China is willing to stand in solidarity and coordinate with Bahrain and other developing countries to safeguard their common interests, right to development, as well as international fairness and justice, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday. 

Wang made the remarks during his meeting with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Manama. Bahrain is the last stop of Wang's six-nation tour, following Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. 

China always believes that all countries are equal, regardless of their size, Wang said. China is willing to make joint efforts with Bahrain to build bilateral ties into a model of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit between large and small countries, he added.

China firmly supports Bahrain in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and stability and is pleased to see Bahrain play a positive role in maintaining regional peace, he told Hamad. 

China appreciates that Bahrain always gives the country firm support on matters concerning China's core interests, Wang said, adding that China is willing to strengthen political, economic and trade, and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation with Bahrain. 

He stressed the need to keep high vigilance on the tendency of politicizing human rights issues. Some Western forces frequently interfere in other countries' internal affairs and destabilize other countries under the pretext of human rights issues, which defiles the value of human rights, he said. 

Countries across the globe should work together to oppose interference in other countries' internal affairs and safeguard the purposes of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, he said, adding that major countries should play a leading role in this regard. 

Hamad hailed the mutual trust and fruitful cooperation between the two countries. Bahrain is willing to deepen bilateral ties and is positive about enhancing political and economic cooperation with China, he told Wang. 

The king said Bahrain opposes the tendency to narrowly define human rights and agrees with the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. 

Bahrain supports China's efforts to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests and maintain peace and development in the region and the world, Hamad said.

Wang also met with Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani on the same day. 

Wang said China appreciates that Salman took part in the phase lll clinical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by a Chinese company, adding that China is willing to promote vaccine cooperation with Bahrain. 

The Chinese diplomat called for greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China and Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030. Efforts should be made to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in fields such as infrastructure construction, big data and e-commerce, he said. 

He also stressed that multilateralism is the foundation of world peace and stability and international rule of law. 

Salman thanked China for its support to Bahrain's fight against COVID-19 and said he was proud to participate in the phase lll clinical trial of the Chinese vaccine.

In his talks with the Bahraini foreign minister, Wang said China has no private interests in the Middle East and will not get involved in the geopolitical struggle in the region. 

If the Middle East countries are committed to the principle of mutual understanding, support and tolerance, solutions can be found to any issue in the region, Wang said. As a good friend and partner of Middle East countries, China is willing to continue to play a constructive role, he added. 

Al Zayani said Bahrain firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports China's efforts in safeguarding its sovereignty. Bahrain opposes politicization of human rights issues, he stressed.