Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s Regular Press Conference on January 20, 2025

Xinhua News Agency: At the reception for his assumption of office in Beijing on January 17, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Nurlan Yermekbayev said the top priority of the SCO Secretariat this year is to support China's presidency and make the upcoming SCO summit to be hosted by China a full success. Do you have any comment on this?

Mao Ning: We congratulate Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev on his assumption of office and will continue to facilitate him in fulfilling his duty, support the SCO Secretariat in strengthening self-building and provide strong support for various cooperation of the SCO members.

China sees the SCO as a priority in our diplomacy and stands ready to work with other SCO members and the SCO Secretariat to act on the slogan of "Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move," host a SCO summit featuring friendship, solidarity and fruitful outcomes, draw a blueprint for development, come up with more cooperation measures, improve operational mechanisms, advance high-quality development of the SCO, deliver more tangibly to people of this region and make positive contributions for a more peaceful and prosperous world. 

CCTV: It's reported that Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, the IMF's chief economist, said that the 5 percent economic growth reported by China in 2024 was a "positive surprise" higher than the IMF's projections and that the IMF revised up its economic growth forecast for China for 2025 and 2026. What's China's comment?

Mao Ning: In 2024, China's economy successfully realized the growth target with its economic output breaking the RMB130 trillion mark for the first time and economic growth equivalent to the annual GDP of a medium-sized country. This speaks to the resilience and potential of China's economy and the confidence that China's economy has brought to the world.

China will stay committed to high-quality development and high-standard opening up, maintain the continued upward trajectory of the Chinese economy, and bring more "positive surprises" to the global economy.

Reuters: TikTok has restored service in the US citing Trump's efforts, but Trump has said that he wants to cut a deal that will see the US have 50 percent ownership in a joint venture. Is China open to a deal with Trump and how might such a deal look like?

Mao Ning: TikTok has operated in the US for years and been very popular with American users. It has played a positive role in boosting US employment and consumption. We hope the US will earnestly listen to the voice of reason and provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for market entities from all countries. When it comes to actions such as the operation and acquisition of businesses, we believe they should be independently decided by companies in accordance with market principles. If it involves Chinese companies, China's laws and regulations should be observed.

NBC: President-elect Trump has also been reported as saying he'd like to travel to China in the first 100 days in office. What is your reaction to that?

Mao Ning: China stands ready to work with the new administration of the US, under the strategic guidance of the presidents of the two countries and in the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, to maintain communication, enhance cooperation, properly manage and control differences and secure greater progress in China-US relations from a new starting point.

Financial Times: Elon Musk on Sunday said it was unbalanced to allow TikTok to operate in the US and not allow his social media platform X to operate in China. He said something needs to change. Does China have any comment on that?

Mao Ning: The Chinese government manages the Internet in accordance with law. We welcome Internet companies across the world to operate in China as long as they abide by China's laws and regulations and provide safe and reliable products and services. 

China Daily: Brazil, the BRICS chair country, announced in a press release the admission of Nigeria as a partner country of the grouping. What's China's comment?

Mao Ning: China welcomes and congratulates Nigeria on becoming a BRICS partner country. Nigeria is a major developing country and an important force in the Global South. Its active participation in BRICS cooperation is conducive to its own development, and more importantly, is in the interest of BRICS countries and the Global South. We believe Nigeria will contribute to the development of BRICS mechanism.

New partner country joining the BRICS family demonstrates that the BRICS mechanism has greater representation, and BRICS sees its appeal and influence grow more salient. China stands ready to work with other BRICS members and partner countries to uphold the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and mutually beneficial cooperation, expand practical cooperation in various fields, advance the high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation, and make greater contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

AFP: Just ahead of Trump's inauguration today, can you tell us what China's expectations are for Trump's presidency and perhaps what we can expect in the next few days or weeks with regards to China-US relations and dialogue?

Mao Ning: Both countries stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation, this is what the history of China-US relations tells us. We always believe that a steady, sound and sustainable development of China-US relationship serves the common interests of the two countries and is what the international community expects. Following the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, China stands ready to work with the new US government to enhance dialogue and communication, properly manage differences, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, find the right way for the two countries to get along with each other in the new era and bring benefits to both countries and the world.

Shenzhen TV: We've learned that Myanmar's Tatmadaw and ethnic armed organization Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) held peace talks and signed a ceasefire agreement in Kunming. Can you brief us on the background and details of the peace talks?

Mao Ning: In mid-January 2025, with China's mediation and effort to drive progress, the Myanmar government and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army held the seventh round of peace talks in Kunming, Yunnan. The two sides reached and signed a formal ceasefire agreement, and stopped fighting at 12 a.m. on January 18, 2025, Beijing time. The two sides thanked China for facilitating the results of this round of peace talks.

Deescalating tensions in northern Myanmar serves the common interests of all parties in Myanmar and regional countries, and is conducive to ensuring the safety and security, stability and development of the China-Myanmar border area. China and Myanmar are friendly neighbors, and we firmly oppose wars and turbulence in Myanmar. We hope that all parties will maintain the momentum of ceasefire and peace talks, earnestly implement existing common understandings, take the initiative in deescalating the situation on the ground, and further negotiate and settle relevant issues through dialogue.

China firmly supports Myanmar in safeguarding independence, sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity, firmly supports Myanmar's effort to keep the country peaceful and stable and grow its economy, and firmly supports Myanmar in realizing political reconciliation at an early date and advancing its domestic political agenda under the framework of the constitution. China stands ready to actively promote talks for peace and provide support and help for the peace process in northern Myanmar.

Financial Times: Does China have any comment on Trump allowing TikTok to continue operating? It had turned off for a bit and Trump helped it get back online. Does China have any comment on that?

Mao Ning: I just answered the question. TikTok has operated in the US for years. It abides by US laws and regulations, has never endangered the US's national security and is liked by many American users. We hope that the US will listen to the voice of reason from various quarters and provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for market entities from across the world. 

AFP: On the Gaza ceasefire that has just come into effect with some prisoners and hostages already exchanged, does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on the ceasefire deal coming into effect and more broadly on the future of Gaza and the conflict?

Mao Ning: China welcomes the coming into force of the agreement on ceasefire in Gaza, and hopes the agreement will be implemented in its entirety and without interruption and that there will be a full and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. China will work with the international community to make unremitting effort for peace and stability in the Middle East.

Financial Times: Elon Musk also said it was the right approach to question if you should allow a platform like TikTok to operate that had the potential to harvest American data as well as control the type of content it would broadcast in the US. Does China have any comment on his comments?

Mao Ning: We believe that Internet companies need to observe local laws and regulations. As for the Chinese government, we attach great importance to data privacy and security and protect it in accordance with the law. The Chinese government has never asked and will never ask any company or individual to collect or provide data located abroad against local laws.

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