Bloomberg: My colleague was detained by the Beijing National Security Bureau last week on suspicion of engaging in criminal activities that jeopardize China’s national security. Is there any update you can give on the situation?
Wang Wenbin: As far as we know, the Beijing National Security Bureau has recently taken compulsory measures in accordance with law on this Chinese citizen whose surname is Fan on suspicion of engaging in criminal activities that jeopardize China’s national security. Her case is under investigation and her legal rights and interests are fully ensured.
AFP: The EU has released a statement on Fan’s detention. Do you have any response to this statement?
Wang Wenbin: I have talked about the relevant situation of Chinese citizen Fan’s case and stated China’s position. We urge the European side to respect China’s judicial sovereignty and stop making irresponsible remarks.
Xinhua News Agency: On December 12, President Xi Jinping delivered a video speech at the Climate Ambition Summit in commemoration of the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement. He made three proposals for the future of global climate governance and announced four new measures to scale up China’s nationally determined contributions. Can you offer more details?
Wang Wenbin: On December 12, President Xi Jinping attended the Climate Ambition Summit via video link and delivered an important speech upon invitation.
Amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic, rising protectionism and unilateralism and severe challenges in climate change, President Xi elaborated on China’s vision on global climate governance in a new historical context with a view to the whole mankind and gave in-depth responses to such questions as how to maintain economic development while addressing climate change and achieving green recovery. He made three proposals, namely, to close ranks and make new advances in climate governance that features cooperation and win-win, to raise ambition and foster a new architecture of climate governance where every party does its part, and to boost confidence and pursue a new approach to climate governance that highlights green recovery. President Xi’s speech testifies to China’s consistent position of seeking solidarity and promoting cooperation, firmly supporting multilateralism and the comprehensive and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, demonstrates China’s responsibility as a major country and will guide the sustained improvement of global climate governance.
President Xi announced four new measures to scale up China’s nationally determined contributions: China will lower its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by over 65 percent from the 2005 level, increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 25 percent, increase the forest stock volume by 6 billion cubic meters from the 2005 level, and bring its total installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 1.2 billion kilowatts. This is another major policy announcement after President Xi pledged that China will peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 at the General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, charting the course for the peaking of CO2 emissions and demonstrating China’s firm resolution in addressing climate change and responsibility in honoring its commitments.
China is a solid contributor to the improvement of global climate governance. We are pleased to see that under the advocacy of China, the EU, the UN and other parties, the international community has formed a positive synergy in jointly addressing climate change and accelerating global climate governance. At the Climate Ambition Summit, over 20 countries put forward their goals for carbon neutrality and more than 40 countries made new commitments to scaling up nationally determined contributions. China stands ready to work with other countries to advance the sustained and steady implementation of the Paris Agreement and set the global response to climate change on a new journey.
Reuters: Nasdaq said on Friday it will remove the shares of four Chinese companies from indexes it maintains after a US order restricting the purchase of these companies shares. Do you have any comment on Nasdaq statement?
Wang Wenbin: We have noted relevant information. I have two points to make in response.
First, China’s capital market is opening up at a faster rate, according greater convenience for international investors to purchase Chinese shares. Being excluded from some international indexes will not prevent international investors from investing in these companies through other means and from reaping dividends from China’s development.
Second, China firmly opposes the U.S. administration’s unjustified crack-down on Chinese companies. Their actions are a far cry from their self-professed image of championing market competition and international trade rules, which will be detrimental to the interests of investors from all countries and the national interests and image of the United States.
China urges the U.S. administration to stop politicizing trade issues and stop abusing its state power and national security concept to suppress foreign companies. The Chinese government will continue to firmly uphold the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.
The Paper: The opening ceremony of the annual “Love Knows No Borders” international charity sale was held in Beijing on Saturday. As we understand, this year’s charity sale event will go online, could you offer more details?
Wang Wenbin: The opening ceremony of the “Love Knows No Borders” international charity sale 2020 was successfully held in Beijing on December 12, which was attended via physical or online format by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his wife Qian Wei, MFA Party Secretary of the CPC Committee Qi Yu, Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng, and more than 130 representatives from foreign embassies to China and China-based offices of international organizations and representatives from nearly 40 companies. The number of foreign missions and caring people participating in the opening ceremony surpassed that of last year, and the event resonated with people both at home and abroad.
This year’s charity sale is held in a new format, being conducted online for the first time and accessible to all. The online charity sale was already launched at the opening ceremony, which will last for one week. Besides, a livestreaming sale will also be held as part of the event for the first time. From 8 to 10 p.m. on December 16, Wednesday, some diplomatic envoys and senior diplomats in China and the foreign ministry’s representatives to Jinping and Malipo counties for poverty alleviation work will livestream to sell the goods together with the hosts from the “CCTV News” broadcast room on Taobao. We hope you will continue to follow and support the event.
AFP: During the Climate Ambition Summit, UN Secretary General Gutteres called on member states to declare a state of climate emergency until they reach carbon neutrality. Does China plan on doing this?
Wang Wenbin: I just elaborated on China’s position on relevant issues. I would like to reiterate that when it comes to global climate governance, China is a doer that honors its word and gets things done. At this year’s UNGA session in September, President Xi Jinping made the solemn commitment that China will aim to peak its carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. At this Climate Ambition Summit, he announced four new measures to scale up China’s nationally determined contributions, outlining how we will approach the goal of peaking emissions before 2030 and consolidating the foundation for achieving carbon neutrality before 2060. This fully demonstrated China’s firm resolve to advance the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement with a down-to-earth attitude. We stand ready to work with the international community to ensure the effective implementation of Paris Agreement targets and to contribute to global climate actions.
Reuters: A US state department-funded project was launched today which will use satellites to monitor water levels in Chinese dams on the Mekong River and then make the information public. Do you have any comment on this project?
Wang Wenbin: In recent years, China and Mekong countries have pushed forward Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation despite external noise and interference, and made substantial progress.
First, cooperation in information sharing has been deepened. Since last month, China has started providing Lancang River’s hydrological data for the whole year with the Mekong countries and an information sharing platform of Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation was put in operation recently. The six riparian countries also share major operation of hydropower stations and relevant data in a timely manner with each other through the mechanism of the joint working group on water resources cooperation, thus increasing the transparency of information on Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation.
Second, the upstream hydropower stations have played their full role in reducing the water flow during the wet season and increasing it during the dry season. Since the construction of hydropower stations along the Lancang River, the reservoirs store water in the flood season for later use in the dry season, which has effectively prevented the drastic fluctuation of the discharge flow. During the drought in 2016 and 2019, China did its best to ensure the reasonable discharge of the Lancang River, and conduct emergency water replenishing at the request of the downstream countries, which was unanimously recognized by the Lancang-Mekong countries. The international science community and the Mekong River Commission believe that the Lancang cascade hydropower station will help maintain the stability of the Mekong river flow and is beneficial to the flood control and drought relief efforts of Mekong countries.
Third, Lancang-Mekong River water resources cooperation continued to achieve substantial results. Since LMC was launched, China has helped Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to formulate water basin comprehensive plan and irrigation plan, and assisted downstream countries in flood control and mitigation plan; provided electricity generated by hydropower stations to the downstream countries such as Myanmar and Laos; helped downstream countries to train talents in the field of water conservancy and develop water resources and hydropower, making concrete contributions to promoting the sustainable utilization of water resources and benefiting the people.
The above facts speak volume to the achievements of water cooperation between Lancang-Mekong countries. China welcomes constructive suggestions from countries outside the region on the development and utilization of water resources by Lancang-Mekong countries, but we firmly oppose malicious moves to drive a wedge between us. Facts speak louder than words. China will unswervingly advance Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation and make greater contribution to the six countries’ joint response to drought and flood and promotion of sustainable development.
Bloomberg: This is in relation to a news report from the Daily Mail of the UK, which says that China General Nuclear Power Corporation is considering to exit from a China-UK joint nuclear plant project. Do you have any comment on this report?
Wang Wenbin: I’m not aware of the specifics you mentioned. In principle, I can assure you that China always encourages Chinese companies to engage in mutually-beneficial cooperation with other countries. We hope the British side will provide an open, just, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies investing and operating in the UK.