China firmly opposes trade protectionism, calls for universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and is committed to promoting global development and income convergence, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has recently published its 2024 World Trade Report, reaffirming trade's transformative role in reducing poverty and creating shared prosperity, while pointing out that the rising protectionism risks undoing three decades of unprecedented progress in narrowing the gap between rich and poor nations.
"I have also seen the WTO report. It points out that the rising protectionism will harm the growth prospects of all economies, but the poor and economically marginalized will suffer the most," Mao said in response to a media quiery about the report.
"As an important contributor to open trade, China always firmly opposes trade protectionism, calls for universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and is committed to promoting global development and narrowing the North-South gap through trade. At the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit in Beijing, President Xi Jinping proposed 10 partnership actions, including one for trade prosperity, and announced to unilaterally open its market wider and give all least developed countries in Africa zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, making China the first ever large developing country and major economy to do so," Mao said.
"Protectionism has no future. Prosperity and stability are impossible in a world where the rich become richer while the poor are made poorer. We are ready to discuss free trade arrangements with more Global South countries and help other developing countries improve their transportation and logistics conditions, as well as their levels and capabilities of participation in international trade through practical cooperation such as the Belt and Road Initiative," she said.
China opposes trade protectionism, calls for inclusive economic globalization: spokeswoman
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that his country has not sent hypersonic missiles to Yemen's Houthi group.
The president made the remarks at a press conference in Tehran, in response to a question from an Al Jazeera news network reporter who quoted political experts saying that Iran has supplied hypersonic missiles, or the technology to develop them, to the Houthis.
Iran has hypersonic missiles, but not of the same kind that the Houthis possess, Pezeshkian said, adding that the Houthis themselves had developed the missiles over time.
It is impossible for Iran to send missiles to Yemen covertly when it takes more than a week just to send solely human forces to the country, he said.
Pezeshkian said that Iran and the Houthis have worked together against Israel's "genocide" in Gaza, and stressed that the international community should condemn the crimes against humanity committed by Israel.
"If [the Western] countries are worried about the security of Israel, why are they not concerned about the security of Gaza Strip, the security of Palestine and innocent people? Civilized countries and supporters of human rights should not allow power to bomb and kill innocent civilians while simultaneously accusing Iran of supplying missiles to Yemen's Houthis," said Pezeshkian.
On Iran-U.S. relations, Pezeshkian emphasized Iran's pursuit of peace over conflict and clarified that Iran has no intentions of building nuclear weapons.
However, he said, the U.S. has chosen to abandon the Iran nuclear deal and made threats against Iran. The possibility of a relaxation in strained relations between the two sides hinges on the U.S. dropping its animosity towards Iran and revoking its extensive sanctions against the country, he said.
"We don't want to start a war, but the U.S. wants to impose wars on us. If the U.S. is willing to respect Iran's rights, we will not engage in conflict with the U.S. or any other party. We hope to develop safely in our own country without the U.S. undermining Iran's security or threaten and humiliate Iran. we will never accept humiliation," Pezeshkian said.
Iran has not sent hypersonic missiles to Yemen's Houthis: President Pezeshkian
