According to the “Foreign Ministry Spokesperson’s Office”, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 6, a reporter asked: In response to reports that China has imposed restrictions on Australian products exported to China, can you confirm or provide some details?
Wang Wenbin: I have answered relevant questions many times in the past two days. What I want to emphasize is that the relevant measures taken by the Chinese competent authorities on foreign products exported to China in accordance with laws and regulations are in compliance with Chinese laws and regulations and international practices. They are also responsible for China’s domestic industries and consumers. They are completely reasonable, legal and beyond reproach. .
At the same time, I also want to tell you that opening up is China’s basic national policy. China will continue to uphold the beliefs of openness, cooperation, unity, and win-win results, and will unswervingly expand opening up in an all-round way. This is what China said, and it did so.
The series of measures to expand opening up announced by China at the second China International Import Expo have been fully implemented. The growth rate of China’s imports of goods and services over the past year has been significantly higher than the global average.
The third CIIE was held as scheduled under the special background of the Coronavirus Pandemic, and companies from all over the world participated actively. According to the “Global Business Environment Report 2020” released by the World Bank, China’s global business environment ranking jumped to 31st. All these show that China has achieved tangible results in expanding opening up and promoting mutual benefit and win-win results, which is beyond doubt.
I have also noticed that some people in Australia have recently raised some doubts about China’s relevant measures, and some have also accused China of violations of international trade rules. What I want to tell you is that since 2018, more than a dozen Chinese investment projects in Australia have been rejected by the Australian side on the grounds of ambiguous and unfounded “national security”, including prohibiting Chinese companies from participating in the construction of Australia’s 5G network
And even Including infrastructure, agriculture and animal husbandry. Up to now, Australia has initiated as many as 106 anti-dumping and countervailing investigations against Chinese products, while China has initiated only 4 anti-dumping and countervailing investigations against Australian products. Who is going against the principles of market economy and the spirit of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement? Who disagrees, undermines cooperation, and takes discriminatory measures? I think the relevant facts are very clear.
We have repeatedly emphasized that mutual respect is the basis and prerequisite for pragmatic cooperation between countries. We once again urge some people in Australia to self-examine and do more things that are conducive to mutual trust and cooperation between China and Australia, in line with the spirit of China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, and create good conditions and atmosphere for practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields.
