EXCHANGES

“ln the face of geopolitical and other challenges and disturbances,China and ltaly should adhere to the right way of getting along with each other,featuring mutual respect and trust,openness,cooperation,and equal dialogue.China is ready to work with ltaly to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries,strengthen high-level exchanges,consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations,expand high-level practical cooperation,enrich people-to-people exchanges,and push for sustained,sound and steady development of China-ltaly relations.”

Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks while holding talks with the ltalian Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs and lnternational Cooperation Antonio Tajani on September 4,2023.

“China is an important supporter of,participant in,and contributor to UN peacekeeping operations.President Xi Jinping has proposed the Global Security lnitiative (GSl),which sets the direction for the international community to address global security challenges and provides fundamental guidance for China’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations.China stands ready to work with the UN to further strengthen cooperation,implement the GSl,safeguard world peace and security,and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.”

Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu stated while speaking with the visiting Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations of the United Nations Jean-Pierre Lacroix on September 4,2023.

President Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Moros

On September 13,President Xi Jinping held talks with his Venezuelan counterpart,Nicolás Maduro Moros,who was on a state visit to China,at the Great Hall of the People.The two presidents announced the elevation of the China-Venezuela relationship to an all-weather strategic partnership.

Xi pointed out that China and Venezuela are good friends who trust each other and good partners for common development,hailing the ironclad friendship forged amid the ever-changing international landscape.He said China has always viewed its relations with Venezuela from a strategic and long-term perspective and firmly supports Venezuela’s efforts to safeguard national sovereignty,national dignity,and social stability,as well as Venezuela’s just cause of opposing external interference.

Xi noted that the establishment of an allweather strategic partnership between China and Venezuela meets the common expectations of the two peoples and conforms to the general trend of historical development.We should push for more fruitful China-Venezuela strategic cooperation,bring more benefits to the two peoples,and inject more positive energy into world peace and development.

Xi said China stands ready to work with Venezuela to firmly support each other in exploring a development path suited to their national conditions and strengthen inter-party and national governance exchanges.He said China supports Venezuela in setting up special economic zones and will share relevant experience to help its national development.

Maduro said under the leadership of President Xi Jinping,China has become a great country committed to peace,development,and the wellbeing of humanity,and a vital engine for promoting a new multi-polar world.The relations between Venezuela and China are a model for relations among countries of the Global South.Maduro said the Venezuelan people thank the Chinese government and people for their valuable support and assistance when Venezuela was suffering from illegal unilateral sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maduro indicated that Venezuela’s national development and Venezuela-China relations are at a significant stage.The establishment of an all-weather strategic partnership is of historic significance and will usher in a new era of bilateral relations.

Li Qiang Addresses the First Session of the 18th G20 Summit

On September 9,Premier Li Qiang of the State Council attended and addressed the first session of the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi,India.

Li said that keeping in mind the future of humanity,President Xi Jinping has put forward the Global Development Initiative,the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.Humanity shares a common future,and all countries should respect one another,seek common ground while shelving differences,and live together peacefully.No one can remain immune in the face of major crises and common challenges,and solidarity and cooperation is the right path for the world.

The G20 members should stick to the original aspiration of solidarity and cooperation,and shoulder the responsibility of the times for peace and development,said Li.The G20 members need to act as partners in promoting global economic recovery through effectively strengthening macro-economic policy coordination to convey confidence,and provide impetus for world economic growth,he added.

Leaders at the meeting welcomed the African Union joining the G20,saying that G20 cooperation determines the direction of the world.They said it is necessary to build partnerships,take concrete actions,and mobilize all resources to advance green and low-carbon transition,jointly address global challenges including climate change,as well as energy and food security,and accelerate the realization of strong,sustainable,balanced and inclusive growth,so as to build a better future together.

Wang Yi Meets Australian Delegation at China-Australia High-Level Dialogue

Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee,and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with an Australian delegation to the seventh session of the China-Australia High-Level Dialogue in Beijing on September 7,2023.

Wang Yi said that China-Australia relations have long been at the forefront of China’s relations with Western countries.The economies of the two countries are highly complementary,the people of the two countries are friendly to each other,and there are no disputes left over from history or major conflicts of interest between the two countries.China will work with Australia to promote the sound,steady,and sustainable development of China-Australia relations,bring more benefits to the two peoples,and contribute to regional peace,stability,and development.

Craig Emerson,head of the Australian delegation and former Australian trade minister,said that Australia is glad to see that bilateral relations are maturing after some twists and turns.Australia always regards China as an important cooperative partner and is willing to conduct constructive and candid dialogue with China to understand each other,manage differences,and develop long-term and stable Australia-China relations.

Emerson added that the two sides should also revitalize cooperation in multilateral institutions,jointly promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation,and work together for the well-being of the two countries and the world.

“Playing up competition does all harm and no good,and seeking cooperation is a necessity,not a choice.Facts prove once again that China and the U.S.stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation.With cooperation,many big things can be accomplished that are good for both countries and the world,while confrontation spells disaster for both countries and the world.The two countries need to avoid this way of thinking focusing only on competition and confrontation,accommodate each other’s interests and concerns,seek the broadest areas of exchanges and cooperation,pursue the biggest common ground for win-win cooperation,and jointly contribute the wisdom and strength of two major countries to the development and common prosperity of the two countries,as well as world peace and development.”

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular press briefing on September 1,2023.

“Japan’s discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean is an unprecedented move that has bearing on other countries’ major interests and concerns.The lAEA Secretariat’s so-called monitoring is neither mandated by the body’s Board of Governors,nor fully discussed by member states.lt’s merely the secretariat’s technical consulting and support for Japan and is neither international nor independent.No monitoring could be read as an endorsement of Japan’s ocean discharge,or give it any amount of legitimacy or legality sought by Japan.Japan should immediately stop shifting the risks of nuclear pollution to the whole world.”

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing on September 12,2023.