Regular press conference by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakuns on January 8, 2025_Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

CCTV: A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County, Rikaze Town, Xizang yesterday. Can you update us on China's disaster relief efforts?

Guo Jiakun: Following the earthquake, General Secretary Xi Jinping requested that all efforts be made to search for and rescue survivors and treat the injured, minimize deaths, prevent secondary disasters, care for those affected and take appropriate measures accordingly. necessary. He also called for measures to be taken to improve earthquake monitoring and early warning, allocate relief and relief supplies quickly, repair damaged infrastructure without delay, ensure that people's basic needs are met and that they stay safe and warm for the rest of the period. winter. Premier Li Qiang also gave instructions on comprehensive disaster response, relief efforts and minimizing deaths. Yesterday, Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing led a group of officials from relevant authorities in the earthquake-hit region to guide rescue, relief and related works.

The relevant authorities of the Chinese government have launched a Level II emergency service response, and disaster response and relief works are proceeding in a timely and orderly manner. As we speak, the first batch of relief supplies sent by the central government has arrived in the earthquake-affected region; all roads damaged by the earthquake in Dingri County have been repaired and can be opened to traffic; power has been restored to the center of the county and several towns and villages in Dingri County; and telecommunications were restored in the region affected by the disaster. We believe that under the firm leadership of the CPC Central Committee, residents will overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes.

Xinhua News Agency: According to reports, leaders of many countries and international organizations have offered condolences to China over the earthquake. Could you share more information about this?

Guo Jiakun: Since the 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook Dingri County, Rikaze, Xizang Autonomous Region on January 7, many countries and international organizations have expressed condolences to China in various ways.

At 11 a.m. today, the Chinese side received messages of condolence in various forms from the leaders of 22 countries, including Russia, Pakistan, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Viet Nam. , Malaysia, the Maldives, Japan, Cuba, Venezuela and Serbia. , Belarus, Spain, Italy, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Oman, Grenada, El Salvador and Uzbekistan, foreign ministries of countries including India, Brazil, Egypt, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Trkiye, Bahrain and Iran, as well as UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev and President of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) Carlos Hernández. We express our sincere gratitude.

Reuters: Reuters has learned that Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD brought hundreds of Chinese workers on irregular visas to build its factory in Brazil. Sources said BYD was committed to complying with local labor laws. Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have any news on how this issue is being resolved?

Guo Jiakun: As we have repeatedly emphasized, the Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the legal rights and interests of workers and has always required our enterprises to comply with laws and regulations in their operation. China is willing to continue working with Brazil according to the principles of equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

Dragon TV: We noted that when global media review the year 2024, China's achievements in connectivity cooperation have attracted widespread attention. Many believe that the new transportation models of the China-Laos Railway, the China-Europe Express Railway and the China-Laos Railway as well as the new rail service of the Western Land-Sea Corridor have become new drivers of regional economic growth. Can you give us more details?

Guo Jiakun: We recently heard good news about connectivity cooperation between China and relevant countries. The China-Europe Express Railway has completed more than 100,000 trips in total, the total cargo throughput of the China-Laos Railway has exceeded 50 million tons, the new rail service of the West Land-Sea Corridor has carried out more than of 10,000 trips during the entire year. for the first time, the China-Europe Trans-Caspian Express was officially launched, the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway began, priority projects such as the China-Vietnam railway Cross-border railway and Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link have made significant progress, and the first-ever two-way journey between Chancay and Shanghai through the new land-sea corridor between China and Latin America has been completed. China has become an important driver of global connectivity.

Connectivity is one of the important areas of cooperation under China's Belt and Road Initiative and meets the aspirations of Southern countries for self-reliant development. China unveiled 15 measures last week to promote the large-scale development of the western region, and the country will make synergistic efforts to build an international logistics corridor to forge a paradigm of comprehensive opening-up at a faster pace that connects China and the world. across land and sea as well as in the eastern and western regions of the country. We will uphold the principle of in-depth consultations and joint contributions for shared benefit, expand new win-win development spaces at a higher level and with greater resilience and sustainability, share with the world opportunities and dividends with the high quality and high quality development from China. a standard openness and help the countries of the South to achieve their modernization.

Reuters: The Shandong Port Group has reportedly banned U.S.-sanctioned oil tankers from calling at its ports. The ban is expected to raise shipping costs for independent refiners in Shandong, who are the main buyers of discounted sanctioned crude from Iran, Russia and Venezuela. Could the Ministry provide any comments on this?

Guo Jiakun: I don't know the details. More generally, let me emphasize that China firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction of the United States that have no basis in international law or authorization by the UN Security Council .