New Delhi: After the United Nations’ data showed that India will displace China as the world’s most populous country by mid-year, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin noted that “size matters, but what matters more is talent resource”.
“When assessing a country’s demographic dividend, we need to look at not just its size but also its quality. Size matters, but what matters more is talent resource. … China has implemented a national strategy to respond to population ageing, including a third-child policy and supporting measures to address demographic changes,” Wang said in his weekly press conference, adding that nearly 900 million out of China’s 1.4 billion population is of working age.
“As Premier Li Qiang pointed out, China’s demographic dividend has not disappeared, and our talent dividend is in the making. The driving force for China’s development remains strong,” he asserted.
The foreign ministry spokesperson also elaborated on Beijing’s concerns over the statement of G7 foreign ministers Tuesday, which specifically asked China to ‘uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and abstain from threats, coercion, intimidation, or the use of force’ as well as ‘raised concerns’ over the human rights violations in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong.
Wang emphasised that the world has only one order, which is the international order underpinned by international law, and one set of norms’ based on the UN Charter while noting that ‘both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China’.
“If the G7 is truly against hegemonism and coercion, it needs to look inward and do some serious reflection, make sure that nothing like the invasion in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria will happen again, reject long-arm jurisdiction and unilateral sanctions, and say no to any policy that puts a certain country first at the expense of others,” he said.
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US intelligence leak
Commenting on the massive US intelligence leak, the Chinese foreign ministry accused America of “unscrupulously” spying on the United Nations while claiming to be the ‘upholder’ of the role of UN.
“The US claims itself to be a defender of freedom and democracy, yet it has been the champion of hacking by using cutting-edge technology. The US says it’s important to protect information security, yet it has placed information security traps worldwide,” Wang said, calling for an explanation from Washington as well as ‘concrete actions to fulfill its responsibility as the host country of the UN headquarters’.
On China’s position on joining the new creditor platform announced by Japan, France and India to restructure Sri Lanka’s debt, he emphasised Beijing’s support to Colombo’s financial institutions and called on other ‘commercial and multilateral creditors’ to contribute to the process.
“We will work with relevant countries and international financial institutions to jointly play a positive role in helping Sri Lanka navigate the situation, ease its debt burden and achieve sustainable development,” Wang said.
‘Willing to facilitate Ukraine-Russia talks’
The spokesperson also spoke on his country’s position on the Russia-Ukraine war and beginning negotiations and peace talks between the two countries.
According to reports, French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited Beijing earlier this month, will work together with China to create a framework for future negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
“As President Xi stressed, there is no panacea for defusing the crisis. It requires all parties to do their share and create conditions for ceasefire and peace talks through a buildup of trust,” Wang said, extending his country’s support to Europe to facilitate the “resumption of peace talks as soon as possible”.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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