Daily China MOFA briefing highlights

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(1 Apr 2026) ASSOCIATED PRESS Beijing- 01 April 2026 MOFA Highlights Spokesperson: Mao Ning Date: 1 April 2026 Duration: 05 min 06 sec 1. Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks yesterday with Pakistan’s visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. After the meeting, China and Pakistan issued a five-point initiative on restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East regions. Could you explain the considerations behind China and Pakistan issuing this initiative? What results does China expect this initiative to achieve? The conflict in Iran has now been ongoing for a month. Its spillover effects continue to expand and intensify, posing an increasingly serious impact on regional and global peace and stability, and causing broader disruptions to global energy supply stability, the smooth industrial and supply chains and global economic development. This does not serve the common interests of regional countries or the international community. As important members of the Global South, China and Pakistan are calling for reason and justice with the aim to help the international community build greater consensus and stronger collective efforts to ease current tensions and contribute to the early restoration of peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East. This initiative is open and welcomes the response and participation of all countries and international organizations. China will continue to maintain close communication with Pakistan and all relevant parties and play a constructive role in promoting a ceasefire. 2. To follow up, this initiative apparently requires all parties to listen and change their own behavior. How does China view the likelihood of achieving this goal? In particular, is it possible for the US and Israel to stop their hostile actions against Iran? After all, ending the conflict largely depends on their decisions. First, I think the current situation in the Middle East is the focus of attention for all parties. Continued tensions and the spillover of conflict do not serve the interests of any side. The top priority is to initiate peace talks. We believe that the mediation efforts made by Pakistan, China, and some other countries are in line with the common interests of all parties. We stand ready to work with all sides, including Pakistan, to overcome difficulties, remove interference, bring the fighting to an end as soon as possible, create opportunities for peace, and open a window for peace. 3. According to reports, recently, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a general license authorizing approval for investment and operation contracts in Venezuela’s mineral sector. The license excludes China, Russia, North Korea, Cuba, and Iran. What is China’s comment on this? China firmly opposes the U.S. restricting China-Venezuela cooperation through the manipulation of the so-called general license. China’s legitimate rights and interests in Venezuela must be protected. What the U.S. should do is immediately lift its illegal unilateral sanctions on Venezuela, rather than using the so-called general license to whitewash actions that undermine the legitimate rights and interests of relevant parties, including Venezuela. 4. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced on Tuesday the deployment of long-range missiles with enemy base strike capability in Kumamoto and Shizuoka prefectures, and stated that Japan is facing the most complex security environment since World War II and must build defense capabilities beyond its territory. What is China’s comment on this? Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/aea221e4e9e746509f2bf3cca609c0f7