Foreign Ministry Spokesperson announces:

At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya will pay a state visit to China from April 22 to 26.

In response to the US government's announcement of new port fees for Chinese-built and operated vessels, set to take effect in mid-October, which is part of the Trump administration's efforts to revive the US shipbuilding industry and reduce China's dominance in the sector, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday that China has repeatedly stated its position on the issue. "I would like to reiterate that imposing port fees and additional tariffs on cargo handling equipment harm the interests of both others and itself. It raises global shipping costs, disrupts supply chain stability, and increases inflationary pressures in the US, ultimately harming American consumers and businesses, without revitalizing the US shipbuilding industry," he said.

"We urge the US side to respect the facts and multilateral rules, immediately cease its wrongdoings. China will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," Lin said.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun met on Tuesday in Beijing with the visiting Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, Zaheer Ahmad Babar. 

Dong emphasized that China and Pakistan are "all-weather" strategic cooperative partners, with their unbreakable friendship having been strengthened by the shifting tides of international dynamics. In recent years, the two militaries have achieved significant progress in areas such as strategic communication, joint exercises and training, and personnel exchanges, he said. 

Dong also highlighted the growing significance of the "Shaheen (Eagle)" series of joint training exercises. China is committed to working with Pakistan, guided by the strategic direction of both nations' leaders, to further strengthen military communication and coordination, deepen practical cooperation across various fields, and jointly uphold regional and global peace and stability, Dong said.

Zaheer Ahmad Babar said that the Pakistan-China relationship is the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy, and Pakistan highly values the traditional friendship between the two countries. As the international situation and geopolitical landscape undergo profound changes, the Pakistan Air Force is willing to further strengthen communication, exchanges, and institutional cooperation with the Chinese side, maintain a high level of joint exercises and training, and make positive contributions to jointly responding to the evolving security challenges, he said.

Leung Chai-yan, the daughter of former Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive (CE) and current Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee Leung Chun-ying, was found unconscious on Tuesday evening in an apartment in Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong. She was 33 years old, according to local media reports in Hong Kong.

Leung Chai-yan was found unconscious in a serviced apartment and was confirmed dead at the scene by paramedics, local media Ming Pao said. 

According to police, at around 10:40 pm on Tuesday, staff at the location reported that a 33-year-old female resident surnamed Leung had collapsed inside the unit. Officers arrived to find her lying unresponsive on the bed, the media report said. 

She was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death is pending autopsy results, Ming Pao said. 

In a post published on Facebook early Wednesday, Leung Chun-ying said "Chai-yan is gone. Her passing was sudden, without leaving behind a single word — she was simply lying peacefully on the bed. Just a few days ago, she had even taken the initiative to get a flu vaccination."

We are grateful to the police and the forensic team for their investigation, which has ruled out suicide and any suspicious circumstances, Leung Chun-ying said. 

"Thank you to all our friends for your care, understanding, and condolences during this most difficult time for our family," the former CE said. 

Leung Chai-yan was born on September 11, 1991, and she was the younger daughter of Leung Chun-ying, local media HK01 said. 

She studied law at the London School of Economics and Political Science, but took a leave of absence and returned to Hong Kong in June 2013, the media report said. 

On December 9, 2016, Leung Chun-ying announced that he would not seek re-election, citing family reasons. At the time, he revealed that Leung Chai-yan had been hospitalized for more than two months, and he had been visiting and accompanying her for over an hour every night. Finding it physically and emotionally exhausting, he decided to withdraw from the race for a second term, according to HK01.

The Chinese government's position on opposing US abuse of tariffs was released on Saturday. Followed is the full text of the statement.

Recently, under various pretexts, the United States has imposed tariffs on all trading partners, including China, which severely infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of nations, severely violates World Trade Organization rules, severely harms the rules-based multilateral trading system, and severely disrupts the stability of the global economic order. The Chinese government strongly condemns and firmly opposes this.

These actions violate basic economic laws and market principles, disregard the balance of interests reached through multilateral trade negotiations, and ignore the fact that the US has long reaped substantial benefits from international trade. Using tariffs as a tool of extreme pressure for selfish gain is a textbook example of unilateralism, protectionism, and economic coercion.

Under the guise of pursuing "equality" and "fairness," the US is essentially seeking "America First" and "American Exceptionalism," aiming to overturn the current international economic and trade order with tariff measures, placing American interests above the common good of the international community, and sacrificing the legitimate interests of all countries in service of America's hegemonic ambitions. Such actions will inevitably face broad opposition from the international community.

China is an ancient civilization and a country of etiquette. The Chinese people value sincerity and trust as their core principles. We will not provoke troubles, but we never flinch when trouble comes our way. Pressuring and threatening are not the correct way to engage with China. We have taken, and will continue to take, firm measures to defend our sovereignty, security, and development interests.

China-US economic and trade relations should be based on mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. The US should align with the shared expectations of people from both nations and the people of the world, and, in light of the fundamental interests of both countries, stop using tariffs as a weapon to suppress China’s economy and trade, and stop harming the legitimate development rights of the Chinese people.

As the world's second-largest economy and the second-largest consumer market, no matter how international circumstances change, we will pursue high-level opening-up, expand institutional openness in areas such as rules, regulations, management, and standards, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, foster a world-class, market-oriented, law-based business environment, and share development opportunities to achieve mutual benefit.

Economic globalization is an inevitable path for the development of human society. The multilateral trade system, with the WTO at its core and based on rules, has made important contributions to the development of global trade, economic growth, and sustainable development. 

Open cooperation is the trend of history, and the world will not, nor should it, return to a state of mutual closure and division. Mutual benefit and win-win outcomes are the aspirations of all people, while economic coercion that pits nations against each other is bound to backfire. The global community shares the responsibility of guiding globalization toward greater openness, inclusivity, equity, and balance.

Development is a universal right of all nations, not the privilege of a few. There are no winners in trade wars or tariff wars, and protectionism offers no way out. All countries must uphold genuine multilateralism, jointly oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, and protect the multilateral trade framework centered on the WTO.

We believe that the vast majority of countries in the world, which value fairness and justice, will stand on the right side of history and make choices that serve their own interests. The world needs justice, not hegemony!

In response to a media inquiry on remarks made by a Philippine military official that the Philippines would inevitably be drawn into any conflict near Taiwan island, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged certain individuals in the Philippines not to play with fire on the Taiwan question, stressing that how to resolve the Taiwan question is entirely a matter for the Chinese people.

Philippine Armed Forces chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Tuesday told troops at the Northern Luzon Command to "prepare for any eventuality" such as the "invasion" of Taiwan. He also claimed that "if something happens to Taiwan, inevitably we will be involved," according to Philippine Daily Inquirer on Wednesday.

The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair and concerns China's core interests. How to resolve the Taiwan question is entirely a matter for the Chinese people. It allows no foreign interference, Guo said.

We urged certain Philippine individuals not to play with fire on the Taiwan question- those who play with fire will get burned. China also firmly opposes baseless, distorted, and inflammatory remarks aimed at smearing China, said Guo.