Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met the press on Friday on the sidelines of the second session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing. 

Here are some highlights from Wang Yi's answers on China's foreign relations. 

China-Japan relations

China-Japan relations are showing positive momentum, Wang said, adding that more frequent exchanges in various fields and high-level interactions will come about naturally.

On South China Sea situation

The South China Sea situation has improved and China hopes to finish Code of Conduct talks by 2021, Wang said, adding that China welcomes advice, but not smears or interference.  

On consular services

The Chinese Foreign Ministry handled over 80,000 consular cases and 370,000 calls in the past year, Wang said.

"We will continue to provide more measures to Chinese citizens to enjoy safe and convenient trips overseas," he added. 

China-India relations

China and India should be partners in achieving their respective dreams.

China is willing to carry out the leaders' visions and create a new impetus in ties, Wang said. 

China-DPRK relations

Chinese President Xi Jinping held a record four meetings with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un in the past year. 

China-DPRK relations have turned a new chapter, Wang said, and China fully supports the DPRK in exploring a development path that suits the country.

Venezuela issues

Independence and sovereignty of every country should be respected and China supports Venezuela in peacefully resolving its internal crisis, Wang said, adding that Latin American countries' right to develop relations with China should be respected. 

China-Afghan relations

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the independence of Afghanistan.

Afghans should run their own country and prevent a power vacuum after the U.S. military pullout, Wang said.

India-Pakistan tensions

China encourages India and Pakistan to return to negotiations and defuse tension, and hopes both sides can transform crisis into opportunity, Wang said.

Wang Yi on India, Pakistan: 'Neighbors always live with each other'

China-Africa cooperation

"China-Africa cooperation is becoming more and more successful. This brings some criticisms and smears. But there is deep mutual trust between our two sides, our friendship is time-tested, and the fruits of our cooperation can be seen across the African continent. Slanders about China-Africa cooperation have no audience in Africa."

Belt and Road Initiative

The second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) will be held this year in Beijing with more global leaders and events with delegations from over 100 countries expected, Wang said, stressing that China will keep an open, transparent and sustainable approach to Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation.

A total of 123 countries and 29 international organizations have signed Belt and Road agreements with China.

Many facts prove that the BRI benefits local people, contrary to "debt trap" allegations, Wang added. 

Wang Yi: BRI is not a debt trap, but a pie bringing benefits

On multilateralism

Though it faces the headwinds of protectionism and unilateralism, China remains a staunch supporter of globalization, multilateralism and the free trade system under UN charter and international law, Wang said.

Wang Yi: China upholds international order, pursues multilateralism

China-Russia relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend this year's BRF. Chinese President Xi Jinping will also pay a state visit to Russia.

Both China and Russia plan to expand cooperation in science, agriculture, e-commerce and financial services, Wang said. 

FM Wang Yi: Sino-Russian ties to enter new era

China-U.S. relations

"The China-US relationship has gone through a lot in the last 40 years. We have made historic progress, but also face new challenges." 

Competition between China and the U.S. is normal; however, the key is to put things into a larger perspective, Wang said.

China and the U.S. should not, and will not, go into confrontation since the interests of the two countries are already inseparable, he added. 

Wang Yi: Cooperation is key to China-U.S. relationship

China-Europe relations

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Europe later in March on his first diplomatic tour in 2019, Wang said. 

President Xi to visit Europe later this month

Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou's case

The Meng Wanzhou case is a deliberate political move, said the Chinese foreign minister. 

"China has, and will, guarantee the legitimate and lawful rights of Chinese citizens. We encourage Chinese enterprises and citizens to guarantee interests with legal weapons and refuse to be 'silent lambs," Wang said.

Wang Yi: Meng Wanzhou case 'deliberate political move'

Korean Peninsula

All parties should rise above historical limits and distrust in approaching the Korean Peninsula issue and work out a general roadmap to solve the issue, the foreign minister said.

"China is committed to denuclearization through dialogue... and we have been working toward this goal for 20 years. China will work along with other parties to meet this goal," Wang said.

A review of China's diplomacy 

This year marks 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, with Chinese diplomacy reaching a new starting point, said the foreign minister. 

"Chinese diplomacy has reached a new starting point. We will keep to a peaceful development path, maintain the international system and shoulder international responsibilities to world peace and human progress," Wang said. 

"Assertiveness has never been part of the Chinese tradition, and hegemony will never be our choice even when we become stronger.

"China will surely become stronger, but will not be assertive. China values independence, but will not go it alone. China will stand up for its rights, but will not seek hegemony."

Chinese FM: China's diplomacy stays under guidance of Xi Thought

Click here for CGTN's livestream of the press conference.