At the invitation of the Chinese side, Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong will visit China from November 24 to 29.

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel will visit China from November 24 to 29.

CCTV: To follow up on the visit of Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Xavier Bettel, how does China view its relations with Luxembourg and what’s China’s expectation of the visit?

Lin Jian: Luxembourg is one of the EU’s founding members and China’s friendly cooperation partner. Fifty plus years on since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and Luxembourg have stayed committed to mutual respect, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development. In recent years, the two countries have achieved fruitful results in cooperation in such areas as air freight, finance and steel, which delivers tangible benefits to the two peoples and contributes to enhancing China-EU cooperation and keeping international industrial and supply chains stable. China stands ready to work with Luxembourg to enhance our friendship and mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and make new progress in bilateral relations. 

Anadolu Agency: The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Israel’s war in Gaza. The court said it found reasonable grounds to believe that each bears responsibility for war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and crimes against humanity of murder, persecutions and other inhuman acts. The court also found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant committed a war crime of intentionally directing an attack against civilian population. What’s China’s comment?

Lin Jian: China noted the reports.

On the question of Palestine, China always stands on the side of fairness and justice, and on the side of international law, opposes all acts that violate international law including international humanitarian law, and condemns all moves against civilians and civil facilities. As we speak, the Gaza conflict is still dragging on and unprecedented humanitarian crisis is unfolding. China supports all effort in the international community conducive to realizing fairness and justice and defending the authority of international law on the question of Palestine. We hope the International Criminal Court will maintain an objective and just position, lawfully perform its duties, and interpret and apply the Rome Statute and general international law in its entirety, in good faith and in line with uniform standards. 

CCTV: China has announced a trial visa-free policy to 29 countries, so will this policy be applied to more countries? Some countries hope that the maximum length of stay for visa-free travelers will be extended and the visa exemption will be permitted for more purposes of visit. Will China consider that?

Lin Jian: To further facilitate cross-border travel, China decided to include more countries in its visa waiver program and extend the visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia and Japan on a trial basis from November 30, 2024 to December 31, 2025. 

In addition, China decided to further upgrade its visa-free policy. Visa waiver will now be granted to travelers for exchange purpose and the maximum length of stay will be extended from 15 days to 30 days. Starting from November 30, 2024, ordinary passport holders from 38 countries, including the above-mentioned nine countries, can be exempted from visa to enter China and stay for no more than 30 days for business, tourism, family visit, exchange and transit purposes. 

RIA Novosti: Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that the Russian Armed Forces carried out a combined strike on a Ukrainian military-industrial complex facility in response to Ukrainian military’s use of long-range US-made and British-made weapons. He added that in combat conditions, the newest Russian medium-range missile systems known as “Oreshnik” was tested, with a ballistic missile in a nuclear-free equipment. He also stressed that the conflict in Ukraine is going global. Do you have any comment?

Lin Jian: China’s position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. We advocate settling the crisis through political means and avoiding escalation. Under the current situation, all parties need to remain calm, exercise restraint, work for deescalation through dialogue and consultation, and accumulate conditions for an early ceasefire and political settlement of the crisis.

Anadolu Agency: The US solely vetoed a UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza yesterday. It’s the sixth time the US as a permanent member used its veto power to block such a resolution. What’s China’s comment about this?

Lin Jian: China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations has fully stated our position in his explanation of vote. The draft resolution explicitly requires an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, which is in line with the right direction of Security Council actions, and reflects the strong aspiration for peace from the international community.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has dragged on for 13 months, causing the death of over 40,000 people and unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. The US, for the sixth time, single-handedly used its veto power on the draft resolution on ceasefire in Gaza, which once again resulted in the stagnation of Security Council and international efforts. The international community is once again reminded of US-style double standard, and the US once again stands on the opposite side of international call for ceasefire, hope of survival for the Palestinian people, and conscience of humanity. 

The conflict in Gaza continues and the humanitarian disaster is still worsening. The top priority now is to promote full and effective implementation of UN Security Council resolutions by parties to the conflict, and the realization of an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, so as to create conditions for alleviating the humanitarian crisis. We also urge the US to discard political calculations, stop ignoring international law and international humanitarian law selectively, take its responsibility as a major country, and play a constructive role for the peace and stability in the Middle East.

Global Times: It’s reported that in a statement released on November 19, US State Department Spokesperson said the Department of State is taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials responsible for implementation of Hong Kong’s National Security Law. What’s China’s comment?

Lin Jian: China’s central government firmly supports the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in safeguarding national security and punishing various activities that endanger national security in accordance with law. We firmly oppose the US using relevant judicial cases to interfere in China’s internal affairs and smear and undermine Hong Kong’s rule of law. The US needs to earnestly respect China’s sovereignty and Hong Kong’s rule of law, abide by the principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations, and refrain from meddling in Hong Kong affairs in whatever form. If the US insists on imposing visa restrictions on Hong Kong officials, China will take firm countermeasures.