Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang's Regular Press Conference on November 1, 2018

问：据报道，中方近期在南沙群岛有关岛礁启用了岛礁海洋观测中心、气象观测站和南沙国家环境空气质量监测站等。你能否介绍有关情况？

　　答：日前，中国在南沙有关岛礁启用岛礁海洋观测中心、气象观测站、南沙国家环境空气质量监测站等。这些项目旨在开展南沙海洋水文、气象、空气质量观测，对外提供海洋预警预报、海啸预警、气象预报、空气质量预报以及防灾减灾等服务。

Q: According to reports, China recently commenced the operations of a maritime observation center, a meteorological observatory and a national environmental and air quality monitoring station on reefs of the Nansha Islands. Do you have more details?

A: Recently, China has begun operating a maritime observation center, a meteorological observatory and a national environmental and air quality monitoring station on reefs of the Nansha Islands. These projects are designed to observe the maritime, hydrological, meteorological conditions and air qualities and provide such services as maritime warning and forecast, tsunami alert, weather forecast, air quality forecast and disaster prevention and relief.

　　今年7月底，中方“南海救115轮”进驻南海有关岛礁，有效加强了南海中南部的搜救力量，为南海航行安全提供有效保障，并已开展了一些搜救活动，发挥了重要作用。

　　正如中方多次强调的，中方进行南沙岛礁建设，完善民事服务功能，为地区国家提供公共产品和公益服务，是中方开展南海岛礁建设的重要初衷，也是中方对地区国家和国际社会的郑重承诺。

　　中方此次启用的项目能够为地区国家提供更多公益服务，为南海航行安全和沿岸国人民生产生活提供有力保障。中方作为负责任大国，将继续以实际行动践行自身义务和承诺，为南海地区安全和人民福祉作出应有贡献。

At the end of July, China's rescue ship Nanhai Jiu 115 was stationed in the relevant reefs of the South China Sea, which has effectively strengthened the search and rescue forces in the central and southern parts of the South China Sea and provided effective safeguards to navigation security in the South China Sea. It has carried out several search and rescue operations and played an important role.

As we have stressed many times, China's constructions on the reefs and islands of the Nansha Islands aim to improve civil services and provide public goods and services to countries in this region. This is what we primarily wanted to achieve when we started these works on the islands and reefs in the South China Sea, and it is also a solemn pledge China has made to countries in the region and to the international community.

The projects kicked off this time will provide more public services to countries in the region and more effectively safeguard the security of navigation in the South China Sea and the production and life of the people of littoral countries. As a responsible major country, China will continue to fulfill its obligations and commitments with concrete actions and make due contributions to the security of the South China Sea and for the benefits of people in this region.