Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on October 16, 2019

　应南非国际关系与合作部长潘多尔、法国欧洲和外交部长勒德里昂、瑞士联邦委员兼外交部长卡西斯邀请，国务委员兼外交部长王毅将于10月17日至23日对南非进行正式访问，赴法国主持中法高级别人文交流机制第五次会议，赴瑞士主持中瑞第二轮外长级战略对话。

Invited by Minister Naledi Pandor of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France and Ignazio Cassis, member of the Swiss Federal Council and Switzerland's foreign minister, from October 17 to 23, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay an official visit to South Africa, co-chair the fifth meeting of China-France High-Level Cultural and People-to-People Exchange Mechanism in France, and co-chair the second round of China-Switzerland Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue in Switzerland.

　　问：你刚才发布了王毅国务委员赴南非、法国和瑞士访问及出席有关机制会议的消息。能否介绍一下此访的有关具体安排？

　　答：访问南非期间，王毅国务委员兼外长将会见南非总统拉马福萨，同南非外长潘多尔举行会谈。此访旨在推进落实两国元首达成的共识，深化政治互信，提升双方在“一带一路”倡议和中非合作论坛框架下的互利合作，加强在金砖国家、二十国集团和联合国等多边平台的协调配合，推动新时期中南全面战略伙伴关系迈上新台阶。

Q: You just told us about State Councilor Wang's visits to South Africa, France and Switzerland and some meeting arrangements. Could you give us more details on the arrangements?

A: During his visit to South Africa, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with President Ramaphosa and hold talks with Foreign Minister Pandor. The aim of the visit is to implement the consensus of the two presidents, deepen mutual political trust, boost mutually beneficial cooperation under the BRI and the FOCAC, enhance coordination and collaboration in multilateral institutions including the BRICS, the G20 and the United Nations, and elevate China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership to a new height in the new era.

　　访问法国期间，王毅国务委员兼外长将会见法国领导人，同勒德里昂外长举行会谈、共同主持中法高级别人文交流机制第五次会议。此次会议是王毅国务委员担任机制中方主席后首次赴法国主持会议，双方将就两国人文领域合作进行深入交流，就双边关系及共同关心的国际和地区问题交换意见。我们希望通过此访进一步增进中法政治互信，提升双方各领域合作水平，推动新时期两国关系迈上新台阶。

During his stay in France, State Councilor Wang will meet with French leadership, have talks with Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and co-chair with him the fifth meeting of China-France High-Level Cultural and People-to-People Exchange Mechanism. This is the first time for State Councilor Wang to chair this meeting in France after he became the Chinese chair of this mechanism. The two sides will have in-depth exchange of views on people-to-people and cultural cooperation, bilateral ties and international and regional issues of mutual interest. Through this visit, we hope the two sides will enhance mutual political trust, boost cooperation and elevate China-France relations to a new height in the new era.

　　访问瑞士期间，王毅国务委员兼外长将会见瑞士联邦主席毛雷尔，同瑞士联邦委员兼外长卡西斯共同主持中瑞第二轮外长级战略对话。建立外长级战略对话机制是推进中瑞创新战略伙伴关系发展的重要举措。首轮对话已于2018年4月在北京举行。我们相信，王毅国务委员此次赴瑞士主持第二轮战略对话，将进一步推动落实两国元首重要共识，巩固双方政治互信，促进中瑞创新战略伙伴关系深入发展。

During his visit to Switzerland, State Councilor Wang will meet with President Ueli Maurer and co-chair the second round of China-Switzerland Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue with Ignazio Cassis, member of the Swiss Federal Council and Switzerland's foreign minister. The Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue is an important mechanism to develop China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership, and the first round of dialogue was held in Beijing in April, 2018. We believe State Councilor Wang's chairing of this dialogue will be a step to further implement the consensus of the two presidents, cement mutual political trust and deepen China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership.

　　问：我有两个问题。第一个问题，中方在回应美国众议院通过“香港人权与民主法案”时，提到会采取有力反制措施，请问具体反制措施是什么？第二个问题，据越南媒体报道，越南国家主席阮富仲接受采访时提到了中越在南海的争议，希望各方保持克制，并称越方会坚决捍卫越独立自主和领土主权安全，请问中方有何回应？

　　答：关于第一个问题，我们对美国国会众议院执意通过所谓“香港人权与民主法案”表示强烈愤慨和坚决反对。今天上午，外交部和其他部门已经对此作出表态，中方已经作出了全面回应。

Q: Two questions. First, in response to the passing of the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act in the US House of Representatives, the Chinese mentioned that it would take strong countermeasures. What are these measures specifically? Second, according to Vietnamese media reports, President Nguyen Phu Trong mentioned the disputes in the South China Sea between China and Vietnam in an interview, saying that he hoped parties could exercise restraint and that Vietnam would firmly defend its independence and territorial and sovereign security. What's your comment?

A: As to your first question, we express strong indignation on and firm opposition to the US House of Representatives' passage of the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. This morning, the Foreign Ministry and other departments already made remarks on this. The Chinese side has given a thorough response.