Graphics: Key takeaways from Chinese FM's 2020 press conference
Updated 22:04, 24-May-2020
By Zhao Hong, Hu Yiwei

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi briefed the media Sunday on China's diplomacy at a press conference on the sidelines of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing.

CGTN analyzed the questions from the media and visualized their topics and keywords from Wang's responses in the following graphics.

In the almost two hour-long press conference, Wang took a total of 23 questions – 13 questions from Chinese media and 10 from foreign media.

Highlights: Wang Yi briefs media on China's foreign policy and diplomatic relations

Those questions covered China's diplomacy concerning COVID-19, China's ties with the United States, issues on Korean Peninsula and China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Taiwan affairs.

Access CGTN's interactive page on media reports about the Two Sessions between 2013 and 2019:

Two Sessions Global View

The outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic has created a global health crisis that has had a deep impact on international relations. At the annual press conference, eight questions were asked about the pandemic, including what China has learned from it, the post-COVID-19 world and future of globalization.

How did Wang respond?

The words "Epidemic" "Cooperation" and "Development" and phrase "Fight Against COVID-19" were the most frequently mentioned in Wang's responses.

The coronavirus is the common enemy of mankind, and unity and cooperation are the most advantageous weapons to defeat the virus, Wang said.

"The solution to the problems occurring in globalization lies in its further advancement… COVID-19 drives home once again that no country, no matter how strong it is, can insulate itself from a global challenge," Wang said in response to a question on post-COVID-19 world and future of globalization.

Key quotes of Wang Yi on China's foreign policy in post-COVID-19 era

There have been doubts over China's COVID-19 assistance and stigmatization of the virus sourcing. 

To those questions, Wang stressed that China has always been open to joint efforts by the international science community to identify the source of the virus, and believes that the process should "be free from political interference, respect the sovereign equality of nations, and avoid a presumption of guilt."

Speaking about China-U.S. relations, Wang slammed some U.S. politicians for "jumping at any opportunity" to attack China, saying that a "political virus" is spreading in the United States alongside the coronavirus. 

Chinese FM slams U.S. 'political virus', backs COVID-19 origin efforts

He called for concerted efforts from the two sides to promote international cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wang also said that the introduction of national security legislation for Hong Kong SAR is imperative and urgent, calling for mechanisms to safeguard national security in Hong Kong SAR to be established "without the slightest delay."

Wang Yi says national security legislation for HK is imperative and urgent

FM Wang Yi calls for global cooperation to defeat coronavirus

(Graphics by Du Chenxin)