China always prioritizes neighboring countries on diplomatic agenda, FM says

Neighbors helping neighbors and building an amicable neighborhood is part of Chinese tradition and culture, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday at a press conference on foreign policy held on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing.

In the new era, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed a new philosophy of neighborhood diplomacy featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, he said.

The first central conference on work related to neighboring countries was held last year, calling for building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, which marks a deepening of the understanding of and emphasis on the surrounding regions, and it has been welcomed and supported by neighboring countries, Wang noted.

"At present, the world is entering a time of turbulence, while Asia maintains its overall stability and rapid development, with its contribution to the world's growth reaching over 60% last year," he said.

"This is no easy feat," Wang added, "but a result of the collective efforts of China and neighboring countries."

Although political situations among regions and countries often change, and there are still complex historical issues left over between them, the underlying character traits of good-neighborliness and friendship stay unchanged, and the prevailing trend of win-win cooperation remains unaltered, he noted.

"China is always an anchor for regional security, an engine for development and prosperity, and a champion of the shared values of Asian countries," Wang said.