Yao Jing confirmed that his government is in contact with the Spanish club, LaLiga and other institutions as efforts continue to address the fallout from the controversy.
The diplomatic response comes after the French forward made comments about one of his favourite memes, which depicted his face over that of a Chinese dictator. Although Mbappé did not explicitly name Mao Zedong, the image used in the montage showed the former Chinese leader.
Speaking to EFE before attending the Salamanca Forum at the University of Salamanca, Yao stressed that the situation was being approached through communication rather than formal negotiations.
“There are no negotiations, but there are communications, based on mutual understanding,” he said.
The controversy has had significant consequences for Spanish football's relationship with China.
State broadcaster CCTV suspended its broadcasts of LaLiga last week, while commercial relationships were also disrupted. Real Madrid and Mbappé subsequently issued apologies, which CCTV confirmed it had received. Yao also acknowledged the club's apology, although no date has been announced for the return of Spanish football broadcasts.
The ambassador warned that the comments had caused genuine hurt among Chinese supporters and that the situation would take time to resolve.
“This unfortunate accident hurt the feelings of many people in China, who have to digest the current situation,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the matter could eventually be settled through interactions based on mutual respect.
Xie Tianyu, an attaché at the Chinese embassy in Spain, also emphasised the time required to rebuild relations, pointing to the affection many supporters have for Real Madrid.
“It is not an easy subject for the Chinese people, and this is a club that has had many followers and a lot of love in China,” he said.
The dispute has left Real Madrid facing an uncomfortable situation in a market where the club has traditionally enjoyed considerable support.
The apologies from both the player and the club have not yet resulted in the resumption of LaLiga coverage on Chinese state television.
Yao's comments suggest that communication remains open, but there is no immediate agreement or timetable for a return to normal broadcasting.
For now, Real Madrid and LaLiga must wait as Chinese officials and supporters consider the controversy and its consequences.