Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s Regular Press Conference on February 8, 2023
CCTV: It’s been reported that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on February 7 that he was pleased by the “productive” video meeting between the Australian trade minister and his Chinese counterpart. “The trade to China is more than the next three highest trading partners combined. It’s in Australia’s national interest to have good economic relations and to trade with China”, he said. Does China have any comment on that?
Mao Ning: China and Australia are both important countries in the Asia-Pacific with highly complementary economies. The sound and steady growth of ties between our two countries serves the fundamental interests of both peoples and helps advance peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond. The Chinese side stands ready to work together with the Australian side to further deliver on the important common understandings reached between our two leaders in their meeting in Bali and the outcomes of the China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue. Based on the principle of mutual respect, mutual benefit and seeking common ground while shelving differences, we are ready to launch or resume dialogue and communication with Australia in various sectors, expand cooperation, manage differences, and strive to rebuild trust and bring bilateral relations back to the right track.
Anadolu Agency: China sent two search and rescue teams to help Türkiye’s disaster relief efforts after two strong earthquakes in the country and its vicinity. I want to say that the Turkish people welcome and deeply appreciate China’s support during such a challenging time. My question is, do you have any updates about China’s contribution efforts? Have the teams arrived? Have they reached affected areas?
Mao Ning: After a flight of more than ten hours, the 82-member rescue team sent by the Chinese government arrived at the airport in Adana, southern Turkey, on the early morning of February 8, local time. The team brought with it a total of more than 20 tons of relief supplies and equipment for search and rescue, communications, medical and other purposes, and will soon join the international rescue efforts on the ground. As far as I know, more civil and private Chinese rescue teams are on their way to the quake-hit areas. We will continue to provide support and assistance to the best of our capability in light of Türkiye’s needs.
The Paper: After the deadly earthquakes hit Türkiye and Syria, the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee called for the immediate lifting of US sanctions on Syria so as to “open the doors” for aid to Syria. But the US said they still would not engage with the Syrian government. What is your comment?
Mao Ning: The devastating earthquakes - on top of years of war and turmoil - have left Syria in a terrible humanitarian crisis. The UN and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have called for emergency aid to Syria to avoid further deterioration of its humanitarian situation.
The US has long been engaged in the Syrian crisis. Its frequent military strikes and harsh economic sanctions have caused huge civilian casualties and taken away the means to subsistence of the Syrians. As we speak, the US troops continue to occupy Syria’s principal oil-producing regions. They have plundered more than 80% of Syria’s oil production and smuggled and burned Syria’s grain stock. All this has made Syria’s humanitarian crisis even worse.
In the wake of the catastrophe, the US should put aside geopolitical obsessions and immediately lift the unilateral sanctions on Syria, to unlock the doors for humanitarian aid to Syria.