Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s regular press conference on June 18, 2025

CCTV: President Xi Jinping yesterday attended the Second China-Central Asia Summit, which is the first time that the summit was held in a Central Asian country. Comments say that this summit is built on past achievements and will open up a new chapter of upgraded cooperation between China and Central Asian countries. Can you give us more details?

Guo Jiakun: On June 17, President Xi Jinping attended the Second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, and delivered a keynote speech. President Xi made a full review of the fruitful outcomes of China-Central Asia cooperation and articulated the “China-Central Asia Spirit”. President Xi pointed out that the two sides should stay committed to our fundamental goal of unity, and always trust and support each other, optimize our cooperation framework to make it more results-oriented, more efficient, and more deeply integrated, develop a security framework for peace, tranquility and solidarity, cement the bonds of shared vision, mutual understanding and mutual affection between our peoples, and uphold a fair and equitable international order and an equal and orderly world structure.

One of the highlights of the summit is that parties agreed to uphold the China-Central Asia Spirit of “mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit, and mutual assistance for the joint pursuit of modernization through high-quality development” and carry forward our cooperation from generation to generation. One of the important outcomes of the summit is the signing of a treaty on eternal good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation, which is a new landmark in the history of the relations between our six countries and a pioneering initiative in China’s diplomatic engagement with its neighbors. The summit identified future cooperation priorities, decided to establish three cooperation centers, i.e. on poverty reduction, on education exchange, and on desertification prevention and control, as well as a cooperation platform on smooth trade. Cooperation will focus on six prioritized fields—smooth trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green mining, agricultural modernization and personnel exchanges. The two sides will promote high-quality regional development and the joint pursuit of modernization. Parties also sent out a united message of firmly defending multilateralism, pursuing an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and jointly upholding international fairness and justice.

China consistently takes Central Asia as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and interacts with Central Asian countries on the basis of equality and sincerity. We always wish our neighbors well. China stands ready to work with Central Asian countries, and together set a leading example in building a China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

CCTV: The Foreign Ministry said yesterday that the Chinese government is evacuating Chinese nationals from Iran and Israel. Do you have any updates?

Guo Jiakun: Up till now, with the active assistance and support of nearby countries, our Ministry and the Chinese embassy and consulate in Iran have organized and coordinated the evacuation of 791 Chinese citizens from Iran to safety. Another 1,000-plus people are still being relocated and evacuated. Our embassies and consulates in neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, have sent working groups to border entry and exit points to assist our fellow nationals in passing through the border and traveling back home. Some Chinese nationals have already been safely evacuated from Israel.

We appreciate relevant countries’ support and assistance. Our Ministry and diplomatic and consular missions will continue to do everything possible to help our fellow nationals move to safety and evacuate. 

Shenzhen TV: It’s reported that at the G7 Summit on June 16, President of European Commission accused China of ignoring global trade rules and supporting Chinese companies with massive subsidies. She added that China is weaponizing its dominant position in rare earth and flooding global markets with overcapacity. The G7 must diversify critical supply chains, particularly for raw materials, and act together on non-market policies and practices. What’s China’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: We noted relevant reports. We express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to those baseless and biased remarks that reflect double standards.

China’s industrial subsidy policy follows the principles of openness, fairness, and compliance, and strictly adheres to the WTO rules. Chinese industries have thrived because of China’s hard work on innovation, well-established industrial and supply chains, participation in full market competition, and abundant human resources. They rely on their abilities, not subsidies. China’s new energy sector has contributed enormously to global climate actions and energy transition. The so-called overcapacity story is nothing but a pretext used by relevant countries to go protectionist, simply because they fear for their own competitiveness and market shares. The problem is not “overcapacity”, but “over-anxiety”.

In recent years, the EU has been adopting industrial policies with massive subsidies and support for European companies. It even publicly called for a “European preference”. Available data shows that from 2021 to 2030, the EU will provide more than EUR 1.44 trillion worth of subsidies. By 2024, over EUR 300 billion of subsidies had already been issued. The EU also rolled out a series of economic and trade toolkits. The EU is working to boost its growth and competitiveness. That requires giving up double standard, being more open and embracing cooperation.

Let me point out that over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-EU cooperation has borne fruitful results that have benefited both sides. China will stay committed to high-standard opening-up. This will continue to provide vast market and growth opportunities to European companies. China stands ready to increase communication and coordination with the EU, properly handle trade differences, and achieve win-win and shared prosperity. That said, we firmly oppose any attempt to hurt China’s right to development or even assert one’s own interests at China’s expense.  

Yonhap News Agency: Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council Sergei Shoigu yesterday said that the DPRK decided to dispatch 6,000 military construction workers to the Kursk region to support post-conflict reconstruction. What’s China’s view?

Guo Jiakun: We have made our position clear before on the bilateral exchanges between Russia and the DPRK.

Bloomberg: Follow up on the question on the EU comments on Chinese industrial structure. China hasn’t actually acceded to the government procurement instrument, which it said it would join very soon when it joined the WTO in 2001. And the things you’re talking about where the Europeans are now saying they should “buy European” is specifically related to government procurement. Chinese SOEs and the Chinese government have a specific “buy China” policy. How do you explain the contradiction?

Guo Jiakun: On your specific question about government procurement, I’d refer you to competent authorities. Let me reiterate that China’s industrial subsidy policy strictly abides by the principles of openness, fairness, and compliance and the WTO rules. We hope that the EU will work in the same direction with China and jointly foster an open, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment and enable both sides to benefit and thrive through cooperation. 

China Daily: On June 17 local time, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in his chair’s summary after hosting the G7 Summit that they stressed the importance of constructive and stable relations with China, while calling on China to refrain from market distortions and overcapacity, and expressed serious concerns about China’s destabilizing activities in the East and South China Seas and the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Do you have any comment?

Guo Jiakun: The G7 Summit once again manipulated issues related to China. The G7 made irresponsible remarks on Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the East China Sea, falsely accused China of “overcapacity” and “market distortion”. This constitutes interference in China’s internal affairs and violation of the basic norms governing international relations. China firmly opposes this and has lodged strong protests with relevant parties.

The biggest factor undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the “Taiwan independence” separatist activities and interference by external forces. If the G7 truly cares about peace in the Taiwan Strait, it should abide by the one-China principle, categorically oppose “Taiwan independence”, and support China’s reunification.

At present, the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea is generally stable. The G7 should respect the joint efforts of regional countries to resolve issues through dialogue and consultation and maintain peace and stability, and stop using maritime issues to sow discord between regional countries and escalate regional tensions.

The so-called “market distortions” and “overcapacity” accusations are absolutely false. The G7 use them as an excuse for their trade protectionist practices, and to essentially contain and suppress China’s industrial progress, and politicize and weaponize economic and trade issues.

China once again urges the G7 to see the overwhelming global trend, abandon the Cold War mentality and ideological bias, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, stop instigating conflict and confrontation, and act in the interest of the international community.

AFP: The White House said yesterday that U.S. President Donald Trump will sign an order this week to give TikTok a new extension of 90 days to find a non-Chinese buyer. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment or reaction on this or on the possibility of a TikTok deal?

Guo Jiakun: On TikTok, China has stated its principled position more than once. We will continue to handle relevant issue in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations.

Bloomberg: Earlier today or overnight, U.S. time, President Trump said on social media that they were not gonna take out Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei, “at least not for now.” He said “he’s an easy target, but he is safe there. Our patience is wearing thin.” and they also call for the “unconditional surrender” of Iran. Does China have any comments about these threats against sovereign states or against the leader of another sovereign state?

Guo Jiakun: China is deeply worried about the ongoing situation between Israel and Iran and has expressed concerns on that. We oppose any move that violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and a country’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. Further escalation in the Middle East serves no one’s interests. The country with special influence on Israel in particular needs to maintain a fair and objective position, take up due responsibility and play a positive and constructive role for deescalation and preventing further spread of the conflict.

Reuters: A question about the evacuations in Iran and Israel. Thank you for your earlier information. We wanted to know better. How are the Chinese embassies in neighboring countries, specifically around Iran, arranging further assistance to get citizens fleeing? But also for Israel, if you could share with us more information. Is the Chinese Embassy in Iran organizing more overland evacuations to all its neighbors? Or do any Chinese nationals need to make that effort on their own?

Guo Jiakun: I just spoke about the evacuation of Chinese nationals from Iran and Israel organized by our Ministry and the Chinese embassies and consulate there. Let me stress that our diplomatic and consular missions in Iran and Israel have issued consular advisories urging Chinese nationals to leave through land crossings as soon as possible. The relocation and evacuation efforts are underway. Our diplomatic and consular missions will continue to do everything possible to help our fellow nationals move to safety and evacuate in light of their own will. 

Bloomberg: The New Zealand’s Prime Minister Luxon is in China at the moment. Nothing has been announced about his schedule by either side. Do you have any details on the arrangement?

Guo Jiakun: At the invitation of Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon is on an official visit to China from June 17 to 20. Information on the visit will be released in due course. Please stay tuned.

Bejing Youth Daily: China starts issuing pilot electronic Apostille today. Could you brief us on relevant information?

Guo Jiakun: What you mentioned is the latest step taken by China to streamline cross-border circulation of public documents. After the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the Convention) entered into force in China in 2023, the verification procedure of cross-border circulation of public documents between China and other contracting countries was significantly simplified from a “dual legalization” process to requiring only an Apostille. To make the process more efficient, our Ministry began issuing pilot electronic Apostilles today, a measure encouraged by the Convention.

The pilot program fully eliminates off-line application procedures. When filing for public documents, the applicants can simultaneously apply for and acquire electronic Apostille online, which means they no longer need to go through any off-line procedures at consular authentication agencies. What’s more, the electronic Apostille supports online verification, thus enabling the applicants and agencies using the documents to enjoy better and more efficient service of cross-border document circulation. This measure will save Chinese and foreign nationals and businesses significant amounts of time and cost and offer tangible convenience.

The first pilot program will provide electronic Apostille for the Certificate of Origin issued by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). In the future, it will gradually expand to cover the various types of public documents issued in China. Please refer to the official websites of our Ministry and China Consular Service for detailed specifications as to how to apply for an electronic Apostille.

Reuters: A question about the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the G7 meeting. In her remarks, she also referred to China’s rare earth export restrictions being a focus in the U.S.-China trade talks. She called it a priority for G7 as well. Do you have any comment on this? Will China engage with the G7 on the export curbs?

Guo Jiakun: On specific questions regarding rare earth exports, I’d refer you to competent authorities. Let me stress that China has always acted in a responsible and non-discriminatory way by taking into full consideration other countries’ legitimate needs for civilian use and their concerns and reviewing export license applications in accordance with laws and regulations. Given the dual-use nature of rare earth-related items, China has taken relevant measures in accordance with the regulations on export control of dual-use items, which is consistent with international practices and does not target any specific country. China stands ready to work with relevant countries and regions to enhance dialogue and cooperation on export control, uphold the WTO rules and the multilateral trade system, and keep the global economic order stable.

Bloomberg: Just a follow-up on the question on rare earth. When the controls were announced, there was no grace period or leeway allowed for companies to continue their business, and the restrictions were in immediately. You said that China takes into account the needs and the desires of your trading partners. Based on China’s actions and the effects of those actions, the rare earth export controls have led to a shock to global trade. Why does China continue to take relevant actions?

Guo Jiakun: The spokesperson of the Commerce Ministry responded to relevant question. China has, in accordance with the law, approved a certain number of export license applications for relevant items of rare earth that are compliant with the regulations, and will continue to step up the work on review and approval. For anything specific, I’d refer you to competent authorities.

Reuters: I just wanted to clarify the number of Chinese citizens that have left Israel and Iran, and also how many are still there and how many unaccounted for at the moment if there are any. Of this number, could we also know if there were any Chinese citizens who were injured, whether in the process of evacuating or when they were there, and if there were any loss of lives there?

Guo Jiakun: Our Ministry and the Chinese embassy and consulate in Iran have organized and coordinated the evacuation of 791 Chinese citizens from Iran to safety. Another 1,000-plus people are still being relocated and evacuated. Some Chinese nationals have already been safely evacuated from Israel. No Chinese deaths or injuries have yet been reported.