Foreign Minister Addresses Reporters

On March 8, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended a press conference on China’s foreign policy and foreign relations for the Fifth Session of the 12th National People’s Congress in Beijing. During the press conference, he took a number of questions on issues such as China-U.S. relations, China-EU relations, China’s attitude towards THAAD, and China’s global responsibilities.

China-U.S. Relations

Wang said that China and the United States enjoy fruitful exchanges between their presidents and at other levels, and are expanding all areas of cooperation. He said that the two countries should rise above the differences posed by their social systems and avoid a zero-sum mentality.

Wang cited an ancient Chinese saying to express the prospects for the 38-year-old China-U.S. relationship. The saying goes, “when turning 30, one should be able to stand firm; when turning 40, one should no longer have any doubts.”

China-Russia-U.S. Relations

Wang said that the China-Russia-U.S. relationship in the new era should not be a seesaw game, and the three countries should work with each other rather than against each other.

According to Wang, President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, will have multiple face-to-face meetings this year, and these will take bilateral ties to new heights.

China-EU relations

The European Union (EU) was the first and the fastest-growing regional organization after the end of World War II, Wang said. “We believe that the challenge confronted by the EU is perhaps an opportunity for it to mature. China will keep supporting Europe’s process of integration,” Wang revealed.

“We look forward to seeing a more united, stable and prosperous EU,” said Wang.

THAAD

China maintains that the deployment of THAAD is a “wrong move” and urges the Republic of Korea (ROK) to halt its deployment before the country “ends up hurting itself and others,” Wang said.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the ROK, and “China treasures the outcomes that our two peoples have achieved together over the past years,” Wang said. “The ROK should join China in preserving the mutual beneficial cooperation between the two sides.”

Korean Peninsula Situation

Solving the Korean Peninsula issue through talks “deserves another chance,” and China will continue to switch the issue “back to the track of seeking a negotiated settlement,” Wang said.

He said China wants the DPRK to stop its nuclear and missile programs, while the U.S. and the ROK should halt their large-scale military exercises, and all parties involved should go back to the negotiating table.

One-China Policy

The One-China policy is a fact recognized by the world and no one can block the eventual reunification of China, said Wang. “There is only one China in the world. And this is a fact recognized by the international community and a major principle enshrined in a series of international documents, including UN resolutions,” Wang told reporters.

He said there is no basis in the international law for the Taiwan region to establish or maintain so-called “diplomatic relations” with any country, since such relations have “no legitimacy and future.”

“The Taiwan authorities should clearly recognize this major trend: no one and no force can block the eventual and complete reunification of China,” Wang said.

Global Responsibility

“As we treat all countries, large and small, as equal partners, we don’t believe some countries should lead other countries,” Wang said.

Instead, Wang said, large countries that have more resources and capabilities should shoulder more responsibilities and make greater contributions.