CCTV: The two-day G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting just concluded in India. Representatives of 40 countries and multiple international organizations, including the foreign ministers of China, the US and Russia, attended the event, making it the largest G20 foreign ministers’ gathering in history. It was also the first G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting attended by Foreign Minister Qin Gang. Do you have more to share on that?

Mao Ning: On March 2, Foreign Minister Qin Gang attended the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi.

Foreign Minister Qin sent out the following three key messages. First, faced with a volatile international situation and rising global challenges, the G20 must rise to the occasion, enhance cooperation, and contribute its share to global development and prosperity. Second, we need to practice true multilateralism and follow the principles of dialogue on an equal footing and consensus-building through consultation. No one should engage in power politics or even bloc confrontation. Third, we need to promote the sound development of globalization, reject unilateralism, protectionism and attempts to decouple or sever supply chains, and make global development more inclusive, resilient and beneficial for all. 

Foreign Minister Qin also proposed to enhance macroeconomic policy coordination, improve global economic governance, and bolster international development cooperation. He stressed that China will continue to take an active part in the G20 agenda, and contribute more to promoting world peace and development and building a community with a shared future for mankind. 

Kyodo News: According to reports, the foreign ministers’ meeting of QUAD was held today in India. The statement that came out of the meeting noted that “the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible”, and reiterated the importance to “meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order”. What’s your comment?

Mao Ning: China has stated our position on QUAD on multiple occasions. We believe that state-to-state cooperation needs to be consistent with the trend of peace and development, rather than be about putting up exclusionary blocs. We hope certain countries can do more things that contribute to security and mutual trust between regional countries and that help to maintain regional peace and stability.

Global Times: It was reported that Homeland Security Advisor to US President Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall said that the US needs to invest China in work to diminish nuclear threats, especially given China’s growing arsenal, the production of fissile material, and China’s deployment of civil nuclear power at scale. She said, “We need to find ways to do so with them and invite them to make meaningful contributions”. Do you have any comment on this?

Mao Ning: Calling China a “nuclear threat” is a convenient pretext for the US to expand its own nuclear arsenal and keep its military hegemony. Let me underscore once again that China has always been extremely prudent and responsible about our nuclear policy. We follow a defensive nuclear strategy and a policy of “no first use” of nuclear weapons, and keep our nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required by national security. China has strictly fulfilled its obligations on nuclear nonproliferation and followed a rational, coordinated and balanced approach to nuclear security. We are committed to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and help the world benefit from nuclear energy as much as possible. China values international cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and has made important contribution to protecting the security of nuclear facilities and reducing the risks of nuclear proliferation.

The US, as the most powerful nuclear weapon state, is supposed to follow a responsible nuclear policy. However, the US has in recent years invested heavily to upgrade its nuclear triad, heightened the role of nuclear weapons in its national security policy and built up a network of military alliance around the globe. The US has also built small blocs reminiscent of the Cold War by bolstering extended deterrence and conducting nuclear submarine cooperation. It is the US who is the primary source of nuclear threat in the world. The US should fully reflect on its nuclear policy, step up to its special and primary responsibilities of nuclear disarmament, and reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national security policy. The US needs to take meaningful, practical steps to reduce nuclear risks and act responsibly to maintain the strategic stability of regional and global peace and security. 

NBC: It’s reported that China has a “stunning lead” in 37 out of 44 critical and emerging technologies as Western democracies lose a global competition for research output, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said. The study, funded by the US State Department, found the US was often second, according to a Reuters report. Do you have any comments or do you agree to these findings? 

Mao Ning: China’s efforts and achievements in scientific and technological innovation are for all to see. China’s scientific and technological progress contributes to global technological advancement. We have been engaged in cooperation with all countries on innovation and sharing development benefits with the rest of the world. We oppose hegemonism in science, decoupling and breaking of industrial and supply chains. We believe that the ultimate purpose of technological advancement is to serve the interests of all humanity. Politicizing scientific and technological issues, using them as weapons for ideological confrontation and patching up coteries harm the interests of the whole world. 

AFP: You just mentioned the three-point response that Foreign Minister Qin Gang gave at the G20, but I’m wondering if the Chinese delegation declined to agree at any joint communique and it was also the only country other than Russia that did not condemn the war in Ukraine at the G20 meeting? Does the foreign ministry have any explanation on the reasoning behind those decisions? 

Mao Ning: China’s position on the Ukraine issue remains consistent and unchanged. 

The G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation. Leaders of member states made it clear in the G20 Bali Leaders’ Declaration last year that the G20 is not the forum to resolve security issues. China believes that the G20 should work to follow through on the leaders’ consensus, focus on its mandate and main function, and contribute to promoting stable, inclusive and sustainable economic recovery.

We also noted that G20 members have varying views on the Ukraine issue. We hope that G20 members will respect each other’s concerns and send a message of solidarity and cooperation instead of division and mutual recrimination.

AFP: The US Commerce Department has added new Chinese entities to its trade blacklist, including units of genetics firm BGI and cloud computing firm Inspur. Does the foreign ministry have any comments on this? 

Mao Ning: The US is once again cracking down on Chinese companies under false pretexts through unfair means. China strongly deplores and firmly rejects