Mao Ning’s Year-End Briefing: Insights from China’s Foreign Ministry on December 31, 2024

Xinhua News Agency: The year 2024 signifies a pivotal moment in China-Africa relations. The successful hosting of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) marks a significant milestone, during which bilateral relations between China and every African nation with diplomatic ties to China were advanced to a strategic relationship, and the general framework of China-Africa relations was transformed into a robust community for a shared future in the new era. Can you highlight the key achievements of China-Africa cooperation over the past year and your vision for the upcoming year in terms of China-Africa relations?

Mao Ning: In 2024, the relationship between China and Africa has consistently delivered positive outcomes, despite a shifting and unstable international environment. 

We have observed a grand and amicable gathering within the large China-Africa family. Almost 6,000 attendees, comprising leaders from all 53 African nations having diplomatic relations with China, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and the UN Secretary-General, arrived in Beijing for the FOCAC Beijing Summit. 

We have experienced a substantial enhancement in China-Africa friendly relations, with the bilateral connections between China and all African nations with diplomatic ties to China being advanced to the status of strategic relations, and the overall representation of China-Africa relations being raised to a resilient community for a shared future in the new era. 

We have witnessed significant advances in China-Africa cooperative relations. The FOCAC Beijing Summit confirmed that both sides should collaboratively promote modernization characterized by six distinct features and introduced 10 partnership initiatives for advancing modernization together. Numerous flagship programs and “small and exquisite” projects have materialized in Africa. 

We have seen the solidarity of the Global South along with the collective emergence of Global South nations, where China and African countries are vital participants. The Beijing Declaration adopted at the FOCAC Beijing Summit voiced a stand against hegemonism, block confrontation, and the disconnection of supply chains.

As we look toward 2025, we are prepared to implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and the significant mutual understandings reached by Chinese and African leaders. We aim to collaborate with African countries to create stronger alignment between our policies and development strategies, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation across various sectors, enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and unwaveringly support each other on issues of core interests and significant concerns. We will continue to enrich the comprehensive China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, uphold the collective interests of the Global South, ensure international justice and fairness, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of global peace and development. 

AFP: Just yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged China to disclose data regarding COVID-19 and provide access to enhance understanding of the virus’s origins. They described this as both a moral and scientific necessity. Does the Foreign Ministry have a reaction to this WHO appeal? 

Mao Ning: In the five years since the onset of COVID-19, China has timely shared information about the outbreak and genomic sequencing of the virus with the WHO and the international community. We have also generously provided our control measures and clinical experiences, making significant contributions to the global fight against COVID-19.

Regarding the tracing of COVID-19’s origins, China adheres to the principles of science, openness, and transparency. We actively support and engage in global, science-based origins-tracing efforts while firmly opposing any form of political maneuvering. China is the sole nation that has repeatedly invited WHO expert teams to enter the country for joint studies on origins. It also remains the only country to have organized numerous events for its experts to share progress on origins-tracing with the WHO. In terms of COVID-19 origins research, China has provided more data and research output than any other country and has made greater contributions to the global origins study of COVID-19. WHO experts have remarked multiple times that the Chinese government granted them full access to all requested sites, personnel, and materials during their studies in China and noted that the level of openness and transparency in China exceeded their expectations.

The international scientific community is increasingly unveiling clues pointing to various regions of the world as potential origins of COVID-19, emphasizing the need for a global perspective in conducting origins-tracing across different nations and areas. China remains open to collaborating with all stakeholders to continue advancing global science-based origins-tracing studies, contributing actively to the enhanced defense against infectious diseases in the future.

CCTV: This year, BRICS held its inaugural summit after its expansion, with Peru and Brazil, among others, sequentially organizing meetings such as the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and the G20 Summit along with other notable international multilateral events. Many commentators have suggested that 2024 will be a defining year for the Global South. How do you perceive the growing influence of the Global South and its implications for the world?

Mao Ning: As Foreign Minister Wang Yi has emphasized, the collective advancement of the Global South in this historical context is a striking feature of the significant transformations occurring globally. Over the past year, enhanced cooperation among BRICS has made a significant leap, a new “SCO plus” model has started to form, and the African Union has participated in the G20 Summit for the first time. Countries within the Global South have banded together to engage more actively and comprehensively in multilateral cooperation, initiating a new wave of diplomatic engagement.

The driving force behind the evolution of economic globalization, coupled with the introduction of fresh vitality into global governance.

China will perpetually remain a significant member of the Global South and will consistently commit to the unity and revitalization of the Global South. President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for enhanced open and inclusive cooperation within the Global South and declared eight initiatives to bolster such collaboration. He outlined a vision for nations in the Global South to unite as a steadfast advocate for peace, the primary catalyst for open development, the architects of global governance, and the promoters of cultural exchange.

China will persist in its commitment to genuine multilateralism, staunchly protect the collective interests of developing nations, and foster solidarity within the Global South for amplified strength, leaving a lasting impact of the Global South on the advancement of humanity.

Reuters: Syria has appointed numerous foreign combatants to its military, including high-ranking roles. Among these is the leader of the Turkistan Islamic Party. Does the Foreign Ministry have any remarks on this situation?

Mao Ning: The Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) has been designated by China in accordance with the law and recognized by the UN Security Council as a terrorist entity. It is essential for the international community to recognize its violent and extremist character, and to firmly oppose the ETIM.

AFP: The US Treasury Department announced yesterday that it experienced a cyber incursion attributed to a state-sponsored actor from China earlier this month. They reported that the intruders accessed employee workstations and some documents. What is the Foreign Ministry’s response to these claims made by the US Treasury Department?

Mao Ning: Regarding these unfounded and baseless accusations, we have clearly stated our stance numerous times. China is against all kinds of hacking, and particularly opposes the dissemination of anti-China disinformation driven by political motives.

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In observance of the New Year’s Day holiday, there will be no regular press briefing on January 1 (Wednesday). The press briefing will resume on January 2 (Thursday). During the holiday, inquiries can be directed to the Spokesperson’s Office via fax, email, or WeChat.

This marks the final regular press briefing of the Foreign Ministry for 2024. Throughout the past year, we have upheld fundamental principles while forging new paths in diplomacy, achieving significant results. A significant new chapter has unfolded in state-level diplomacy, there has been progress in comprehensive diplomacy, breakthroughs in establishing a community with a shared future for mankind, and substantial outcomes in serving the populace through diplomatic efforts. China’s policies, particularly key concepts and initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, have garnered support and recognition from the international community. The Chinese model of modernization is obtaining greater global relevance.

I would like to express our appreciation to all of you for your attention to, support for, and engagement in the coverage of China’s diplomacy over the past year. I wish you all a joyous New Year!