State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi answers questions in an interview on Jan 2, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
BEIJING – Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday summarized the achievements of China's diplomacy in 2021 in five aspects, hailing it as "writing a new chapter of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics."
Wang made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua News Agency and China Media Group on the international situation and China's diplomacy in 2021.
"On the diplomatic front, we drew strength from the 100 years of the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s achievements, forged ahead through competitions and challenges with courage and grit, writing a new chapter of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics," he said.
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First, head-of-state diplomacy has played the guiding role on China's diplomatic front, he said, noting that Chinese President Xi Jinping had 79 telephone calls with leaders of foreign countries and international organizations, and attended 40 major diplomatic events via video link.
Second, anti-COVID diplomacy has attested to China's strong sense of international responsibility, he said.
Wang noted China has always been among the first to promote global cooperation against the pandemic, always advocated the number-one feature of vaccines to be global public goods, and always stood at the forefront for the equitable distribution of vaccines.
Third, China's development-oriented diplomacy has contributed a lot to this global cause, he said.
"In response to the grave challenges of COVID-19 to other developing countries, President Xi Jinping put forth the Global Development Initiative (GDI), with a view to building global synergy on accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, so that no country or individual will be left behind," he said.
Fourth, China has defended justice in multilateral diplomacy, according to Wang.
"China has held high the banner of multilateralism, championed the common values of humanity, and upheld the international system with the UN at its core and the international order underpinned by international law," he said.
Fifth, China has lived up to its solemn commitment of diplomacy for the people, he said, adding that China has adhered to a people-centered approach, built a system on the protection of the interests of people overseas and on risk alert and prevention, and successfully rescued dozens of Chinese hostages.
Bilateral ties
During the interview, Wang also stressed the principles for the sound growth of China-US ties.
Principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation represent the right way forward for restoring sound and stable growth to the China-US relations, Wang said.
Principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation represent the right way forward for restoring sound and stable growth to the China-US relations, Wang Yi said
Wang said that the relationship between China and the United States has indeed seen some changes this year compared with what happened in the past few years.
"Since China is determined to defend its rights and reject hegemonism, the US side has come to realize that China will by no means make any concession under the threat of maximum pressure, and that such practices will ultimately hurt US interests," he said.
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He pointed out that as long as the United States sees China as a partner instead of an adversary or enemy, the two countries could benefit each other and prosper together.
Wang also said that hegemonism will not win as long as China and Russia stand together.
As two major countries with global influence, China-Russia strategic coordination and practical cooperation have a global significance and play an irreplaceable role, Wang said.
On pandemic response, China and Russia have served as a good example for the world, pioneering in vaccine research, development, production and global distribution, Wang said. China and Russia also jointly opposed the stigmatization and politicization of issues related to the coronavirus and its origins tracing, he said.
As two major countries with global influence, China-Russia strategic coordination and practical cooperation have a global significance and play an irreplaceable role, Wang Yi said
On global economic recovery, Wang said the two countries' all-dimensional cooperation was greatly elevated to higher levels. Bilateral trade has registered a new record. Major strategic projects are well underway, and cooperation on scientific and technological innovation is advancing rapidly.
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On global governance, China and Russia have demonstrated their sense of responsibility, firmly upholding the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law.
Fighting pandemic
On the fight against the pandemic, Wang said China has provided more than 2 billion doses of COVID vaccines to over 120 countries and international organizations as of Dec 26, becoming the biggest provider of outbound vaccines among all countries.
"While bringing the virus under control domestically, China has, from the very beginning, been committed to helping others affected by the virus," Wang said.
According to Wang, up until now, China has provided about 372 billion masks, over 4.2 billion protective suits and over 8.4 billion testing kits to the international community.
"One out of every two COVID vaccines administered across the globe is made in China. For many countries, especially developing countries, the first batch of vaccines and the majority of the vaccines they have received came from China," he said, adding that this sets China apart from certain countries which only make empty promises.
Beijing Olympics
Wang said the political maneuvering of a few Western politicians will do no harm to a splendid Beijing Winter Olympic Games, but only expose their ugly intention.
Wang said the political maneuvering of a few Western politicians will do no harm to a splendid Beijing Winter Olympic Games, but only expose their ugly intention
Noting the Olympic spirit is about friendship, mutual understanding, solidarity and fair play, Wang said the politicization of the Olympics by certain countries completely violates and discredits the Olympic spirit.
Following a green, inclusive, open and clean approach, Wang said China will ensure high-standard, high-quality preparation for the Winter Olympics, and present to people of all countries a streamlined, safe and splendid Games.
Reunification
During the interview, Wang said the reunification of China is an unstoppable trend, and there is no other way out for Taiwan than to reunify with the mainland.
Wang said there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is part of China. "This is an undeniable historical and legal fact."
Though there is political antagonism between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits as a result of the civil war fought many years ago, China's sovereignty and territorial integrity has never been severed and will not be severed, he said.
Confrontation in Asia
Wang also warned that Asia is facing new challenges such as a trend of creating division and confrontation through "erecting walls" and "decoupling."
Wang emphasized that it is important for Asian countries to remain clear-eyed, stand firm in their positions, and make the right choice that serves their fundamental and long-term interests
Although Asia has remained a region with the greatest vitality and development potential in the world, there are two divergent trends in the region: one is to jointly pursue development and prosperity through mutual trust and cooperation, and the other is to create division and confrontation through "erecting walls" and "decoupling," he said.
Wang emphasized that it is important for Asian countries to remain clear-eyed, stand firm in their positions, and make the right choice that serves their fundamental and long-term interests.
"We must not allow any country outside this region to stoke bloc confrontation in the region and push Asia toward a new cold war, … to undermine existing regional cooperation structure and the regional integration process and replace them with one of their own design, … to provoke an arms race in the region or even proliferation of nuclear weapons and threaten security and stability in Asia," he said.