Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance for the development of relations between China and the United States, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a regular briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.
Lin made the remarks in response to media inquiries about the basic framework consensus reached between the two countries on resolving issues related to TikTok through cooperation.
"On your question concerning China-U.S. high-level interactions, I would like to stress that head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance for developing China-U.S. relations. I do not have information to offer at the moment on your specific question. On your question concerning TikTok, competent Chinese authorities has released relevant information," said Lin.
According to Li Chenggang, China international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice minister of commerce, the Chinese and U.S. delegations engaged in candid and in-depth discussions on TikTok and the relevant concerns of the Chinese side, and the two sides reached a basic framework consensus on resolving issues related to TikTok through cooperation, reducing investment barriers and promoting relevant economic and trade cooperation during the economic and trade talks between China and the United States in Madrid, Spain.
Head-of-state diplomacy plays strategic guiding role for developing China-US relations: spokesman
The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday was sentenced to five years in prison on arrest obstruction charges.
The criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court in charge of Yoon's obstruction of justice case handed down the prison sentence to Yoon for abusing the presidential security service to hinder the anti-corruption agency from executing its arrest warrant in January 2025.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was once thwarted in its attempt to arrest Yoon as the presidential security service formed human shields and bus blockades to prevent investigators from entering the presidential residence.
The team of Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon's insurrection and other charges, demanded a 10-year prison term for Yoon.
The court said Yoon privatized the presidential security service for personal safety and private interests by blocking the law enforcement agencies' lawful execution of an arrest warrant and attempting to destroy evidence, pointing out that despite the very bad nature of his crime, he consistently offered unconvincing excuses and showed no remorse.
The court stressed that severe punishment was necessary, considering the need to restore the rule of law damaged by Yoon's crime, but it noted that the fact that he was a first-time offender with no criminal record was considered a favorable factor.
The sentencing, which was broadcast live, was Yoon's first verdict coming from his botched martial law bid.
The first-instance sentencing for Yoon's insurrection charges was scheduled for Feb 19. The special counsel sought a death penalty for Yoon on the charges.
Yoon declared emergency martial law on the night of Dec 3 in 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.
The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April 2025, officially removing him from office.
The ousted leader was indicted while in detention in January 2025 on charges of leading an insurrection, becoming the first sitting ROK president facing such prosecution.
ROK ex-president Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges
