Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s Regular Press Conference on November 5, 2025

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Maka Botchorishvili will pay an official visit to China from November 6 to 8.

China News Service: The eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened this morning in Shanghai. Premier Li Qiang attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. Can you further brief us on that? Given the current global trade landscape, what message does China hope to send through the event?

Mao Ning: As the world's first import expo held at the national level, the CIIE is an innovative and practical move taken by China to expand high-standard opening up. The CIIE has been successfully held for eight consecutive years, which speaks volumes about China's resolve and action in honoring its commitment to opening up and its pursuit for mutual benefit.

Premier Li Qiang stressed in the keynote speech at the opening ceremony that the 20th CPC Central Committee at its fourth plenary session deliberated on and adopted the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, injecting more certainty for China's socioeconomic development in the coming period. First, it provides the certainty of development. China will continue to prioritize economic development and focus on efforts of pursuing high-quality development, which will make new significant contributions to global growth. Second, it provides the certainty of openness. China will firmly advance high-standard opening up, steadily expand institutional opening up and introduce more measures of voluntary and unilateral opening up.

Openness and cooperation is the "golden key" to development and prosperity. This year's CIIE sets a new record in scale, featuring over 4,100 foreign exhibitors from more than 150 countries and regions. It has become a consensus among participating parties that partnering with China will bring more opportunities. China will continue its effort of expanding opening up so as to share the opportunities of China's mega market with the world.

Reuters: Taiwanese officials said today that China has "attached many conditions" to Chinese Taipei's participation in next year's APEC summit, including the one-China principle. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment?

Mao Ning: Participating as a regional economy under the one-China principle and abiding by the terms and practices set forth in the relevant APEC MoU-this is the political prerequisite for Chinese Taipei's participation in APEC. China's position on this issue is clear and firm.

CCTV: Today marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between China and Fiji. How does China take stock of the development of bilateral relations over the past 50 years? What's China's expectation for the bilateral relationship in the future?

Mao Ning: Today marks the 50th anniversary of the China-Fiji diplomatic relations. President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang exchanged congratulatory messages with President Ratu Naiqama Tawakecolati Lalabalavu and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to jointly celebrate the historical moment of bilateral relations. Fiji is the first Pacific island country to establish diplomatic relations with China. Over the past 50 years, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, bilateral relations have come a long way through the test of time. As President Xi Jinping said in the congratulatory message, no matter how the international landscape evolves, the two countries support each other in following the development path suited to their respective national conditions on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutually beneficial cooperation. In recent years, our high-quality Belt and Road cooperation has produced fruitful results and benefited the two peoples. China-Fiji friendship has taken deep roots among our peoples. 

China attaches great importance to its relations with Fiji. We stand ready to work with Fiji to implement the important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries, enhance political mutual trust, expand cooperation in various fields, elevate the China-Fiji comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights, and deliver more tangibly for the two peoples.  

RT TV: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called China an "unreliable partner" recently. Just a few days ago, U.S. President Donald Trump had talks with Chinese leader and spoke highly of the talks. How does China view the contradictory messages from Washington?

Mao Ning: China's policy on the U.S. maintains consistency. We always view and handle our relations with the U.S. under the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. Meanwhile, we will firmly defend our sovereignty, security and development interests. A sound and steady China-U.S. relationship is in the fundamental interest of the two peoples and is what the international community hopes to see. 

AFP: The EU said yesterday they would investigate Anglo American's plan to sell its nickel mining business to MMG. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this?

Mao Ning: For anything specific, I'd refer you to competent authorities. More broadly, China supports Chinese companies in conducting practical cooperation under the principle of mutual benefit. We hope relevant parties will honor the commitment to openness, respect the principles of market economy and fair competition, refrain from politicizing trade and economic issues and turning them into security issues, and provide a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory environment for companies from all countries.