2019年4月22日外交部发言人耿爽

主持例行记者会

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's

Regular Press Conference on April 22, 2019

1

问：据报道，美国伊利诺伊州北奈尔斯高中学生近期用中文给习近平主席写了一封信，习主席给他们回了信。请问习主席为什么给他们回信？回信具有怎样的意义？

Q: According to reports, students of Niles North High School in the US State of Illinois recently wrote a letter in Chinese to President Xi Jinping, and President Xi replied to them. Can you tell me why he wrote back and what's the significance of his letter?

答：大家应该从新闻中已经看到了，习近平主席近日复信美国伊利诺伊州北奈尔斯高中学生，勉励他们为增进中美人民的友谊作出贡献。

A: You may have learned from the news that President Xi Jinping recently wrote back to the students of Niles North High School in Illinois and encouraged them to contribute to the friendship between the Chinese and American people.

据我所知，习近平主席给外国学生回信已经不是第一次了，这充分说明习主席对中外人文领域交流合作的高度重视。此次，习主席收到了美国伊利诺伊州北奈尔斯高中中文班40多名学生用中文写的信，信中问到了很多有意思的问题。习主席在复信中回答了有关他工作、生活情况和个人爱好等方面的问题，鼓励学生们在中文学习上取得更大进步，为增进中美人民友谊作出贡献，并欢迎他们有机会来中国看看。

As far as I know, this is not the first time that President Xi Jinping wrote back to foreign students, which tells us how much President Xi values people-to-people exchange and cooperation between China and other countries. This time, the letter President Xi received was written in Chinese by over 40 students from a Chinese class of Niles North High School in Illinois. They raised many interesting questions in the letter. In his reply letter, President Xi answered those questions about his work, life, and hobbies, encouraged them to make new progress in learning Chinese and contribute to the friendship between the Chinese and American people, and welcomed them to China for a visit.

据我了解，写这封信的美国高中生绝大部分没有来过中国，以前也没有接触过中文。经过一个学期的中文学习后，他们对中文产生了浓厚兴趣，决定用中文给习主席写信，致以美国高中生的诚挚问候。我们对美国青年一代对中国语言文化的浓厚兴趣和对中国的朴素友好感情感到高兴。

I learned that most of the students who wrote the letter have never been to China or had learned any Chinese before starting the class. After just one semester, they became very interested and decided to write a letter in Chinese to President Xi to extend the heartfelt greetings of American high school students. We are pleased to see in the young generation of the US such a strong interest in the Chinese language and culture and such pure friendliness towards China.

正如习主席在复信中所说，青年一代是中美友好的未来。希望中美双方共同努力，深化两国青年、教育等广泛人文领域的交流合作，增进两国人民对彼此的理解和认知，巩固中美关系发展的民意和社会基础。

Just as President Xi wrote in the letter, the youth represent the future of China-US friendship. We hope our two countries can join efforts to deepen cultural and people-to-people exchange and cooperation in youth, education and other fields, enhance the mutual understanding between our two peoples and strengthen the public support for China-US relations.

2

问：据报道，21日，乌克兰总统选举第二轮投票于当地时间8点结束。民调结果出来后，波罗申科承认败选，并向对手表示祝贺。同时，泽连斯基宣布胜选。中方对此有何评论？是否已向泽连斯基致贺电？

Q: According to media reports, the second round of voting in Ukraine's presidential election concluded at 8 o'clock (local time) on April 21. After exit poll results were released, Petro Poroshenko conceded defeat and congratulated his rival Volodymyr Zelenskiy who declared victory. Do you have any comment on it? Has China sent a congratulatory message to Zelenskiy?

答：乌克兰是中国的友好伙伴，中方一贯尊重乌克兰人民的选择，衷心希望乌克兰实现和平、稳定和繁荣。中方重视发展中乌关系，愿同乌方一道在共建“一带一路”框架下，推动两国各领域合作继续向前发展。

A: Ukraine is a friend of China's. We respect the Ukrainian people's choice and sincerely wish the country peace, stability and prosperity. We attach importance to China-Ukraine relations and will work with the Ukrainian side to advance our cooperation in various fields under the Belt and Road Initiative.

3

问：据报道，美国国务卿蓬佩奥称，美国将从5月2日起不再延长允许各国购买伊朗原油的豁免条款。中方对此有何评论？

Q: According to media reports, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US would not renew the sanctions waivers on oil exports from Iran after May 2. Does China have a comment?

答：我这是第一次听你在记者会上用中文提问，以前好像用英语提问比较多。但你的中文确实很好，今后可以多用中文提问。（记者笑）

A: This is the first time I hear you asking a question in Chinese. As I recall, your questions were mostly in English. But you speak Chinese well. Maybe you can raise more questions in Chinese in the future. (The journalist laughed.)

中方一贯反对美方实施单边制裁和所谓“长臂管辖”。中国同伊朗的合作公开透明、合理合法，理应得到尊重。中国政府致力于维护本国企业的合法权益，愿为促进国际能源市场稳定发挥积极和建设性作用。

China opposes the unilateral sanctions and so-called "long-arm jurisdictions" imposed by the US. Our cooperation with Iran is open, transparent, lawful and legitimate, and thus should be respected. Our government is committed to upholding the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and will play a positive and constructive role in upholding the stability of the global energy market.

4

问：据报道，4月21日，斯里兰卡首都科伦坡等地发生系列爆炸事件，造成数百人伤亡。中方对事件有何评价？

Q: Reports say hundreds of people were killed or injured in a series of bomb blasts in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo and other cities on April 21. Do you have any comment on that?

答：4月21日，斯里兰卡首都科伦坡等地发生系列爆炸事件，造成重大人员伤亡。习近平主席、李克强总理和王毅国务委员兼外长已分别向斯里兰卡总统西里塞纳、总理维克拉马辛哈和外长马拉帕纳发去了慰问电，对遇难者表示深切哀悼，向伤员和遇难者家属表示诚挚的慰问，并强调中国政府和人民坚定同斯里兰卡人民站在一起，坚决支持斯方维护国家安全和稳定。

A: On April 21, heavy casualties were caused by a series of blasts in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo and other cities. President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi have sent messages of condolences to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana respectively, expressing deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the injured and the bereaved families. In their messages they emphasized that the Chinese government and people stand firmly with the Sri Lankan people and resolutely support Sri Lanka in safeguarding its national security and stability.

事件发生后，外交部和中国驻斯里兰卡大使馆第一时间启动应急预案，重点核实中方人员伤亡情况，全力查找失联人员，派员探望受伤人员，并提醒中方在斯机构和人员加强防范，做好安全应对工作。经初步核实，有中国公民在事件中遇难或失联，有5名中国公民受伤，但暂无生命危险，目前正在医院救治，状况稳定。

After the incidents took place, the Chinese foreign ministry and the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka immediately activated emergency response mechanisms, prioritizing the verification of casualties of Chinese citizens. We have been doing our best to look for the missing persons, sent our staff to visit the injured, and reminded Chinese institutions and individuals there to take precautionary measures to ensure safety. Results of an initial verification show that there were Chinese citizens killed or missing in the incidents. Five Chinese were injured but not in life-threatening conditions. They are now receiving medical treatment and their conditions are stable.

我们将密切关注事件后续进展并全力做好相关工作。在斯中方人员如遇险情，请及时拨打外交部领事保护热线电话0086-10-12308或我驻斯使馆中国公民领保热线电话0094-11-2676033。

We will closely monitor the situation and spare no efforts in our work. For Chinese citizens in Sri Lanka in danger, please dial 0086-10-12308, the Chinese foreign ministry's hotline for consular protection, or contact our embassy in Sri Lanka via its consular protection hotline 0094-11-2676033.

5

问：据报道，印度外秘顾凯杰目前正在中国访问。今天上午，王毅国务委员兼外长会见了他。双方谈了哪些议题？你能否透露更多细节？

Q: The Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale is reportedly visiting China and held talks this morning with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Can you just update us on the details of the talks and the issues discussed?

答：4月21日至22日，印度外秘顾凯杰对中国进行访问。今天上午，王毅国务委员兼外长同顾凯杰举行了会见。孔铉佑副部长同他举行了会谈。据我了解，今天下午，外交部副部长乐玉成和中央外办副主任刘建超也将分别会见顾凯杰外秘。

A: Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale is visiting China from April 21 to 22. This morning, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with him and Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou held talks with him. As far as I know, Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng and Deputy Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee Liu Jianchao will meet with him respectively this afternoon.

关于今天上午的会见会谈，据我了解，中方在会见会谈中表示，中印作为两大邻国、新兴经济体代表和战略合作伙伴，应不断加强战略沟通，增进政治互信，在国际地区事务中保持密切协调配合。双方的共同利益远大于分歧。双方要加强团结协作，保持自两国领导人武汉会晤以来两国关系健康稳定发展的积极势头，维护新兴市场和发展中国家的共同利益。

In the meeting and talks held this morning, the Chinese side said that as neighboring major countries, representatives of emerging economies and strategic cooperative partners, China and India should step up strategic communication, enhance political mutual trust and maintain close coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs. Our shared interests far outweigh differences. The two sides need to strengthen solidarity and coordination, keep the positive momentum of the sound and steady development of bilateral relations achieved since the Wuhan summit between our leaders, and uphold the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries.

顾凯杰外秘在会见会谈中表示，印中两国领导人武汉会晤以来，双方政治交往活跃，务实合作不断推进，首轮人文交流高层磋商成功举行。印方愿同中方保持高层交往，增进相互了解，照顾彼此关切，推动印中关系取得更大发展。

Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale said in the meeting and talks that since the Wuhan summit, the two sides have had active political interactions, advanced practical cooperation and successfully held the first meeting of the India-China high level people-to-people exchanges mechanism. India stands ready to maintain high-level exchange with China, enhance mutual understanding, accommodate each other's concerns and strive for greater progress in bilateral relations.

6

追问：双方是否谈及了1267委员会列名、印方来华参加第二届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛等问题？

Follow-up: Did the two countries discuss issues related to the listing issue at the 1267 Committee and India's participation in the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation?

答：关于今天上午会见会谈的情况，我已经作了介绍。

A: I've just briefed you on the meeting and talks held this morning.

正如我刚才所说，中印双方的共同利益远远大于分歧，希望双方加强协调合作，维护两国关系健康发展的积极势头。在此方面，中方已做好准备，愿同印方一道作出努力。

As I said earlier, the shared interests between our two countries far outweigh the differences. We hope the two sides can strengthen coordination and communication and keep the positive momentum of the sound development of bilateral relations. China stands ready to work with India to this end.