China urged Japan to retract the the erroneous remarks made by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi if the country hopes to enhance ties with China, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.
Lin made the remarks in response to a media query after Takaichi said on Monday that she was open to dialogue with China.
"China has repeatedly made clear its solemn position on the relevant issue. Genuine dialogue must be conducted on the basis of mutual respect and adherence to consensus. Talking about dialogue while practicing confrontation is not the dialogue that anyone would accept," he said.
"If the Japanese side truly expects to develop a strategic and mutually beneficial relation with China, the path is simple and clear: It should retract Takaichi's erroneous remarks related to Taiwan, abide by the four political documents between China and Japan as well as the political commitments made by Japan, and demonstrate its sincerity toward dialogue through concrete actions," said the spokesman.
Japan should withdraw erroneous remarks to develop ties with China: spokesman
China Media Group's 2026 Spring Festival Gala promo recently lit up a giant screen in downtown Skopje, marking the gala's first-ever appearance in North Macedonia and drawing crowds of curious locals and overseas Chinese.
The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional holiday for Chinese people, and the gala's live broadcast on the eve of the festival has become a cherished part of the celebrations in hundreds of millions of homes.
On February 6, the promo captivated audiences in Skopje's city center, where its vibrant colors and festive music captured the spirit of the holiday and drew passersby to stop and watch.
"The promotion and the gala seems like a really interesting event, which I would love to attend one day, hopefully in the future, which I believe showcases the most beautiful parts of Chinese culture," said a local student named Blindit Aranishi.
At the Chinese Embassy's Spring Festival reception in North Macedonia that same day, guests were treated to a screening of the gala's promotional video along with highlights from the "Travel China Through Film" series.
"The promotion and the gala seems like a really interesting event, which I would love to attend one day, hopefully in the future, which I believe showcases the most beautiful parts of Chinese culture," said Jiang Xiaoyan, Chinese ambassador to North Macedonia.
"It's really breathtaking. The talents that we see from Chinese actors and singers and painters are remarkable. So of course, it will bring lots of joy to people watching the gala and also I am very happy that this joy was shared with the people of North Macedonia," said Rita Columbia, United Nations Resident Coordinator in North Macedonia.
The Spring Festival falls on Feb 17 this year, marking the start of the Chinese New Year. This year ushers in the Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle.
2026 Spring Festival Gala promo debuts in North Macedonia
