Relations with the new Italian government, the hope that the collaboration between Beijing and Rome will continue "in the name of mutual respect" and the "interests" of both countries, the Taiwan question defined as "an insurmountable red line".
These are the topics of the interview that the Chinese charge d'affaires in Rome
Zheng Xuan
granted to ANSA on the eve of the G20 summit which will see the participation, among other leaders, of President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
ANSA - German Chancellor Scholz recently paid a visit to China and there is talk of an upcoming visit to Beijing by French President Macron. Do you think a short visit by the new Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is likely? Or do you think that a bilateral meeting with President Xi could already occur at the G20 in Bali?
Zheng Xuan - “China-Italy relations have a long history and deep roots, and have left an indelible mark on the history of friendly exchanges between China and European countries.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Italy have adhered to mutual respect and trust, mutual benefit for both sides, as well as mutual learning.
Sino-Italian cooperation in various sectors including economy and trade, science and technology, culture and sport has produced fruitful results, always bringing the hearts of the two peoples closer together.
The healthy and stable development of China-Italy relations is consistent with the common interests of the two parties.
We hope that the new Italian government will adhere to a positive and pragmatic policy towards China and, together with the Chinese side,
it will constantly deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields and interpersonal and cultural exchanges through contacts at all levels and dialogue within the various mechanisms, for the benefit of the two countries and the two peoples.
The report of the XX National Congress of the Communist Party of China supports the practice of the global governance concept of "joint negotiations, joint construction and sharing" and attaches great importance to sustainable development.
China adheres to genuine multilateralism and considers the G20 the main platform for international economic cooperation and is willing to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with stakeholders, coordinate macroeconomic policies and jointly promote strong, sustainable, inclusive growth. and balanced
world economy.
As global strategic partners, China and Italy maintain close communication in high-level meetings on bilateral and multilateral occasions.
China wishes to strengthen communication and coordination with Italy within the G20 and other multilateral frameworks, seriously consider and promote the relevant meeting, collaborate with all parties to build consensus and promote cooperation in promoting the world economic recovery and in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development ”.
ANSA - Recently there have been signs of closeness to Taiwan in Italy. Could the Taiwan issue create problems between Beijing and the new Italian government?
Zheng Xuan - “The Taiwan issue belongs purely to China's internal affairs and concerns the national sentiment of 1.4 billion Chinese.
It is the core of China's fundamental interests, represents an insurmountable red line and base and does not tolerate outside interference.
The fact that Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times is not only recorded in numerous historical volumes, but also holds clear international legal basis.
The People's Republic of China was proclaimed on October 1, 1949, replacing the government of the Republic of China as the only legitimate government to represent all of China.
It was a change of government subject to international law that did not involve changes in China, on the sovereignty of China, and its territorial borders have not changed.
It is natural for the government of the People's Republic of China to enjoy and exercise full sovereignty over China, including sovereignty over Taiwan.
The one China principle is the common consensus of the international community and the fundamental norm of international relations, as well as the political premise and basis on which China establishes and develops diplomatic relations with all countries, including Italy.
China attaches great importance to the development of relations with Italy and wishes to collaborate with the Italian side to maintain together the correct direction of the development of the Sino-Italian global strategic partnership.
We sincerely hope that the Italians fully realize the extreme sensitivity of the Taiwan issue, persist in mutual respect, safeguard the
ANSA - There are also criticisms on Italy's accession to the Belt and Road Initiative signed in 2019, which has been defined by some as a "big mistake". Among other things, there will certainly be a lot of attention to the protection of critical infrastructures such as 5G, to the national protection of highly specialized areas such as semiconductors or robotics. How do you see the future of Rome-Beijing trade relations?
Zheng Xuan - "Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Sino-Italian economic and trade relations have gone against the trend, from 54 billion dollars in 2020 they have risen to almost 74 billion last year, with an increase of 34.1% on an annual basis , while Italian exports to China increased by 36.3% on an annual basis, setting historic records in both cases.
In the first 9 months of this year, Sino-Italian trade volume reached $ 60.58 billion, an increase of 13.3% year-on-year, and the annual figure is expected to exceed that of the year. last.
So we should be optimistic about bilateral trade relations.
The historical trend of economic globalization is irreversible.
A successful and efficient digital and green transition requires an attitude and
action of openness and cooperation.
The report of the XXth Congress of the CCP clearly emphasizes that China will continue to promote high-level openness to the world, relying on the benefits of the enormous size of its market, attracting global resources, constantly improving the quality and level of trade and of investments.
The economic and commercial relations between the two countries are resilient and with high mutual complementarity.
The two sides can take advantage of the new opportunities offered by the further development of China, promoting the free and orderly flow of the factors of the economy, the efficient allocation of resources and the integration of markets, so as to achieve a strong economic recovery and common development.
China wishes to continue to import even more excellent Italian products, encourage bilateral investments, facilitate trade exchanges and share growth opportunities, safeguarding the stability of the industrial and supply chain in the global context, accelerating a healthy and stable development of the Sino-Italian economic and commercial cooperation.
We also hope that Italy will continue to provide Chinese companies with an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment, thus obtaining mutual benefits and benefits for all ”.
accelerating a healthy and stable development of Sino-Italian economic and trade cooperation.
We also hope that Italy will continue to provide Chinese companies with an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment, thus obtaining mutual benefits and benefits for all ”.
accelerating a healthy and stable development of Sino-Italian economic and trade cooperation.
We also hope that Italy will continue to provide Chinese companies with an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment, thus obtaining mutual benefits and benefits for all ”.
ANSA - At the G20 in Bali there is great expectation for President Xi Jinping and for the meeting with American President Joe Biden, especially after the opening of the Chinese president who said he was ready to collaborate with the US "to go agree on the basis of mutual respect ". There are many issues on the table, starting with the energy issue and the post-pandemic economic recovery with the specter of war in Ukraine hovering over everything. In Beijing it was said that China will play a "constructive role".
What does this mean in practice?
Zheng Xuan - "Already in November 2021, President Xi Jinping stressed during a video meeting with US President Joe Biden that in the next 50 years, the most important thing in international relations is that China and the United States find the right path. to get along on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and cooperation inspired by mutual benefit.
On October 26 this year, President Xi reiterated this point.
Strengthening communication and cooperation between China and the United States will benefit both countries and the world.
Since the start of the Ukrainian crisis, China has adopted an objective and impartial attitude,
it has expressed independent judgments on the basis of the historical context and on the merits of the question itself and has taken the side of peace, justice and humanity.
China calls for a ceasefire and has worked to de-escalate the situation, promote peace talks and provide humanitarian assistance.
China presented the six-point initiative to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and the global food security cooperation initiative, offered lots of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and proposed the Global Development Initiative to accelerate the implementation of the 'United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
We are contributing responsibly to reduce the consequences and mitigate the impact of the Ukrainian crisis on global industrial and supply chains.
China believes that a lasting solution would be for major countries to respect each other, reject the Cold War mentality and refrain from the blockade.
China has stressed on several occasions that differences and disputes between countries should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and consultation, that stakeholders should be supported in conducting substantive dialogues on the basis of mutual respect, in order to build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture in Europe.
In the current circumstances, the international community should support all efforts aimed at the peaceful solution of the Ukrainian crisis and call upon interested parties to remain rational and exercise restraint,
ANSA - The head of the US strategic command, Charles Richard, who oversees the US nuclear program, warned that China is developing nuclear weapons much faster than the US, calling the issue a "short-term problem". A policy that does not seem to be a prelude to detente. How does he respond?
Zheng Xuan - “China supports the final total prohibition and complete destruction of nuclear weapons.
China's nuclear strategy and policy is highly stable, consistent and predictable, and is the most accountable and transparent among nuclear-armed states.
From the day it first possessed nuclear weapons, China has solemnly engaged in a nuclear policy of no first use of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances, and not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against states without nuclear weapons. nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons free zones unconditionally.
This has been China's contribution to the international nuclear disarmament process.
China maintains its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security and does not engage in any nuclear arms race with any country.
Some countries have recently made unfounded speculations and defamatory allegations about China's nuclear policy and nuclear capability.
In this regard, I would like to emphasize that China's nuclear strategy, policy and related practices are open and transparent, serious and accountable.
President Xi Jinping recently stressed that the international community should oppose the use or threat of using nuclear weapons, argue that nuclear weapons cannot be used and that nuclear wars must not be fought and that a nuclear crisis must be prevented in Eurasia.
In April of this year,
President Xi Jining proposed the Global Security Initiative.
The initiative aims to promote the creation of a balanced, effective and sustainable security structure.
It offers China's solution to eliminate the root causes of international conflicts and achieve lasting stability and lasting security in the world.
China is ready to cooperate with other countries in the implementation of the GSI, firmly support the multilateral international order, actively promote the international processes of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, so as to contribute to the construction of a human community from the future shared ".
It offers China's solution to eliminate the root causes of international conflicts and achieve lasting stability and lasting security in the world.
China is ready to collaborate with other countries in the implementation of the GSI, firmly support the multilateral international order, actively promote the international processes of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, so as to contribute to the construction of a human community from the future shared ".
It offers China's solution to eliminate the root causes of international conflicts and achieve lasting stability and lasting security in the world.
China is ready to collaborate with other countries in the implementation of the GSI, firmly support the multilateral international order, actively promote the international processes of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, so as to contribute to the construction of a human community from the future shared ".