China mourns death of former Premier Li Keqiang, says Chinese Foreign Ministry official

(27 Oct 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beijing - 27 October 2023
1. Wide of news conference
2. Wide of journalists
3. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“We deeply mourn the tragic passing of Comrade Li Keqiang due to a sudden heart attack. Xinhua News Agency has released information, I would refer you to that.”
4. Mid of journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“The U.S. military planes traveled thousands of miles to China’s doorstep to flex (their) muscle(s). That is the source of maritime and air security risks and is not conducive to regional peace and stability. China will continue to take resolute measures to maintain national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.”
6. Wide of journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“We are in communication with all sides. We also call on the international community to strive together for an early ceasefire to avoid further escalation of tensions. China will work relentlessly to this end.”
8. Mid of journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“We always call on all parties in Palestine to reach a political reconciliation and conduct political dialogue. But for now, we believe the most urgent thing is for a ceasefire and that all parties should abide by international law and protect civilians. China has been doing what it said. We will continue to call on all parties concerned to work together for de-escalation of the situation.”
10. Mid of journalists
11. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“China is highly concerned about the clashes. We call on the parties concerned to cease fire as soon as possible, resolve differences through dialogue and consultation and peaceful means, avoid escalation of incidents, and take practical and effective measures to ensure security and stability along the China-Myanmar border.”
12. Wide of news conference
STORYLINE:
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the nation was mourning the death of former Premier Li Keqiang.

Li, who died Friday of a heart attack, was China’s top economic official for a decade, helping navigate the world’s second-largest economy through challenges such as tensions with the United States and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Li’s sudden death has shocked many people in the country, and they are paying tribute to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.

At a daily news briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning expressed condolences for his death and referred reporters to information released by the official news agency Xinhua and the obituary to be released later.

Commenting on a recent near collision between the Chinese and U.S. military jets over the South China Sea, Mao suggested that the "U.S. military planes traveled thousands of miles to China’s doorstep to flex (their) muscle(s)" and the suggested the behaviour was not "conducive to regional peace and stability."

A Chinese fighter jet came within 10 feet of an American B-52 bomber flying over the South China Sea, nearly causing an accident, the U.S. military said, underscoring the potential for a mishap as both countries vie for influence in the region.
Separately, Mao dismissed a question of whether China plans for any contact with Hamas given that a Hamas delegation just arrived in Moscow for talks with a senior Russian official, but said “we are in communication with all sides.”
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