Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on April 12, 2018

   问：澳大利亚总理承认当前澳中关系紧张，这是否与中方拖延或拒绝向希望来华出席博鳌亚洲论坛年会等活动的澳政府官员发放签证有关？你是否认同中澳关系存在紧张？这是否是因为澳方正推动针对外国干预的立法进程？ 

　　答：首先我要澄清一点，据我了解，澳大利亚有关方面人士参加了今年博鳌亚洲论坛年会相关活动。博鳌亚洲论坛是一个非官方的国际会议组织，论坛秘书处负责论坛年会相关活动，并邀请相关国家政商学界代表出席。关于今年博鳌亚洲论坛年会出席情况，包括澳方参与情况，请向论坛秘书处了解。 

Q: The Australian Prime Minister has acknowledged that there is tension in the Australian relationship with China. Is that tension at all related to the delaying of visa applications or the refusal of visas for Australian government officials to visit China for the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference and other activities?Do you agree there is tension in the China-Australia relationship? Is it because of Australia's attempted legislation for foreign interference? 

A: First of all I shall make a clarification. As I understand, relevant Australian people did attend the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference 2018. The BFA is an unofficial international conference organization. Its Secretariat is responsible for relevant activities and inviting the representatives from the political, academic and business communities of other countries. You may want to refer to the BFA Secretariat for the attendants' information, including Australia's participation in this BFA annual conference. 

　　你提到中澳双边关系以及澳方正针对外国干预推动立法，我和我的同事此前已就类似问题多次表明立场。中方一贯坚持在相互尊重、互不干涉内政等和平共处五项原则基础上同世界各国发展友好关系。任何指责中国对其他国家进行所谓“干预”或“渗透”的说法都是毫无根据的，也是别有用心的。希望有关方面尊重客观事实，正确看待中国发展。 

　　一个健康稳定的中澳关系，符合两国人民根本利益。希望澳方同中方相向而行，在相互尊重、平等相待基础上，多做有利于增进双方互信与合作的事，确保中澳关系沿着正确轨道向前发展。 

You mentioned the China-Australia relations and Australia's ongoing attempt to legislate against foreign interference, my colleagues and I already stated our position on such issue. China stays committed to developing friendly relations with countries around the globe on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, including mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. Any accusation against China of so-called "interference" or "infiltration" is totally groundless and out of ulterior motives. We hope the relevant party will respect objective facts and put China's development in perspective. 

A sound and steady China-Australia relationship serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples. We hope Australia will work with China on the basis of mutual respect and treating each other as equals to better enhance our mutual trust and cooperation, so as to ensure the China-Australia relations move forward in the right track.