Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s Regular Press Conference on January 7, 2025

CCTV: Last night, the 2025 BRICS chair Brazil announced that Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS. On January 1, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Cuba, Bolivia and many other countries became BRICS partners. Media commentators say that BRICS has entered a new era of "greater BRICS cooperation", and will have an important impact on the solidarity and cooperation of the Global South and efforts to better the global governance system. What is China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: China warmly welcomes the new addition to the BRICS family.

The BRICS cooperation mechanism came into being amidst the collective rise of emerging markets and developing countries. It is also what the world would like to see in the interest of peace, the world's common development and better global governance. Almost two decades on since the launch of BRICS, it now accounts for nearly half of the global population, more than a third of the global economy and more than half of the world's economic growth. BRICS's representation, appeal and influence have been rising. BRICS has become a vital platform for promoting solidarity and cooperation of the Global South and a major force driving the reform of the global governance system.

China stands ready to work with all BRICS members to embrace the spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, advance the high quality development of greater BRICS cooperation, jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and promote the building of a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and a community with a shared future for all. The future holds tremendous promise for greater BRICS cooperation.

AFP: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen held a video conference with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng today. The US Treasury Department stated that Yellen expressed concern over malicious cyberattack activities conducted by individuals supported by the Chinese government. What is China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: You may refer to the readout China has released on the video call. On your specific question, I'd refer you to competent authorities.

Shenzhen TV: Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in a recent interview that Kazakhstan is an extremely important strategic partner for China, and the cooperation between the two countries has evolved into a dynamic and multifaceted relationship, essentially achieving the status of a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership. The further development of comprehensive cooperation with China remains a key objective for Kazakh diplomacy. Kazakhstan and China have close business and trade ties and enjoy a bright future. He added that in 2023, Kazakhstan and China established a mutual visa-free regime, which has strengthened the bond between the two peoples. Kazakh citizens now have the opportunity to see firsthand how China has evolved, while also experiencing the friendly nature of the Chinese people. Do you have any comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: China and Kazakhstan are good neighbors bound together by mountains and rivers, good friends sharing a high degree of mutual trust and good partners enabling each other's success. Just as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted in the interview, the cooperation between the two countries has evolved into a dynamic and multifaceted relationship. In recent years, under the strategic and personal guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Tokayev, cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in various fields has entered the fast lane. The year of 2024 was a year of good harvest for China-Kazakhstan relations. President Xi paid a successful state visit to Kazakhstan and reached important new common understandings with President Tokayev on bilateral relations, providing a strong boost to bilateral cooperation. The two countries have seen frequent mutual visits at various levels and more robust trade and economic ties. Cooperation in industrial capacity, connectivity, agriculture, new energy and so on is going well. Cultural and people-to-people exchanges have seen new breakthroughs. Two-way travel hit a new high. 

In the new year, China stands ready to work with Kazakhstan to forge stronger synergy between our development strategies, deepen mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, jointly ensure the success of this year's major events, translate the common understandings of our heads of states into more deliverables and continue to take China-Kazakhstan relations to new heights.   

Bloomberg: The US has blacklisted Tencent and the battery maker CATL. Would the ministry like to comment on this? 

Guo Jiakun: China stands firmly against the US's practice of overstretching the concept of national security, making discriminatory lists in various names and going after Chinese companies to contain China's high-quality development. The Chinese people's right to development is not to be deprived of or ignored. We urge the US to immediately correct its wrongdoings, and end the illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction on Chinese companies. China will take all measures necessary to firmly defend the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and uphold its legitimate right to development.

Antara: Still related to the announcement of Indonesia becoming the official member of BRICS. My question is as one of the founding members of BRICS, how does China see the strategic significance of Indonesia becoming an official BRICS member?

Guo Jiakun: I just stated China's position on BRICS's addition.

On your question, China welcomes and warmly congratulates Indonesia on becoming a full member of BRICS. Indonesia, as a major developing country and important force in the Global South, highly recognizes the BRICS spirit and has taken an active part in "BRICS Plus" cooperation. Indonesia's official entry into BRICS serves the common interests of BRICS countries and the Global South, and we believe that Indonesia will make active contribution to the development of BRICS.

China stands ready to work with Indonesia and other BRICS members to jointly build a more comprehensive, close, practical and inclusive partnership, advance the high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation, and make greater contribution to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Reuters: Chinese media outlets have reported that the Chinese actor Wang Xing has gone missing at the Myanmar-Thailand border, citing the Chinese Embassy in Thailand. Can you confirm this? And in which country is Wang believed to have gone missing and can you show any other details on this case?

Guo Jiakun: Relevant Chinese embassy and consulate have received request for help from the person's family and are in close communication with them. Our missions overseas are verifying the information and doing their work. We will follow up on the developments and direct our missions overseas in making sure everything is properly handled.

Bloomberg: The Philippines has said a large Chinese Coast Guard vessel has maintained an "illegal presence" in its exclusive economic zone. The Philippine Coast Guard said that one of its vessels has been trailing the Chinese ship since it was spotted off the Capones Island in the western province of Zambales on Saturday. Would the ministry like to comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: China Coast Guard conduct its patrols and law enforcement activities in relevant waters in full accordance with the law. It is fully justified.

Antara: The spokesperson for the World Health Organization said that data from China indicates there has been a recent rise in acute respiratory infections but the overall scale and intensity of respiratory infectious diseases in China this year are lower than last year. Is China still safe to travel for foreign visitors?

Guo Jiakun: The Chinese government has and will continue to release information about infectious diseases in a timely and transparent way in accordance with law. On the specific question you raised, I'd refer you to competent authorities.

AFP: We noted that the new Chinese Ambassador to France Deng Li has arrived in France. What is your expectation for the development of China-France relations?

Guo Jiakun: I would refer you to the press release by our embassy on Mr. Deng Li's arrival in Paris as China's new ambassador to France and Monaco. China's position on advancing its relations with France is consistent and clear.

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