Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang's Regular Press Conference on March 11, 2019

　  问：据报道，当地时间3月10日，一架从埃塞俄比亚首都飞往肯尼亚首都的埃塞俄比亚航空客机失事，机上载有157人，无人生还，其中包括8名同胞。我们注意到，昨天深夜发言人已就此表态，请问你是否有进一步的情况？

　　答：3月10日，埃塞俄比亚航空公司一架客机失事，造成包括8名中国公民在内的机上人员全部遇难。我们对此深感悲痛，向所有遇难者表示深切哀悼，向遇难者家属表示诚挚慰问。习近平主席等中国领导人已分别向埃塞俄比亚和肯尼亚领导人致电慰问。

Q: On March 10 local time, an Ethiopian Airlines jet crashed after taking off from the capital of Ethiopia en route to the capital of Kenya, killing all 157 people on board, including eight Chinese. We know that the Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry already issued a statement late last night. Do you have any updates for us?

A: On March 10, an Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed, killing all people aboard, including eight Chinese citizens. We are deeply saddened by this incident. We want to express our deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families. Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping, have sent messages of condolences to Ethiopian and Kenyan leaders respectively.

　　事发后，中国党和国家领导人高度重视，十分关心此次空难事故中涉及中国公民情况。外交部和中国驻埃塞俄比亚使馆立即开展相关工作，使馆已与埃塞方建立协调联络机制，并同遇难中国公民家属取得联系，积极为遇难公民家属处理善后提供协助。目前，遇难8名中国公民身份初步确认。其中4人为中国公司员工，2人为联合国系统国际职员，另2人分别来自辽宁和浙江，为因私出行。

　　根据我目前掌握的最新情况，3月10日下午，埃塞俄比亚总理阿比赶赴坠机现场，对遇难者表示深切哀悼，阿比总理也保证向遇难者家属提供必需的帮助，并督促对事故进行全面调查。目前，事故原因正在调查。据我所知，埃塞方成立由埃航及埃民航局、交通部组成的事故调查委员会。中方希望埃塞方尽快查明事故原因，及时向中方通报调查最新进展，妥善做好后续处置。中国外交部和驻埃塞俄比亚使馆将继续密切关注有关进展，全力为遇难中国公民家属处理善后提供积极协助。

The Chinese Party and state leaders attach great importance to this incident and are very concerned about the Chinese citizens involved in this disaster. The Foreign Ministry and our Embassy in Ethiopia reacted immediately. Our Embassy in Ethiopia has established coordination and liaison mechanism with the Ethiopian side and made contacts with the families of the Chinese victims to assist them in dealing with the follow-up matters. To date, some preliminary information of the eight Chinese victims have been confirmed. Four were employees from Chinese companies. Two were UN staff. Two were from Liaoning province and Zhejiang province respectively, traveling for private purposes.

The latest information I have is that on the afternoon of March 10, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali went to the crash site to express his deep condolences to the victims. He also pledged necessary assistance to the bereaved families and urged relevant officials to make thorough investigations. At the current stage, investigation is still underway to determine the cause of the crash. A committee comprising of Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority and Ethiopian Transport Authority has been set up to carry out the investigations. The Chinese side hopes that the Ethiopian side will determine the cause of the crash as soon as possible, provide information on the progress of the investigation in a timely manner, and properly deal with the follow-up matters. The Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia will continue to closely follow the development of the situation and do our best to assist the families of the Chinese victims.

　　问：近来各方都关注意大利参与“一带一路”合作的情况。我们注意到，意大利总理孔特明确表示，加入“一带一路”对意大利而言是机遇，是战略选择。孔特还表示，参与“一带一路”并不意味着将被迫做任何事情，而是得以参与此项目并开展对话。请问发言人对此有何评论？

　　答：中国和意大利双边关系良好，两国近年来各领域务实合作成果丰硕，为各自经济发展作出实实在在的贡献。扩大互利合作，符合双方共同利益，也是双方的战略选择。

Q: Italy's possible participation in the Belt and Road Initiative has been a subject of discussion lately. We noted that Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte explicitly said that Italy's accession to the Belt and Road Initiative represents an opportunity for the country. It is a strategic choice for Italy and won't mean that Italy will be forced to do anything. It will provide Italy with access to the initiative and channels for dialogues. What is your comment?

A: China and Italy enjoy sound relations. Practical cooperation between the two sides in various fields has yielded fruitful outcomes and made tangible contributions to the economic development of the two countries. Expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, as a strategic choice made by China and Italy, serves the common interests of the two sides.