China-U.S. relations enjoy bright prospects: Chinese FM Wang Yi

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday that history advances through twists and turns, and that China-U.S. relations enjoy bright prospects.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in response to questions on China-U.S. relations after delivering a speech at the "China in the World" session of the Munich Security Conference.

Wang said that how China and the United States, as the world's two major countries, get along with each other bears on the fundamental direction of the international situation.

China has always viewed and handled its relations with the U.S. from the vantage point of history, and with a high sense of responsibility to the people and to the world, he said.

President Xi Jinping has summarized the experience and lessons of decades of China-U.S. interactions and solemnly proposed that China and the U.S. should respect each other, coexist peacefully and pursue win-win cooperation, and through dialogue and consultation, jointly find the right way for the two major countries to get along on this planet, Wang noted.

China will continue to follow this general direction, Wang said, as it serves the interests of the peoples of both countries and the broader international community. However, he stressed that whether this goal can be realized depends on the attitude of the United States. 

Wang noted that it is encouraging that President Donald Trump holds great respect for President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people. President Trump has clearly stated that China and the U.S. can work together to address major global challenges and that the two leaders can advance the development of bilateral relations.

However, Wang said, certain individuals in the U.S. do not share this view and continue efforts to contain and suppress China, attacking and smearing the country by various means.

Wang noted China-U.S. relations faced two possible scenarios. One is for the U.S. to develop an objective and rational understanding of China, pursues a proactive and pragmatic China policy, works with China in the same direction, and continues to expand common interests. Such an approach would steer the two countries toward cooperation and benefit both nations as well as the world.

The other path, he said, is to decouple from China, sever supply chains, counter and contain China, form "small circles" or "exclusive blocs" targeting China, and even attempt to plot "Taiwan independence," split China, and cross its red lines. Such moves, he stressed, would lead the two countries into confrontation.

China hopes for the first scenario but is also prepared to deal with various risks, Wang said, adding that the vision and principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation will ultimately prevail, as they are the only right choice.