Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on November 9, 2020

AFP: According to Indian media, an Indian merchant ship containing Australian coal has been stuck in a Chinese port since June. Apparently it's a port near Tangshan. Can you tell us what's happening there?

Wang Wenbin: I'm not aware of the specific incident you mentioned. I suggest you place your inquiries with competent departments or the local government.

CNN: After most American media declared Biden's victory of being elected as the president of the United States, leaders of many countries sent congratulatory messages to him. Why has China been dilatory in making a statement? Is it because you think the outcome of the US presidential election is still uncertain, or do you have other considerations? When will China send a congratulatory message?

Wang Wenbin: On your first question, we noticed that Mr. Biden has declared election victory. We understand the presidential election result will be determined following the U.S. laws and procedures.

On your second question, we will follow international customary practices.

We always believe China and the United States should strengthen communication and dialogue, manage differences on the basis of mutual respect, expand cooperation based on mutual benefit, and promote the sound and stable development of China-U.S. relations.

CCTV: Could you share more information about the upcoming China-GCC ministerial meeting to be held via video-conference and your expectations for it?

Wang Wenbin: The China-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) ministerial meeting will be held later today via video-conference. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the GCC troika, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the current chair the United Arab Emirates, Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani of the chair-designate Bahrain, and Secretary General Nayef Al-Hajraf, as well as delegates from other member states will attend the meeting.

China has long maintained friendly relations with the GCC and its members. We understand and support each other on matters concerning each other's core interests and major concerns and have achieved fruitful outcomes in energy, economic, trade, people-to-people and cultural cooperation. In the face of the COVID-19 outbreak, we stood together with mutual assistance and conducted effective cooperation, writing a new chapter of friendship with solidarity and cooperation. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will have an in-depth exchange of views with the GCC delegates on China-GCC relations, anti-epidemic cooperation and regional issues of common concern. We believe this meeting will bring new progress to China-GCC relations.

NBC: With U.S.-China relations obviously at a very low point, what sort of tangible moves does the Chinese side expect from the Biden administration to signal that the relations can be any better?

Wang Wenbin: I just stated China's position on the US presidential election and China-U.S. relations.

Bloomberg: Will China stick with the phase one trade deal under the Biden administration or look to renegotiate terms?

Wang Wenbin: I just stated China's position on relevant issues and refer you to China's competent department for the specifics of China-U.S. trade.

Reuters: Now Joe Biden is president-elect. He's spoken out in the past unfavorable to China. How does the Chinese side feel about his platform given that it will likely dictate China-U.S. relations in the years to come?

Wang Wenbin: China's position on relevant issues is consistent and clear. China is firmly determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. We always hold that China and the US should manage existing differences on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs to achieve the sound and steady development of bilateral relations. We hope the new administration will work together with China in the same direction.

CRI: Guinea's Constitutional Court declared the final result of the presidential election, confirming incumbent President Alpha Conde's win with 59.5 percent of the vote. Does China have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: China extends warm congratulations to President Conde on winning the presidential election. We believe that under his leadership, the people of Guinea will unite as one and make greater strides in the path of national development. China and Guinea are good friends and brothers supporting each other through thick and thin. We value our traditional friendship and stand ready to work with the Guinean side to further advance our comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to deliver more benefits to our peoples.

China News Service: According to the recent data from National Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs and other ministries, the Chinese economy is witnessing a steady recovery. In your opinion, what influences will this have on the global economic recovery?

Wang Wenbin: Currently, China has made major strategic outcomes in the prevention and control of COVID-19, leading to steady social and economic recovery. That has been strong evidence of the great resilience and enormous potential of the Chinese economy. According to the estimation of authoritative international organizations including International Monetary Fund (IMF), China will be the only major economy that retains positive growth in 2020.

With steady economic revival and the building of a new development paradigm, China's role as the engine driving the global economic recovery and growth will become more prominent. During the first three quarters of 2020, trade between China and  ASEAN, the EU, the US, Japan and the ROK has grown despite the pandemic. Historically, China and ASEAN have both become each other's largest trading partner, and China has become the largest trading partner of the EU for the first time. The Chinese enterprises' direct investment in non-financial sectors of the countries along the Belt and Road amounted to 13.02 billion US dollars, registering a year-on-year growth of 29.7 percent. At the opening ceremony of the third China International Import Expo (CIIE), President Xi Jinping announced that China will steadfastly expand all-round opening up, explore more efficient ways to connect domestic and foreign markets and share factors of production and resources, so that the Chinese market will become a market of the world, a market shared by all, and a market accessible to all. With a population of 1.4 billion and a middle-income group exceeding 400 million, China is the world's largest market with the greatest potential, which will continue expanding its opening up and offering more cooperation opportunities. We will work with other countries to strengthen our cooperation in pandemic prevention and control, maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains and remain committed to building an open world economy so as to inject more positive energy into the global economic recovery.

Bloomberg: Last month, President Xi Jinping called for greater gender equality in a speech to the United Nations marking the 25th anniversary of Beijing's World Conference on Women. Does China have any comment on what Vice President-elect Kamala Harris's becoming the first woman elected to nationwide office in the U.S. means for that goal?

Wang Wenbin: I wonder if you have heard of the Chinese saying that "women hold up half the sky". China is committed to realizing gender equality and advancing women's development across the world.