CGTN: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi held talks with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in China yesterday. After the meeting, the two sides issued the five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East region. Can you share the consideration behind the initiative? What effect does China hope to achieve through the initiative?

Mao Ning: Yesterday, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi held talks with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. They had in-depth exchanges of views on the situation in the Gulf and Middle East region and reached important common understandings. After the meeting, the two sides issued the five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East region. The initiative can be summed up in three words: cease, talk, and ensure. More specifically, the two sides put forward the following: immediate cessation of hostilities; start of peace talks as soon as possible; security of nonmilitary targets; security of shipping lanes; and primacy of the United Nations Charter. 

One month into the conflict, its spillover effect continues to spread, dealing an increasingly severe blow to regional and global peace and stability, and causing more extensive disruptions to the stability of global energy supply, unimpeded operation of industrial and supply chains, and global economic growth. This is not in the common interest of regional countries and the wider world. China and Pakistan, as important countries in the Global South, voiced a rational and just position in the hope of building up consensus and pooling stronger effort in the international community to contribute to easing the ongoing tense situation, and restoring peace and tranquility in the Gulf and Middle East region at an early date. The initiative is open and we welcome response and participation of all countries and international organizations.

China will continue to stay in close communication with Pakistan and relevant parties and play a constructive role in promoting the end of hostilities.

Yonhap News Agency: It's reported that the government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) eased multiple-entry visa requirements for Chinese travelers and further extended the validity period, effective from March 30. What's China's comment?

Mao Ning: More and more travel facilitation measures by China and the ROK contribute to deeper mutual understanding and exchanges between our two peoples.

AFP: Did Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Pakistani foreign minister discuss the border conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan during their talks yesterday? Is the foreign ministry able to share any details about that?

Mao Ning: You can refer to the readout we have released on the talks between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. I have no more information to share.

Xinhua News Agency: Last month, the China Development Forum 2026 and the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 were held and media outlets highlighted the two events as an important window into the Chinese market. Can I have your comment on that?

Mao Ning: The China Development Forum 2026 held in Beijing and the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 held in Hainan last month sent out the same clear message: Amid global turbulence, China will steadily strive forward.

The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development provides clear strategic goals and policy priorities. It sets out the main targets and major tasks for national development in the next five years. China will fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, move faster to create a new pattern of development, and promote high-quality development. China will stay committed to free trade, continue to deepen cooperation with other countries, steadily expand institutional opening up, pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, promote liberalization and facilitation of global trade and investment, and uphold and develop an open world economy. China will remain a source of certainty and stability to global development.

BBC: Just a follow-up question on the peace plan. Although China and Pakistan have proposed this peace plan, obviously it requires those involved to listen and to change their actions. What do you think are the chances of especially the U.S. and Israel ceasing hostilities, given that if the war is to stop, they would have to be the ones to stop?

Mao Ning: Continued tensions and spillover of the conflict do not serve any party's interest. The pressing priority is to end hostilities and start peace talks. The initiative put forward by China and Pakistan is in the common interest of all parties. We stand ready to work with Pakistan and other parties to overcome difficulties, resist disruptions, bring about a ceasefire as soon as possible, create opportunities for peace and open the window for peace talks.

Hubei Media Group: On March 31, Japan's defense minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the deployment of long-range missiles in Kumamoto and Shizuoka capable of striking "enemy bases." He said, "As Japan faces the most complex security environment in the postwar era, it is extremely important to strengthen Japan's standoff defense capabilities." What's China's comment on that? 

Mao Ning: China is gravely concerned. Japan claims the purpose is for "defense" and "counterstrike," but the deployment of those offensive weapons goes far beyond the scope of self-defense and Japan's "exclusively defense-oriented" policy, violates instruments with legal effect under international law such as the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, and goes against Japan's own Constitution and norms. The deployment is yet another signal that Japan's right-wing forces are pushing for a more offensive and expansionist defense policy, and neo-militarism is casting a long shadow over regional peace and stability. The international community needs to stay fully alarmed. We also noticed that many Japanese groups and people have expressed their clear opposition.

Not long ago, a sitting officer of Japan's Self-Defense Forces broke into the Chinese embassy in Japan armed with a knife. Japanese side did not reflect on its failure in maintaining discipline in the SDF. Instead, it continues to peddle the narrative of external threats and expedite the military buildup. This is a highly dangerous trend. China solemnly urges the Japanese side to do serious soul-searching on its history of militarist aggression, and honor its commitment and exercise prudence in military and security areas.

AFP: It's been reported that Li Xiong, an associate of Prince Group's Chen Zhi, was extradited to China from Cambodia today and he has been placed under coercive measures. I wonder if the foreign ministry has any comment on that?

Mao Ning: It is the common responsibility of the international community to combat online gambling and telecom fraud. For some time, China has actively cooperated with Cambodia and other countries in combating crimes of cross-border telecom and online fraud. These efforts have achieved remarkable results. We will continue to work with neighboring countries, including Cambodia, to step up law enforcement cooperation to protect the safety of the people and their property, and uphold the order of exchanges and cooperation between regional countries.

Beijing Youth Daily: It's reported the U.S. Department of the Treasury last Friday issued Venezuela-related general licenses for mineral investment and operations. The Treasury Department said the licenses were part of efforts to bring the Venezuelan economy back online and benefit Americans and Venezuelans. The licenses exclude China, Russia, the DPRK, Cuba and Iran. What's China's comment? 

Mao Ning: China firmly opposes the U.S. setting restrictions on China-Venezuela cooperation by issuing so-called "general licenses." China's lawful rights and interests in Venezuela must be safeguarded. What the U.S. needs to do is lift illicit unilateral sanctions on Venezuela at once, rather than use so-called "general licenses" to whitewash its moves of undermining the lawful rights and interests of Venezuela and other relevant parties.

AFP: The Philippines plans to rename more than 100 island features belonging to the Spratly archipelago, the site of repeated confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels, which they said is to reinforce sovereignty. Does China have any comment on the renaming of these island features?

Mao Ning: China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and its adjacent waters. The Philippines illegally delineated the so-called "Kalayaan Island Group" beyond its territorial scope, and carried out so-called "naming" of relevant islands and reefs in China's Nansha Qundao, which violates China's territorial sovereignty and goes against the UN Charter and relevant international laws. China firmly opposes the Philippines' infringement upon China's sovereignty and rights and interests. China will do what is necessary to firmly defend it's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.