Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses the Global Town Hall via a video link, November 20, 2021. /China's Foreign Ministry
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses the Global Town Hall via a video link, November 20, 2021. /China's Foreign Ministry
The ASEAN-China special summit to mark the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations is a milestone meeting that will promote building a closer community with a shared future, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday.
He made the remarks via a video link at the Global Town Hall on "Managing Competition, Conflict, and Cooperation in a Pandemic World."
The summit will be held on Monday and chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping via video link.
China-ASEAN dialogue – a model of regional cooperation
Wang noted that the Asia-Pacific region, especially the most dynamic East Asia region, has formed a regional cooperation platform with ASEAN at the center and ASEAN partnership as the main carrier, and highlighted the role of China-ASEAN dialogue relations in leading regional cooperation.
China supports ASEAN's community-building and supports the grouping's centrality in regional architecture and in playing a bigger role in the Asia-Pacific region, he said.
President Xi and leaders of ASEAN countries will use the summit to review the achievements and experience of China-ASEAN relations over the past 30 years to draw up a blueprint for future development and chart the course for bilateral relations in the future, Wang said.
"The summit will certainly help make new and greater contribution to regional peace, stability and prosperity," he said.
Handling China-U.S. ties well critical
Wang also mentioned the video summit between Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden last week, saying that China has clarified its position, drawn a bottom line, and showed its sincerity to seek cooperation and properly handle differences with the U.S.
He stressed that the two sides should adhere to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation in promoting the development of bilateral relations.
As for the Taiwan question, a highly sensitive and critical issue in China-U.S. relations, he said that clearer opposition to "Taiwan independence" forces and stronger measures to stop them will bring bigger possibilities in maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, as well as ensure the peace of prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
Solidarity, win-win cooperation and dialogue
On managing competition and seeking cooperation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Wang highlighted the significance of unity, win-win cooperation and dialogue.
In the past year, thanks to the concerted efforts of the international community, positive progress has been made in combating the pandemic, and the world economy has gradually recovered, the foreign minister said, but he acknowledged the pandemic is still raging, the world is not tranquil, and the risks of bloc politics and Cold War confrontation are on the rise.
Faced with global challenges, he said China will continue to work with other countries to build a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation. It has no intention of conflict or confrontation with any other country and stands ready to work with other countries to promote the common values of humanity and practice true multilateralism, he said.
China will work with other countries, especially its neighbors, to properly handle and manage differences and jointly uphold regional peace and stability, he pledged.