Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian’s Regular Press Conference on March 16, 2026

CCTV: A referendum was held in Kazakhstan on a new constitution on March 15. Does China have any comment on that?

Lin Jian: China congratulates Kazakhstan on the smooth referendum on the new constitution. As Kazakhstan's close neighbor and permanent comprehensive strategic partner, China is glad to see Kazakhstan enjoying long-term peace and prosperity. We are confident that under the leadership of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan will make new and even greater strides in national development and achieve the grand goal of building a Just Kazakhstan.

China attaches great importance to developing its relations with Kazakhstan. We stand ready to work with Kazakhstan to deliver on the important common understandings between the two presidents, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation on all fronts, and bring the bilateral relations to a new level.

Anadolu Agency: U.S. President Donald Trump said he is currently in talks with seven countries to form a coalition to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz and will announce it as early as this week. "Hopefully, China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a nation," he wrote on his social media. What is China's comment? Is there a request from the U.S.?

Lin Jian: The recent tense situation in the Strait of Hormuz and waters nearby has impacted the route for international goods and energy trade, disrupting peace and stability in the region and beyond. China once again calls on parties to immediately stop military operations, avoid further escalation of the tense situation and prevent regional turmoil from further impacting the global economy.

EFE: According to recent media reports, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has been under Chinese sanctions since 2020, could join President Trump during a possible visit to China later this month. Could the Foreign Ministry clarify whether those sanctions would affect his ability to travel to China if such a visit takes place?

Lin Jian: The sanctions target Mr. Rubio's words and deeds when he served as a U.S. senator concerning China.

Yonhap News Agency: It's reported that Air China will resume flights from Beijing to Pyongyang starting from March 30. Can you confirm that?

Lin Jian: Relevant department has released information on that. China and the DPRK are friendly and close neighbors. Resuming passenger flights is a positive move that facilitates the friendly exchanges between the two peoples.

Al Araby Television Network: U.S. President Donald Trump said he hopes China will help secure the Strait of Hormuz. How would China respond to this?

Lin Jian: I just answered this question. We once again call on parties to immediately stop military operations, avoid further escalation of the tense situation and prevent regional turmoil from causing greater damage to global economic growth. We are in communication with relevant parties to work for the deescalation of the situation.

Anadolu Agency: About this navy coalition that U.S. President is trying to get together for the Hormuz Strait, Australian government said they won't send any naval forces to the Strait. Japanese Prime Minister said they haven't received any request yet and the South Korean government reckoned that they had a request and they are carefully deliberating a response about it. Is there a request that China send ships to the waters around the Strait? What will be your response if you get such a request?

Lin Jian: China is in communication with various parties on the current situation and is working for deescalation.

AFP: We noted that on Friday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaqi. The Foreign Ministry statement said that China's Special Envoy on Afghan Affairs was conducting shuttle diplomacy between Afghanistan and Pakistan which have recently been engaged in military conflict. Does the spokesperson have more details on this, including on which dates China's Special Envoy has met with either side, that's Afghanistan and Pakistan?

Lin Jian: Afghanistan and Pakistan are and will always be each other's neighbors. Issues between the two countries can only be resolved through dialogue and consultation. The pressing priority is to prevent the escalation of the conflict and return to the negotiating table at an early date.

China has been mediating between the two sides via its own channels. Over the past few days, Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke on the phone respectively with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi. The Special Envoy on Afghan Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has been shuttling between Afghanistan and Pakistan to mediate. Chinese embassies in Pakistan and Afghanistan have been in close communication with the two sides. Both countries have expressed appreciation for China's active mediation efforts. China hopes that both sides will remain calm and exercise restraint, engage face to face as soon as possible, achieve a ceasefire at the earliest opportunity, and resolve differences and disputes through dialogue. China will continue to make active efforts to facilitate reconciliation and ease tensions between the two sides. 

BBC: On the current talks going on in Paris between China and the U.S., do you have any update on those talks? Is there anything coming from that you can tell us about?

Lin Jian: I'd refer you to competent authorities for anything specific.

Reuters: We reported today that Viet Nam is preparing to have to cut some flights due to concerns about the supply of jet fuel amid the situation in Iran. Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in Viet Nam at the moment and has met with Viet Nam's Foreign Minister. The question is during that meeting, did the foreign ministers discuss energy security issues?

Lin Jian: The situation in the Middle East has dealt a blow to global energy security. Relevant countries should immediately stop military operations and prevent the regional turmoil from causing a greater impact on global economic growth. China stands ready to strengthen coordination and collaboration with Viet Nam and other countries and jointly tackle energy security issues.

BBC: We heard various analysts etc. saying that the current war was to really eat into China's available fuel. How worried is the government about fuel supplies if the war is going on? And is there a certain point at which if the war kept going, it would really have a big impact on China's fuel supplies?

Lin Jian: On the situation regarding Iran, I just made clear China's position. On the specifics that you mentioned, I'd refer you to competent authorities.