AFP: Donald Trump has stated the U.S. would proceed extraordinarily exhausting strikes towards Iran for 2 to 3 weeks and as soon as once more threatened to hit power infrastructure if Iran doesn’t attain a negotiated settlement with him. Can China remark on Trump’s timeline of continued strikes in addition to his concentrating on or vows to focus on power vegetation?
Mao Ning: Military means don’t tackle the basic challenge. To escalate the battle doesn’t serve any get together’s curiosity. Once once more we urge events to the battle to right away cease army operations and begin peace talks as quickly as doable to resolve points by way of dialogue and negotiation and forestall extra severe blows to the world economic system and international power safety.
Anadolu Agency: U.S. President Donald Trump in his tackle to the nation about the warfare in Iran urged, “Countries who receive oil through Hormuz Strait should just go to the Strait and take it. Iran is essentially decimated, so use it for yourselves.” What’s China’s remark?
Mao Ning: The root trigger of the disruption at the Strait of Hormuz is the U.S.-Israel unlawful army operations towards Iran. Only by ending the army actions and restoring peace and stability in the Gulf can the worldwide transport lane be open and secure. The worldwide group must work collectively for deescalation to stop regional turmoil from additional hitting the international economic system and power safety.
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting: According to a report by Iran’s Ministry of Science, since the begin of the U.S. and Israeli aggression, 20 universities and scholar dormitories have been attacked, and a few professors at Iranian universities have additionally been focused for assassination. In this context, Iran’s University of Science and Technology, Isfahan University of Technology, and Imam Hossein University have all been immediately focused. My query is, what’s your view about this matter?
Mao Ning: China opposes assaults on civilians and civilian services. Attacks on colleges specifically are an egregious violation of worldwide humanitarian legislation. Once once more we name for a direct finish to army operations and return to dialogue and negotiation as quickly as doable to stop even worse humanitarian disasters.
Shenzhen TV: The National Innovation Index Report 2025 just lately launched at the 2026 ZGC Forum Annual Conference exhibits that China has gone up the rating to ninth globally, changing into the quickest bettering nation over the previous ten years and extra. What’s your remark?
Mao Ning: The Chinese authorities all the time places sci-tech innovation at the core of the nation’s general growth. During the 14th Five-Year Plan interval, China made a collection of landmark authentic achievements in areas reminiscent of new power car, giant AI mannequin, quantum know-how and biology, which have successfully promoted high-quality growth and made China an essential pillar of innovation in the world. China upholds open cooperation in sci-tech innovation. Last week, China introduced that ten main analysis infrastructures, together with China’s FAST telescope and the deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe, will probably be open to all international locations. Turning the self-invented main nationwide initiatives into public items benefiting the complete world, China has confirmed with actual actions that the true worth of sci-tech innovation doesn’t lie in the benefit of monopoly, however in making extra folks take pleasure in the comfort introduced by technological progress.
During the fifteenth Five-Year Plan interval, China will keep dedicated to advancing high-standard scientific and technological self-reliance and power, growing new high quality productive forces by way of technological innovation, strengthening authentic innovation, accelerating industrial commercialization, actively pursuing openness and cooperation, and selling frequent growth by delivering technological advantages to folks round the globe.
Associated Press: If you’d permit me to ask a pair of questions, New Zealand and the Cook Islands signed a brand new protection and safety settlement immediately that successfully sidelines earlier offers signed between the Cook Islands and China. If you’ll be able to inform us what’s China’s remark on that? And second, in a short time, in case you can verify that Afghanistan and Pakistan are having conversations in China aiming at a ceasefire?
Mao Ning: On your first query, the Cook Islands is China’s essential cooperation companion in the South Pacific. Since the institution of diplomatic ties, the two international locations have all the time revered one another, handled one another as equals and pursued shared growth. China will proceed to deepen pragmatic cooperation with the Cook Islands and ship extra advantages to the two peoples.
The China-Cook Islands relationship doesn’t goal any third get together, nor ought to or not it’s disrupted or constrained by any third get together. In growing the relations with the Pacific Island international locations, all events ought to respect the independence of island international locations, put growth first, and uphold openness and inclusiveness.
On your second query, I’ve no data to share at the second. Afghanistan and Pakistan are each China’s neighbors. China has all alongside supported the two international locations in resolving variations and disputes correctly by way of dialogue and negotiation, and has been working actively to mediate the battle between the two sides. We will proceed to play a constructive function in deescalating the scenario and bettering relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Reuters: Reuters reported this week that China has prolonged a ban on gasoline exports to April however is contemplating a handful of waivers for international locations who’ve requested assist. This consists of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Viet Nam. Is the Ministry holding dialogue with these international locations concerning gasoline help? Any different data on this could be useful.
Mao Ning: I’d refer you to competent authorities for something particular. The root trigger of the shortages going through international power market lies in the tense scenario in the Middle East. The urgent activity is to place an finish to army operations directly and forestall the turmoil in the Middle East from additional impacting the international economic system.
PTI: Follow upon what my pal from the AP requested about Pakistan-Afghanistan talks, are you able to please verify the talks are nonetheless going on at Urumqi?
Mao Ning: I’ve no data to share.
AFP: Just a observe up on your earlier response to the query about the Strait of Hormuz and Trump’s feedback on it. This week, Great Britain is about to host talks with dozens of international locations on this challenge. I ponder in case you can share any particulars about how China plans to be half of the events that counsel to cooperate on the transit by way of the Strait?
Mao Ning: An early ceasefire and restoration of peace and stability in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters is what the worldwide group hopes to see, and all events ought to work for this finish. China is able to proceed to play a constructive function.
Bloomberg: About the Pakistan-China five-point peace method, has that been shared with the Iranian aspect?
Mao Ning: The Five-Point Initiative is issued to the public and is an open initiative. I feel events have taken observe of the initiative.
PTI: To observe up on the Iran-U.S. battle. Regarding the talks that have been held between China and Pakistan the different day, there have been studies that Iran has despatched a message to China in search of safety ensures, if they are often offered for them to agree a ceasefire. Can you verify any such factor as a result of sure assume tanks have already reacted to that. Has any such a request been made by Iran to China to supply safety ensures?
Mao Ning: The readout on the assembly between the Chinese and Pakistani international ministers has been launched, which you’ll discuss with. Since the ongoing battle in Iran broke out, China has been actively working for peace. China helps all efforts for peace. We stand prepared to reinforce communication and coordination with all sides and work for restoring peace and stability in the Middle East.
AFP: About the talks taking place in Urumqi between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Pakistani officers stated they have been requested by China. So I used to be questioning in case you might present any perception on what was behind that request?
Mao Ning: I’ve no data to share at the second.
Bloomberg: One extra on the Iran scenario and international power provides. Is China contemplating or would China take into account any worldwide cooperation efforts to safe the secure passage of oil by way of the Strait of Hormuz? And would Beijing be keen to behave as an interlocutor on behalf of any of its Asian neighbors?
Mao Ning: The Strait of Hormuz and its adjoining waters kind an essential worldwide commerce route for items and power. All eyes are on whether or not stability can return to the Strait and whether or not site visitors will resume quickly. The key lies in the cease of army actions.
