. Premier Li Qiang also expressed condolences to the Nepali side. The meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee called for emergency assistance to the affected areas in Nepal and international cooperation in rescue and relief. 

On August 29, Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal over the phone. He noted that China and Nepal are a community linked by mountains and rivers and a shared future. In the face of the disaster, the two countries should stand firmly together, join hands to overcome the difficulties, and demonstrate the traditional friendship through concrete actions. The Chinese government has provided Nepal with emergency cash assistance and humanitarian aid. The first batch of 50 tons of relief supplies has already arrived in Kathmandu. Two rescue teams composed of Chinese tunnel rescue experts have rushed to the disaster-stricken areas in Nepal. We have also shared with the Nepali side important information such as images, satellite, and hydrological data of the disaster-affected areas, including early-warning information on an upstream barrier lake. China is actively assisting stranded Nepali citizens in returning to Nepal as soon as possible. As of noon yesterday, all Chinese nationals in Nepal's disaster-hit areas, with whom contact has been reestablished, have been safely relocated.

At present, China is making every effort to search for and rescue those unaccounted for both within the country and abroad. At the same time, we maintain close communication with foreign embassies in China to jointly identify missing foreign nationals and properly handle follow-up matters.

China News Service: To follow up on your announcement about Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang's trip to Russia to attend the 11th Eastern Economic Forum and hold the 13th meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee, the 23rd meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee, and the 8th China-Russia Energy Business Forum, could you share with us the background, program and China's expectation of the visit?

Guo Jiakun: Themed on "The Far East: Development for the Benefit of People," the 11th Eastern Economic Forum will be held in Vladivostok, Russia from September 1 to 4. Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang will attend the plenary session of the forum, co-chair the institutionalized meetings of China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee and China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee, as well as China-Russia Energy Business Forum with Russian leaders, and hold meetings with them.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination, and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. China will take this opportunity to implement the important common understandings of the two heads of state, make greater progress in developing the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era, and bring benefits to the two peoples. China also looks forward to working with various parties to step up communication, enhance mutual trust, stick to openness and cooperation, and share the opportunities of development, so as to make greater contribution to promoting regional revitalization and development as well as the common welfare of the people of all countries.

CGTN: His Majesty King Harald V of Norway passed away. I wonder if China has any comment?

Guo Jiakun: King Harald V was highly esteemed and deeply loved by the Norwegian people. He was committed to promoting China-Norway friendship, paid multiple visits to China and made significant contributions to bilateral exchange and cooperation. China mourns his passing and extends sincere condolences to the royal family, government and people of Norway.

Bloomberg: Some Indian TV channels have blamed China for the floods and mudslide disaster. They say China is going ahead with major construction projects in hydropower and infrastructure. Would the ministry like to comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: We noted that experts and official institutions of China and Nepal have made some assessment on the cause of the disaster. According to their analysis, the mudslide was triggered by a collapse of a high-altitude glacier in Nepal. In the face of tragic disasters, we reject malicious speculation that has no factual basis.

Sky News: It appears that China has censored and taken down some of the more dramatic videos of that terrible flood smashing into Gyirong Port. Can I ask why China has done that? There have been some suggestions that the numbers of missing and dead are being understated. Can I ask what China's response is to those accusations?

Guo Jiakun: Intensive search, rescue and relief operations are still underway in an orderly manner in the disaster-hit areas. China has been open, transparent and timely in information release. Smear and disinformation is most unwelcome at a time of disaster response.  

Shenzhen TV: It is reported that the Third APEC Senior Officials' Meeting concluded in Dalian on August 28. Could you brief us on the meeting and its main outcomes?

Guo Jiakun: From August 17 to 28, the Third Senior Officials' Meeting of APEC China and related meetings were held in Dalian. Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu attended the meeting and delivered remarks.

This was the largest Senior Officials' Meeting held during the APEC China Year in terms of both attendance and number of events. During the meeting, APEC committees and working groups held nearly 130 meetings and events, covering areas such as trade, transportation, food, customs, science and technology, energy, health, disaster reduction, and anti-corruption. More than 3,000 representatives from APEC member economies, the APEC Secretariat, and APEC observers attended the meetings.

Participants held in-depth discussions under the theme of APEC China Year and "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together" and around the three priority areas of "Openness, Innovation, and Cooperation", and focused on comparing notes on the outcomes for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting to be held in Shenzhen this November.

Under the "Openness" priority, China hosted a policy dialogue on connectivity, laying the groundwork for developing an upgraded APEC Connectivity Blueprint.

Under the "Innovation" priority, China hosted a policy dialogue on the digital economy and artificial intelligence as drivers of economic growth. Participants held in-depth discussions on leveraging AI to promote economic growth, improve people's well-being, and bridge the digital divide, continuing the positive momentum generated by APEC Digital Week held in Chengdu in July.

Under the "Cooperation" priority, China keeps advancing result-oriented cooperation covering such areas as anti-corruption, customs, food security, fisheries and maritime affairs, public health and energy. Major deliverables have been secured on themes such as improving integrity for prosperity and customs cooperation to bolster trade security and facilitation.

The final Senior Officials' Meeting of the APEC China Year will be held in Shenzhen on the eve of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting this November. We welcome reporters to continue following and covering events under the APEC China Year.

Reuters: More than 900 people are believed to be stuck inside blocked hydropower project tunnels in Nepal after the flood last week. Were there any Chinese nationals working at these projects and has the government or the ministry identified if any of those Chinese nationals are trapped in the tunnels?

Guo Jiakun: Nearly 100 Chinese nationals are among those missing in Nepal. The Nepali side has been trying every possible means to search for and rescue those missing or trapped. Tunnel experts from China have arrived in the affected area in Nepal to assist in rescue efforts.

Phoenix TV: Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) in a statement on August 28 said that they had dismissed SDF officer Kodai Murata. The SDF said it is extremely regrettable that one of its members committed such an act, and it will take thorough measures to have its personnel strictly follow laws and regulations. What is China's comment? Does this address China's concerns?

Guo Jiakun: It is shockingly malignant for a sitting Japanese SDF officer to break into the Chinese embassy carrying a knife and threaten the Chinese side with violence. This incident seriously violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, gravely threatens the safety and security of Chinese diplomatic personnel and premises, and exposes deep-seated problems in Japan, including the rampant spread of right-wing impact and lack of supervision and discipline in the SDF. We noted that Japanese public prosecutors have indicted the person concerned. We urge the Japanese side to earnestly fulfill its duty, bring the perpetrator to account, conduct a thorough investigation and correct the wrongdoings. This is also what the international community hopes to see.

Bloomberg: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the world cannot have a US$1.2 trillion trade surplus with China and he said the G20 countries should reexamine their terms of trade with the country. Would the Foreign Ministry like to comment?

Guo Jiakun: China-U.S. economic and trade ties are mutually beneficial in nature. China never seeks trade surplus. We oppose unilateral tariff measures in all forms. Committed to high-standard opening up, China,  with its vast market, offers new opportunities to all, including the United States. Both sides need to act on the important common understandings reached between the two presidents, resolve outstanding issues through consultation on the basis of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, and strive to maintain the hard-won positive momentum in bilateral trade.

**************************************************

Reuters: Nepali officials said that Nepal once asked China for early warnings and to gain access to shared monitoring data on weather, rainfall and river conditions in their talks with the Chinese side in May. But there was no formal mechanism agreed. Can you confirm it? Why has no such mechanism been established? What information has China shared with Nepal so far? Has China informed Nepal with unusual signs or early warning indicators before the disaster happened? What measures will China take concerning data sharing with Nepal in the future?

Guo Jiakun: China and Nepal maintain sound cooperation in areas of meteorology, water conservation and disaster prevention and control. Following the disaster, China and Nepal have been in smooth communication on search and rescue, information sharing and prevention of secondary disaster. We have been providing Nepal with meteorological and hydrological data, conducted consultation among experts, and shared early-warning information. China will continue giving strong support to Nepal in its relief efforts and strengthen cooperation with Nepal on disaster prevention and control for the shared benefit of both peoples.

Reuters: A former Nepali ambassador to the United Nations said that the government's reluctance to accept foreign search-and-rescue teams may be linked to the sensitivity of the region bordering China's Xizang. The Nepali foreign ministry has denied this. What is China's comment？

Guo Jiakun: In the wake of the disaster, the Nepali government has been fully committed to disaster response and relief efforts. The world has reached out to help. The Nepali government's decisions and requests should be respected, instead of being a target of unwarranted speculation.