Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, held a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress.
Wang answered questions of journalists from home and abroad on China's foreign policy and external relations.
Here are some highlights from the press conference.
Head-of-state diplomacy is the anchor of Chinese diplomacy.
Neither China nor the US can remodel the other, but we can choose how we want to engage.
In a changing and turbulent world, China-Russia relationship has stood rock-solid against all odds.
China has maintained an objective and impartial position – to bring about a ceasefire and end hostilities.
China is always an anchor for regional security.
Trouble making has failed to win support.
Turmoil and war need not be the fate of the Palestinian people。
Interdependence is not a risk, intertwined interests are not threats, and openness and cooperation will not harm economic security.
A strong China with 1.4 billion people will never allow anyone to justify colonialism or overturn history's verdict on aggression.
Taiwan never was, is not, and never will be a country.
Resolving the Taiwan question and achieving the complete reunification of our motherland is a historic process that cannot be stopped," Wang said. "Those who support it are on the right side of history; those who defy it will perish."
On heads-of-state diplomacy
Heads-of-state diplomacy is the anchor of Chinese diplomacy. China's diplomacy provides the most-needed stability and certainty to a world in turmoil and serves as an irreplaceable mainstay amid global turbulence.
On China-US ties
China and the United States should commit to a spirit of mutual respect, hold the bottom line of peaceful coexistence, and strive for the prospect of win-win cooperation, Wang said.
"This year is indeed a 'big year' for China-U.S. relations," Wang said. "The agenda of high-level exchanges is already on the table. What the two sides need to do now is to create a suitable environment, manage the differences that do exist, and remove unnecessary disruptions."
On China-Russia ties
In a changing and turbulent world, China-Russia relationship has stood rock-solid against all odds, Wang said.
The China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination has been based on equality, respect and mutual benefit since day one, which represents the direction of a new type of major-country relations, Wang said.
On China-Japan ties
Wang Yi said that the future of China-Japan relations hinges on Japan's behavior, urging the country to reflect on history and avoid repeating the disastrous mistakes of the past. "A strong China with 1.4 billion people will never allow anyone to justify colonialism or overturn history's verdict on aggression," he said.
On US-Iran conflict
China calls for an immediate stop to military operations in the Middle East to prevent further escalation and avoid the spillover of the conflict, Wang said.
This is a war that should never have happened, and one that benefits no one, Wang said.
Force is not the way to resolve problems, and resorting to arms will only breed new hatred, he said.
On China-Europe ties
China-Europe relations have been regaining strength; China is not a competitor but a global partner.
On China-Africa ties
For 70 years, China-Africa friendship has withstood changes in international circumstances.
On China-India relations
China and India must maintain the correct strategic perception, uphold good-neighborliness and friendship, and focus on development to make BRICS cooperation more substantial and bring new hope to the Global South.
On neighborhood diplomacy
China always places neighboring countries in a priority position on its diplomatic agenda, Wang said.
"Neighbors helping neighbors and building an amicable neighborhood is part of Chinese tradition and culture," Wang told a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing session of the national legislature.
"China is always an anchor for regional security, an engine for development and prosperity, and a champion of the shared values of Asian countries," he said.
On South China Sea
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are looking forward to completing the consultation on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea this year. The consultation "has reached crunch time", Wang said.
On multipolar world
China committed to building an equal and orderly multipolar world, pursuing path of peaceful development.
On global governance
China has called on more countries to participate in and support the Global Governance Initiative, and to work together to revitalize, defend and strengthen the United Nations.
On protecting Chinese nationals and institutions overseas
Over the past year, China's diplomatic missions have handled more than 100 major emergencies involving Chinese nationals and institutions, dealt with more than 79,000 consular protection and assistance cases, and received more than 600 thousand calls for help through the 12308 consular protection hotline.
On Palestine-Israel conflict
The two-state solution is the only equitable and widely recognized solution to the Palestinian question, Wang said.
Turmoil and war need not be the fate of the Palestinian people, he emphasized.
As a responsible major country, China will continue to support Palestine's just cause of pursuing legitimate national rights, and facilitate international efforts to restore justice to the Palestinian people, Wang noted.
On Global South
Global South should strengthen communication and coordination, jointly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests, and expand the space for independent development amid the rise of hegemonism and power politics.
On China-Latin America ties
The path of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries should be chosen by their people, and the choice of friends should be made by LAC countries themselves, Wang said
On multipolar world
China committed to building an equal and orderly multipolar world, pursuing path of peaceful development.
On globalization
Pursuing protectionism is akin to locking oneself in a dark room; Principle is to leave no country behind, pathway is for countries to draw on each other's strengths.
On community with shared future for mankind
Our enemies are not each other, they are poverty, war, hunger and injustice.
The vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity is like a beacon lighting the way forward for humanity, Wang said.
On Taiwan question
Taiwan has been an integral part of China since ancient times; Taiwan's DPP is the root cause of disruption to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Wang said that no individual or force will be allowed to separate Taiwan from China.
Wang described resolving the Taiwan question and realizing the complete reunification of China as a historic process that cannot be stopped.
Source: Chinanews.com, Xinhua, China Daily
Cover: Xinhua
