Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China Addresses Media: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China Guo Jiakun speaks on AIIB’s future, UK-China ties, BRICS stance on Middle East conflict, and East China Sea sovereignty. Key takeaways from a global diplomatic briefing.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China Addresses Media: Here’s What He Said on BRICS, UK Ties, and China’s Infrastructure Growth
At a recent press conference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China addressed a range of significant international issues, from the upcoming AIIB meeting to China’s position on Middle East tensions and East China Sea concerns. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded to multiple questions from media representatives, outlining China’s expectations and diplomatic stance on various topics.
Guo Jiakun first announced that Premier of the State Council Liang would attend and deliver an address at the opening ceremony of the 10th Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Board of Governors. The event, set to be held in Beijing on June 26, marks a decade of AIIB’s establishment under the initiative and commitment of President Xi Jinping.
Guo highlighted that the AIIB, since its founding in 2015, has developed into a rule-based, high-standard multilateral development bank. It has played a pivotal role in global infrastructure and sustainable development, making valuable contributions as part of the international financial institution system.
This year’s meeting, themed “Connecting for Development, Collaborating for Prosperity,” will evaluate the AIIB’s past achievements and set the direction for its next ten years. China hopes to collaborate with all member countries to support AIIB’s further growth and to contribute more significantly to regional infrastructure connectivity, sustainable development, and the improvement of the global economic governance system. Guo emphasized the goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
In response to a question from AFP regarding China-UK relations, Guo stated that as both permanent members of the UN Security Council and major global economies, it is in the mutual interest of China and the UK to enhance bilateral ties and deepen cooperation.
He underscored that China follows a path of peaceful development, poses no threat to any nation, and refrains from interfering in other countries’ internal affairs. While expressing willingness to develop China-UK relations based on mutual respect and properly managed differences, he rejected any unsubstantiated attacks or smearing of China.
On the matter of escalating tensions in the Middle East following military strikes on Iran, Guo addressed BRICS’ response. He noted that BRICS—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—had released a joint statement calling for a ceasefire, dialogue, and peaceful consultations. The group aims to play a constructive role in de-escalating regional tensions.
Referring to President Xi Jinping’s remarks during the BRICS summit in Kazan last year, Guo reiterated that BRICS should remain committed to peace and act as a defender of common security. China, he said, is prepared to work with other BRICS countries to promote peace and stability in the region.
When asked about Japan’s protest regarding China’s alleged construction of new structures in the East China Sea, Guo firmly rejected the claims. He asserted that China’s oil and gas exploration activities are conducted in undisputed waters under Chinese jurisdiction and are entirely within China’s sovereign rights.
Guo dismissed Japan’s protest as unwarranted and emphasized that China remains committed to implementing the principled consensus reached between the two nations on the East China Sea issue. He expressed hope that Japan would take a cooperative stance and help create favorable conditions for resuming intergovernmental negotiations at the earliest opportunity.
The press conference reflected the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China’s consistent message of peaceful development, multilateral cooperation, and commitment to sovereignty, while also calling on other global actors to work constructively toward shared international goals.
Disclaimer:
This blog article is a journalistic summary based on the official transcript of a press briefing. The interpretations are made for informational purposes only and do not represent official statements of policy beyond those publicly recorded.