From April 25 to 30, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the Sixth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and hold the Second China-Kazakhstan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Kazakhstan, and attend the Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs / International Relations and the 15th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Brazil.

Xinhua News Agency: You just announced that Foreign Minister Wang Yi will travel to Kazakhstan to attend the Sixth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Could you share with us the program and China’s expectation of the meeting?

Guo Jiakun: In recent years, China’s relations with Central Asian countries have made rapid headway, with deepening and solidifying cooperation across the board. Foreign ministers of these countries will gather in Almaty to have an in-depth exchange of views on cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, deepening the building of the China-Central Asia mechanism, and other issues of mutual interest. The top priority of the meeting is to make full political preparations for the second China-Central Asia Summit to make it a success.

This meeting is held in a world fraught with changes, turbulence and the U.S.’s tariff tsunami which deals a blow to the world economic order. Through this meeting, China stands ready to deepen political mutual trust with the five Central Asian countries, consolidate mutual support, keep the region stable, jointly defend international fairness and justice, and practice true multilateralism.

Global Times: It was reported that President Trump told the press that the U.S. is “doing fine with China” and he would not “play hardball” with China in talks. The 145-percent tariff is very high and “it’ll come down substantially. But it won’t be zero.” He added that China has to make a deal, because “otherwise they’re not going to be able to deal in the United States. If they don’t make a deal, we’ll set the deal, because we’re the ones that set the deal.” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent characterized the current situation as essentially a trade embargo. He also said that it was not the U.S.’s goal to decouple from China, and a comprehensive deal could take two to three years, but negotiations with Beijing have not yet started. What is China’s comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: We have said from day one that tariff and trade wars have no winners, protectionism leads nowhere, and to decouple is to self-alienate. This tariff war is launched by the U.S. We have made it very clear that China does not look for a war, but neither are we afraid of it. We will fight, if fight we must. Our doors are open, if the U.S. wants to talk. If a negotiated solution is truly what the U.S. wants, it should stop threatening and blackmailing China and seek dialogue based on equality, respect and mutual benefit. To keep asking for a deal while exerting extreme pressure is not the right way to deal with China and simply will not work.

CCTV: You just announced that Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs / International Relations. Could you share with us the program and China’s expectation of the meeting?

Guo Jiakun: The Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs / International Relations will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from April 28 to 29. A session for Ministers of Foreign Affairs / International Relations from BRICS members and partner countries will also be held. Foreign Minister Wang Yi will exchange views with other parties on BRICS cooperation, the current international and regional situation, and other issues of mutual interest, and lay the groundwork for the 17th BRICS Summit.

The BRICS cooperation mechanism came into being amid the collective rise of the Global South, which meets the expectation of the international community to safeguard world peace, promote common development and improve global governance. BRICS is emerging as a backbone of cooperation and an engine of growth in the Global South. This will be the first meeting of BRICS ministers of foreign affairs / international relations after BRICS was joined by Indonesia as a new member and nine partner countries. China stands ready to work with other parties to jointly build a more comprehensive, close, practical and inclusive partnership, contribute to safeguarding multilateralism and defending justice and fairness, and advance the high-quality development of Greater BRICS Cooperation.

AFP: It’s a follow-up question on the U.S. and China. So the White House said yesterday the discussions on the trade deal between the U.S. and China have made progress. Is this true? Is China negotiating a trade deal with the U.S.?

Guo Jiakun: I just answered relevant question. This tariff war is launched by the U.S. We have made it very clear that China does not look for a war, but neither are we afraid of it. If a negotiated solution is truly what the U.S. wants, it should stop threatening and blackmailing China and seek dialogue based on equality, respect and mutual benefit.

The Paper: The Iranian Foreign Minister is visiting China. We noted that the foreign ministries of China and Oman held a new round of strategic consultations this week. The two sides exchanged views on regional hotspot issues of mutual interest. Recently, Oman mediated for the negotiations between Iran and the U.S. What’s China’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: On April 21 in Beijing, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Bin and Oman’s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Sheikh Khalifa Alharthy, co-chaired the strategic consultation between foreign ministries of China and Oman. The two sides had in-depth exchange of views on hotspot issues in the Middle East. China commends Oman for its active role in helping to address regional hotspot issues and deescalating regional tensions. China stands ready to work with Oman to strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional affairs and make joint effort for regional peace and stability.

CCTV: To follow up on your announcement that Director Wang Yi will attend the 15th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security, can you share more information on that and China’s expectation for the meeting?

Guo Jiakun: The 15th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security will be held in Brasilia on April 30. During the meeting, the Chinese side will exchange views with BRICS countries on the current international security situation and major international and regional issues.

Certain country attempts to go against the trend of the times, seeks supremacy and practices unilateralism and bullying. Recently, we’ve seen it wielding the big stick of tariffs, sabotaging international fairness and order, and heightening global security risks. The international community needs close cooperation between countries and joint effort for world peace and stability more than ever. China looks forward to working with BRICS countries to consolidate BRICS strategic partnership, further enrich BRICS cooperation in political and security fields, and inject active, stable and constructive strength of BRICS into the effort of upholding world peace and security and improving global security governance.

Bloomberg: China has reportedly warned South Korean companies not to export products containing China’s rare earth minerals to the U.S. military and defense firms. Letters that the Chinese government has sent to companies and industries, including power equipment, batteries, displays, EVs, aerospace and medical equipment, said they will face sanctions if they violate the restrictions. Can the Foreign Ministry confirm the existence of this letter and that it was sent? Does it have any details to add?

Guo Jiakun: I am not familiar with the specifics you mentioned. I’d refer you to competent Chinese authorities.

Hubei Media Group: Media article published in Panama recently criticized the U.S.’s interference and hegemonism suffered by Central American countries, especially Panama. The U.S. was accused of seizing control over the canal by peddling the so-called “China threat” which does not exist. It was also revealed that the U.S. plans to establish long-term military existence in Panama. Some also warned that such plan could lead to more military interference and economic exploitation, which will further hurt the interest of Panama. What’s China’s comment?