CCTV: The 13th BRICS Summit was held via video link yesterday. Could you share with us China's initiatives and proposals for advancing BRICS cooperation?
Zhao Lijian: President Xi Jinping put forward the following five proposals aimed to advance the high-quality development of BRICS practical cooperation.
First, strengthen public health cooperation in the spirit of solidarity. We need to support each other's COVID response, pursue practical cooperation on vaccines, including joint research and production and mutual recognition of standards, and facilitate an early launch of the BRICS Vaccine R&D Center in virtual format.
Second, strengthen international cooperation on vaccines in the spirit of equitable access for all. China has provided more than one billion doses of finished and bulk vaccines to over 100 countries and international organizations, and will strive to provide a total of two billion doses by the end of this year. On top of the US$100 million donation to COVAX, China will donate an additional 100 million doses of vaccines to fellow developing countries within this year.
Third, strengthen economic cooperation in the spirit of mutual benefit. China proposes to host a BRICS high-level meeting on climate change and a BRICS forum on big data for sustainable development. We look forward to active participation of BRICS countries in activities held by the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution innovation center launched in Xiamen. We welcome the substantive progress made in expanding the membership of the New Development Bank (NDB).
Fourth, strengthen political and security cooperation in the spirit of fairness and justice. We need to consolidate the BRICS strategic partnership, support each other on issues concerning our respective core interests, better coordinate our positions on major international and regional issues, and send out an even bigger, collective voice of BRICS countries.
Fifth, strengthen people-to-people exchanges in the spirit of mutual learning. China suggests setting up a BRICS alliance for vocational education to organize vocational skills competitions. Going forward, China will host the BRICS seminar on governance and the BRICS forum on people-to-people and cultural exchanges. We look forward to welcoming athletes from BRICS countries and around the world to demonstrate their sporting skills and achieve excellent performance.
As China takes over the BRICS chairmanship next year, we look forward to working hand in hand with BRICS partners to deepen cooperation across the board, forge a closer and more results-oriented partnership, address common challenges and create a better future.
CGTN: On September 8, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the first Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the Afghan Issue among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan. We noted that a joint statement was issued after the meeting. There is keen attention, both in and outside China, on this joint voice from Afghanistan's neighboring countries. Could you tell us what messages have been extended in this joint statement?
Zhao Lijian: On September 8, the first Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the Afghan Issue among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan was held via video link. This is the first time that the foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighboring countries have jointly discussed Afghanistan-related matters, which is necessary and timely and has positive effects. As neighbors who share a border with Afghanistan, we are more eager than anyone else to see Afghanistan get out of war and chaos, and resume peace and development.
The joint statement is an important outcome of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting. It reflects the consensus and common will of the six countries, and sends a positive, strong and clear message to the international community. The core essence includes the following:
There is no military solution to the Afghan issue. We call on the Afghan side to form an open and inclusive political structure, practice moderate and sound internal and external policies, adopt friendly policies towards its neighbors, make a clean break with all terrorist organizations and not allow terrorist organizations including ETIM to maintain a foothold on Afghanistan's territory.
Afghanistan's neighboring countries will stand united with the Afghan people, support Afghanistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and stay committed to helping Afghanistan achieve peace, security, national reconciliation, stability and development. We are ready to keep ports open for Afghanistan and committed to continue providing medical supplies as well as technical and other assistance for the fight against COVID-19. We will continue our coordination and cooperation on drug control, immigration and other issues and continue to help strengthen economic and trade connectivity in Afghanistan and the region, call on the international community to help with Afghanistan's peace and reconstruction, and agree to hold more Foreign Ministers' Meetings among Afghanistan's neighboring countries and set up relevant mechanisms.
This Foreign Ministers' Meeting is the first trial by Afghanistan's neighboring countries to work closely in response to the evolving situation in the country. It also signifies the establishment of a coordination and cooperation mechanism of its neighboring countries. This mechanism and other existing multilateral mechanisms related to the Afghanistan issue are not mutually exclusive, and can form synergy by complementing each other. All participating parties support the continued operation of this unique mechanism so that countries can share policy propositions, coordinate their positions and jointly address challenges through this platform.
International public opinion attaches great importance to this meeting and the joint statement. It believes the move marks that Afghanistan's neighbors have found the greatest common denominator in seeking a solution to the Afghan issue and sends a clear message to the international community that the neighboring countries support the building of a peaceful, stable, prosperous and friendly Afghanistan, and will hopefully create a favorable external environment for Afghanistan's peace and reconstruction.
Prasar Bharati: You have just talked about the 13th BRICS Summit held yesterday under India's chairmanship. Would you like to comment on the initiatives, BRICS partnership and different agreements of these countries under India's chairmanship in the last one year?
Zhao Lijian: I just briefed you on the 13th BRICS Summit. We recognize and appreciate India's contributions during its chairmanship in the past year, including hosting this summit.
Global Times: Suhail Shaheen, spokesman for the Taliban Political Office in Qatar, said in an interview on September 9 that many East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) members have left Afghanistan and he did not see that "anyone, in any place" will be able to stay in Afghanistan. He also said "First, we will not allow any training on our territory. Second, we will not allow any fundraising for those who intend to carry out a foreign agenda. Third, we will not allow the establishment of any recruitment center in Afghanistan." However, he did not answer directly whether the Taliban will extradite ETIM members to China. Do yo