On March 24, 2016, the Foreign Ministry held a briefing for Chinese and foreign media. Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong and Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Haixing introduced respectively relevant information on President Xi Jinping's forthcoming state visit to the Czech Republic and attendance at the 4th Nuclear Security Summit in Washington D.C. of the US, and answered questions from the journalists.

I. On Attendance of the 4th Nuclear Security Summit

Li Baodong said President Xi Jinping will attend the 4th Nuclear Security Summit to be held in Washington D.C. of the US from March 31 to April 1. President Xi Jinping will attend all official activities of the summit including welcome banquet, plenary meeting, working luncheon, "interactive discussion on simulative scenes" and the closing ceremony. President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech in the plenary meeting, comprehensively expounding on China's policies and propositions, introducing China's new measures and achievements in the field of nuclear security and putting forward substantial initiatives to strengthen global nuclear security. During the summit, President Xi Jinping will meet with President Barack Obama of the US. It will be the first meeting for the two heads of state this year, which will be of great significance in pushing forward the bilateral relations in a sustained and steady manner. President Xi Jinping will also hold multiple bilateral meetings with leaders of concerned countries and exchange views on topics such as bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern.

Li Baodong pointed out that the theme of the summit is "strengthening global nuclear security system". President Xi Jinping's attendance at this summit fully showcases China's high attention to nuclear security and its active and constructive attitude of working together with all countries to promote the construction of the international nuclear security system and strengthening global nuclear governance. China harbors following expectations for the outcomes of the summit. First, continuously pool international consensus on enhancing nuclear security to effectively cope with the emerging new situations and new challenges. Second, continue to promote all countries to reinforce capacity-building to implement nuclear security obligations and political commitments. Third, continuously beef up international cooperation in nuclear security, and strengthen coordination and cooperation of international nuclear security mechanism. Fourth, continue to build nuclear security culture and push for a growing level of understanding in the international community. China will cooperate closely with all other parties to promote the Washington D.C. Summit for a complete success so as to make active contributions to establishing an international nuclear security system featuring fairness, cooperation and win-win results, improving the levels of global nuclear security and enhancing world peace and security.

II. On State Visit to the Czech Republic

Liu Haixing expressed that President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the Czech Republic from March 28 to March 30. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with President Milos Zeman of the Czech Republic, attend the welcoming ceremony, non-official dinner, welcome banquet and other activities, meet with Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Chairman of Senate of the Parliament, Chairman of Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament and Mayor of Prague and attend activities related to economy and trade as well as people-to-people and culture exchanges. The two leaders will exchange candid and in-depth views on bilateral relations, the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries, China-Europe relations and other international and regional issues of common concern, so as to draw a blueprint for the future development of bilateral relations, and endow bilateral relations with new connotation. The two sides will sign a number of cooperative agreements covering economy and trade, infrastructure, finance, health care, aviation, science and technology, people-to-people and culture exchanges as well as other areas.

Liu Haixing pointed out that the Czech Republic is a key country in Central and Eastern European region and the EU. In recent years, the bilateral relations have maintained a sound momentum of rapid development. President Xi Jining's visit to the Czech Republic will be the first state visit paid by a Chinese president in 67 years since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, his first visit to a Central and Eastern European country, and the first European trip this year. It signals a major diplomatic move toward Europe. It is believed that this visit will comprehensively push forward mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields between the two nations, elevate bilateral relations to a new height, and facilitate the docking of respective development strategies of China and Europe as well as cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European countries, so as to contribute to the development of China-Europe relations.