On August 13, 2020, Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang attended a dialogue with members of the United States (US) Congress via videolink. Ami Bera, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation of the House Foreign Affairs Committee of the US and Democratic Representative of California, Ted Yoho, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Republican Representative of Florida, Carol Miller, Assistant Minority Whip of the House of Representatives and Republican Representative of West Virginia, and others were present.

Zheng Zeguang pointed out, the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic is a pressing challenge. The US side should immediately stop slandering and smearing China and create conditions for the two countries to cooperate in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. The sudden outbreak of the epidemic has brought a huge impact to all countries in the world. Under the leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China has put people and lives first, and adopted the most comprehensive, strict, and thorough prevention and control measures. China has achieved major strategic results in the COVID-19 containment. The Chinese side has been acting with openness and transparency, informed the international community of the epidemic in a timely manner, done its best to provide humanitarian assistance to other countries, and actively carried out international cooperation in the fight against the epidemic. All this has brought together the painstaking efforts of the Chinese people, demonstrated the international humanitarian spirit of the Chinese people, and reflected the vision and extraordinary leadership of the Chinese leaders. Facts have proven time and again that an epidemic disease knows no borders or races, and it is the common enemy of mankind. The international community should work together to cope with it. This February, all sectors of the US, including many members of the US Congress, expressed support and provided donations to China for its fight against the epidemic in different ways. When the epidemic began to spread in the US, many provinces, cities, enterprises and institutions in China actively provided donations and support to states, cities, enterprises and all walks of life of the US. The Chinese side also provided the US with various conveniences for its commercial procurement of medical supplies in China. We sincerely wish the US could defeat the epidemic at an early date and are willing to cooperate with the US side in fighting against the epidemic. However, we firmly oppose unreasonable practices from the US side to stigmatize China or shift blame to China over the COVID-19. This approach has aroused strong indignation of the Chinese people and has been firmly resisted by the international community. The US side should immediately correct its mistakes, create favorable conditions for China-US anti-epidemic cooperation, and make epidemic prevention and control an area of cooperation rather than a source of friction between China and the US.

Zheng Zeguang pointed out, China-US relations are currently at an important juncture, and we must unswervingly safeguard and stabilize bilateral relations. During a period of time, the US side has made unilaterally provocations as well as a series of remarks and behaviors that have interfered with China's internal affairs, harmed China's interests, and seriously damaged bilateral relations. Some American politicians viciously attacked the CPC and China's political system out of their own political interests. They have deliberately distorted and completely negated the history of China-US relations for the past nearly 50 years. What they are up to is to blind the American people and fool international public opinion with lies. The above-mentioned wrong remarks and behaviors from the US side have severely poisoned the atmosphere of bilateral relations, leading to an extremely complex and grave situation in China-US relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations, and posing severe challenges to the common interests of the Chinese and American peoples. The Chinese government has taken and will continue to take proper and necessary actions to unswervingly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and unswervingly safeguard and stabilize China-US relations.

Zheng Zeguang noted, the inspiration gained from the history of China-US relations must be borne in mind, while efforts must be made to resolutely stop the regressive moves of a few US politicians. China-US relations have travelled an extraordinary path in the past five decades, which is quite enlightening. The cooperation between China and the US conforms to the interests of both countries as well as the world at large, while the confrontation between our two countries will only bring disasters to the world. While considering and dealing with bilateral relations, we must proceed from the common interests of both peoples and peoples of the world, as well as the destiny of mankind as a whole, and always stick to the right direction, which is China-US cooperation. China and the US must always manage differences in a constructive manner, abide by the principles and spirit of the three China-US Joint Communiqués, and respect each other's core interests and major concerns. Under the current circumstances, people of insight from all walks of life should, in a spirit of being responsible of history and people, take active and collective actions to firmly stop a few US politicians from crazily sabotaging China-US relations out of their selfish interests and steadfastly safeguard the foundation of bilateral relations and the common interests of both peoples.

Zheng Zeguang stressed, China's domestic and foreign policies and strategic intentions have always been open and transparent, which allow no deliberate distortion and smear from anyone. China stays committed to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, stays committed to pursuing peaceful development, and stays committed to deepening reform and furthering opening-up. This is not only what we say, but what we do. The international community has its fair conclusion. Today's China has become more determined and resilient than ever before to cope with all kinds of risks and challenges, and is steadily moving towards its goals. For the time being, China is making coordinated efforts on epidemic control as well as economic and social development, and is working to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects and secure a decisive success in the fight against poverty. China's economy enjoys good development momentum. We encourage enterprises from our two countries to carry out mutually beneficial cooperation. We urge the US side to immediately stop suppressing Chinese enterprises, which is an act of bullying, and create favorable conditions for bilateral cooperation in economy and trade. Those who clamor for severing economic ties with China in the US go against the basic common sense and economic laws, and harm the interests of enterprises and consumers of both countries. We urge the US side to stop the hysterical anti-China noises and stop the practices that hurt others without necessarily benefiting itself.

Zheng Zeguang stressed, China's policies towards the US have been highly stable and consistent. We stay committed to developing China-US relations based on no conflict or confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, and are firm in our resolve to uphold China's sovereignty, security and development interests. China's development goal is not to replace anyone, but is to enable all 1.4 billion people to live a better life and to make greater contributions to regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity. China has no interest in and has never interfered in the US internal affairs. The US should respect the Chinese side's core interests and major concerns and immediately stop any move of interfering with China's internal affairs. The Chinese side urges the US side to meet China halfway, strengthen contact and dialogues at all levels, seek interest convergence, maintain regular personnel exchanges, maintain public foundation of bilateral relations, and bring China-US relations to the right track based on coordination, cooperation and stability. Zheng Zeguang said, the US Congress weighs heavily on the US domestic and foreign policies. The Chinese side is willing to strengthen dialogues and exchanges with the US Congress members to deepen understanding and expanding consensuses. It is hoped that the Congress members will play a constructive role in safeguarding China-US relations.

Zheng Zeguang also expounded on the Chinese side's stances on the questions raised by the Congress members.

Ami Bera and other Congress members said, US-China relations are of critical significance to both countries and the world. Both sides should make concerted efforts to maintain the stable development of US-China relations, which is in conformity with the interests of the two peoples and peoples of the world. Though the US and China have different values, political systems and differences on many issues, both countries should enhance mutual understanding through candid dialogues and communication, effectively manage differences and work to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in areas including anti-epidemic, economy and trade. The US Congress is willing to continue its communication and exchanges with the Chinese side, and looks forward to more dialogues of this kind.

The video dialogue was co-organized by Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and the US-Asia Institute. Responsible officials of the two organizations were present.