Regular press conference by Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning
Mao Ning: Today marks the 10th anniversary of the Silk Road Economic Belt Initiative. China will host the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in October this year. This will be the culmination of events to mark the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, and an important platform to bring parties together to discuss high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.To get more news about mao ning, you can visit shine news official website.
To date, representatives from more than 90 countries have confirmed their participation in the Forum. They include official representatives such as heads of state and ministers from Belt and Road partner countries, as well as people from the business community, think tanks and civil societies that have actively supported and participated in Belt and Road cooperation. Many heads and representatives of international organisations have also confirmed their attendance. We believe that more cooperation partners will do so in the coming days.
Yonhap News Agency: Vice Premier of the State Council Liu Guozhong will visit the DPRK on September 8. Can you give more information about the visit?
Mao Ning: China and the DPRK are friendly neighbours connected by mountains and rivers. Our two parties and countries have a good tradition of friendly exchanges. The fact that a high-level Chinese delegation will attend the 75th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK and visit the DPRK upon invitation reflects our deep friendship and the importance China attaches to our bilateral relations. We believe that with the concerted efforts of both sides, the visit will be a success and help further deepen and advance China-DPRK relations. The two sides are in contact on the details of the programme. We will release information in due course. Please check back for updates.
Reuters: Yesterday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit. It is reported that the Japanese Prime Minister explained Japan's position on the release of "waste water" from the Fukushima nuclear plant. Can you give us more details about Premier Li Qiang's response?
Mao Ning: Yesterday afternoon local time, Premier Li Qiang had a brief conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at his request on the sidelines of the East Asia Cooperation Summit in Jakarta. In his meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister and in his speech at the summit, Premier Li Qiang explained China's position on the discharge of the Fukushima nuclear water into the sea. He said that the handling of the nuclear-contaminated water affects the global marine environment, people's health and future generations. Japan must faithfully comply with its international obligations, fully consult with its neighbours and other stakeholders, and dispose of the nuclear-contaminated water in a responsible manner. We hope that Japan will work in the same direction with China, draw lessons from history, look to the future and use this year's 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship as an opportunity to improve and expand bilateral relations.