Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s Regular Press Conference on May 18, 2026

China News Service: To follow up on the Saturday announcement that President Putin will pay a state visit to China, can you brief us on the program and China's expectation of the visit? How does China assess its current relations with Russia?

Guo Jiakun: It will be President Putin's 25th visit to China, during which the two presidents will exchange views on bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields and international and regional issues of mutual interest.

Over recent years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has enjoyed sound, steady and in-depth development, with expanding cooperation in various fields, tangible benefits for the two countries and two peoples, and important contribution to maintaining global strategic stability and upholding international fairness and justice. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination, the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation and the year to kick start events of the China-Russia Years of Education. The two sides will take this opportunity to continue deepening and elevating relations between China and Russia, so as to inject more stability and positive energy to the world.

For more about the visit, we will release information in a timely manner. Please stay tuned.

China-Arab TV: Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi lost no time in securing a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump to reaffirm the importance of their alliance, as the latter was on the way home after the visit to China. The Japanese side will collect information on interactions between the United States and China, including their possible impact on Japan, and respond appropriately. How would you comment on this? 

Guo Jiakun: During President Trump's visit, the two heads of state had in-depth exchanges on regional issues of mutual interest. More than eighty years ago, China and the U.S., along with the other members of the Allied Forces, jointly defeated Japanese militarists and fascists and built the postwar international order-the bedrock for peace and development in the Asia Pacific. Today, Japan's right-wing forces are seeking to challenge this order, which threatens to shake the very foundation of regional peace and has raised global concerns. Japan should first and foremost address its wrongful rhetoric and action on Taiwan, halt its reckless remilitarization drive, return to the right track of good neighborliness, friendship and peaceful development, and earn trust from its Asian neighbors and the world with concrete actions.

CCTV: The White House fact sheet on President Trump's visit to China listed the outcomes of the trip. What's China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: During the visit, the two presidents agreed on a new vision of building a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability, charterd the course for high-level exchanges in the next stage as well as dialogue and cooperation in diplomatic, economic and trade, military-to-military, law enforcement and other fields, and had an in-depth exchange of views on international and regional hotspot issues of mutual interest. The Chinese side stated clear its consistent position on the Iran issue, the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and others, and has asked the U.S. to take seriously reasonable concerns of relevant parties and stick to dialogue and negotiation for the peaceful settlement of issues.

The two sides' economic and trade teams held talks in the spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit, and produced generally balanced and positive outcomes on stabilizing China-U.S. economic and trade ties and properly addressing each other's concerns.

China stands ready to work with the U.S. to fully and accurately implement the important common understandings reached between the two presidents, enhance dialogue, expand cooperation, properly handle differences and sensitive issues, add new dimensions to the vision of building a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability, and promote the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations.

AFP: Norway's interior security service, PST, said on Sunday that a Chinese man had been arrested in the country for spying, just weeks after a Chinese woman suspected of spying on satellite data was arrested. Does the foreign ministry have a comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: I'm not familiar with the specific case you mentioned. China firmly rejects unwarranted accusation and vilification against China. We believe Norway will truly protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals.

CCTV: It is reported that, on May 17, the White House released a fact sheet on President Trump's visit to China, which mentioned that the two heads of state confirmed their shared goal to denuclearize North Korea. Can you confirm this statement?

Guo Jiakun: China's position and policy on the Korean Peninsula issue maintain continuity and consistency. It has been playing a constructive role in its own way in advancing the political settlement of the issue. We are committed to encouraging relevant parties to face up to the root cause and crux of the Korean Peninsula issue, stick to the general direction of political settlement, and make constructive efforts towards easing tensions and maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Belteleradio Company: A few days ago, the American video service YouTube blocked several channels of the international radio Belarus without giving any reason. It is not the first time in recent months that the service has blocked Belarusian state media. What is China's view on such actions?

Guo Jiakun: I'm not aware of that. Belarusian media in China can count on our continued facilitation for their reporting here.

Xinhua News Agency: The presentation ceremony for the inaugural Outstanding Diplomat Medals was held this morning in Beijing, which was attended and addressed by Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Can you share MFA's consideration of setting up this award?

Guo Jiakun: We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to the eight honorees of the Outstanding Diplomat Medal. They are our good friends who have a deep knowledge of China, builders of bilateral relations, pioneers in understanding China, pacesetters in fostering people-to-people bonds and contributors to mutual benefit. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has established the Outstanding Diplomat Medal specifically to show our appreciation and gratitude to their dedicated efforts.

China is an open and inclusive country that values peace and acts in good faith. China always meets its responsibility for world peace and tranquility, readily shares its development opportunities with the world, and consistently delivers on its commitments despite changing international dynamics. Foreign diplomats in China provide the most direct window into the international community and build vital bridges for their home countries to better understand China. We hope and believe more outstanding diplomats will contribute to promoting friendship between China and other countries and work with us for an even brighter future for humanity.

Reuters: There are media reports saying that Taiwan's Lin Chia-lung is in Geneva to attend events that coincide with the World Health Assembly (WHA). Has China reached out to Switzerland about such participation by the Taiwan side around this WHA event?

Guo Jiakun: We have already made our position clear. There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. When handling issues related to the Taiwan region, WHO and other international organizations must follow the one-China principle, which is also a fundamental principle as demonstrated by the UNGA Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1. China firmly opposes any official exchanges in any forms between countries having diplomatic ties with China and the Taiwan region, and firmly opposes any attempts to offer platforms for "Taiwan independence" separatist activities. The Taiwan authorities' practice of sending representatives to various meetings to seek attention is nothing but political theatrics and doomed to fail.

Shenzhen TV: U.S. President Trump said in an exclusive interview aired on May 15 that the U.S. policy on Taiwan remains unchanged. He said, "I don't like to see anybody going independent. I'm not looking to have somebody say, let's go independent because the United States is backing us." The United States has no intention of seeking war and he hopes both sides across the Taiwan Strait will remain calm, he added. The Taiwan authorities said on this subject that "the Republic of China" is a "sovereign, independent democratic country", and its government will continue to deepen cooperation with the United States and ensure that the security and stability of the Taiwan Strait are not threatened or undermined. Do you have any comment on this? 

Guo Jiakun: We have noted President Trump's remarks. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. It is never a country, not in the past, and never in the future. "Taiwan independence" and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water. To seek "Taiwan independence" by soliciting external support is a dead end. Cross-strait reunification is the only bright path forward. The DPP authorities should recognize the overwhelming trend, stop burying their heads in the sand, and stop going further down the wrong path.

AFP: Taiwan's leader Lai Ching-te said on Sunday that Taiwan will never be traded away as he pressed the United States to keep selling weapons to them. He said arms sales from the United States to Taiwan were an element in maintaining regional peace and stability. What is the foreign ministry's comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: China's firm opposition to U.S. arms sales to China's Taiwan region is consistent and clear. 

Phoenix TV: It is reported that, on the evening of May 17, in response to President Trump's remarks that the U.S. is against "Taiwan independence" after his visit to China, Lai Ching-te posted on social media that Taiwan has always been a firm defender of the status quo on both sides of the Strait; Taiwan, the Republic of China, is a sovereign and independent democratic country; and there is no "Taiwan independence" issue. What's your comment?

Guo Jiakun: Lai Ching-te's latest act is just self-defeating, which once again lays bare his separatist stance and intent to advance "Taiwan independence."

There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is never a country, not in the past, and never in the future. The Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China. This constitutes the real status quo in the Taiwan Strait. By colluding with external forces to seek independence and attempting to the make the Taiwan question an international issue, the Lai Ching-te authorities are the biggest destroyer of the status quo and the biggest source of disruption to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

"Taiwan independence" and cross-Strait peace and stability are as irreconcilable as fire and water. To uphold the one-China principle, one must oppose "Taiwan independence." Any attempts to seek independence with external forces' backing or by force are delusional.

NHK: Regarding President Putin's visit to China, will President Trump's visit to China last week be on the agenda? If so, what specific issues do you expect to discuss?

Guo Jiakun: I just previewed the visit at the beginning of today's press conference. The two presidents will exchange views on bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields and international and regional issues of mutual interest. More information will be released in a timely manner. Please stay tuned.

AFP: Australia on Monday ordered a string of China-linked shareholders to sell their stakes in a rare earths firm called Northern Minerals, citing the need to protect the sector from outside influences. Can the foreign ministry comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: I am not aware of the specifics. I would like to stress that China consistently opposes overstretching the concept of national security to disrupt normal investment activities. Australia should earnestly respect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese investors and provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for foreign investment.