Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday called for China and the United States to find the right path to coexist in the new era during a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, initiated at Blinken's request.
Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, highlighted that Chinese President Xi Jinping recently held an important phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden, during which both leaders reached significant common understandings.
\"The development of China-U.S. relations has come to a new crucial juncture,\" Wang Yi stated.
He added that President Xi comprehensively outlined China's policy toward the United States, and President Biden responded positively, expressing his desire to maintain good relations with President Xi and emphasizing that cooperation between the United States and China can address many global challenges.
\"The two heads of state have set the direction and tone for China-U.S. relations,\" Wang Yi said.
He emphasized that both nations need to implement the leaders' important common understandings, maintain communication, manage differences, and expand cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. This approach aims to promote the steady, sound, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations and to find the right way for the two countries to interact in the new era.
Wang Yi noted that the leadership of the CPC is the choice of the Chinese people, and China's development follows a clear historical logic propelled by strong internal dynamism.
\"Our goal is to deliver a better life for the people and contribute more to the world,\" he said. \"We have no intention of surpassing or replacing anyone, but we must defend our legitimate right to development.\"
He elaborated on China's principled stance on the Taiwan question and urged the U.S. side to handle it prudently.
\"Taiwan has been part of China's territory since ancient times. We will never allow Taiwan to be split from China,\" Wang Yi stressed.
He pointed out that the United States has made solemn commitments to abide by the one-China policy in the three China-U.S. joint communiqués and should not renege on them.
In response, Blinken acknowledged that the United States and China are two great countries, and the U.S.-China relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the 21st century, determining the future of the world.
The United States hopes to engage in candid communication with China, resolve differences, manage the bilateral relationship in a mature and prudent manner, work together to address global challenges, and maintain world peace and stability, Blinken said.
He reiterated that the United States does not support \"Taiwan independence\" and hopes that the Taiwan question can be resolved peacefully in a manner acceptable to both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Wang Yi concluded by saying that great nations should act commensurately with their status, shoulder international responsibilities, maintain world peace, and help countries achieve common development.
\"I hope the United States will act accordingly and play a constructive role for the future of the people of China and the United States, as well as for global peace and stability,\" Wang Yi said.
Reference(s):
Wang Yi urges China, U.S. to find right way to get along in new era
cgtn.com
