Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for China and the United States to find the right way to coexist in the new era, during a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday.
Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, emphasized that President Xi Jinping had an important phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump the previous week, during which they reached significant common understandings.
\"The development of China-U.S. relations has reached a new important juncture,\" Wang said, highlighting that President Xi comprehensively elaborated on China's policy towards the United States, and that President Trump responded positively. \"He looks forward to maintaining good relations with President Xi and emphasized that the United States and China working together can solve many problems in the world,\" Wang added.
Wang Yi noted that the two heads of state have pointed the direction and set the tone for China-U.S. relations. He urged both nations to implement the leaders' important common understandings, maintain communication, manage differences, and expand cooperation in line with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. This, he said, would promote the steady, sound, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations and help find the right way for the two countries to get along in the new era.
Regarding China's development, Wang stated that the leadership of the CPC is the choice of the Chinese people, and that China's growth has a clear historical logic and is driven by strong internal dynamism. \"Our goal is to deliver a better life for the people and make more contributions to the world,\" he said. \"We have no intention of surpassing or replacing anyone, but we must defend our legitimate right to development.\"
On the Taiwan question, Wang elaborated on China's principled position and urged the U.S. side to handle it prudently. He emphasized that Taiwan has been part of China's territory since ancient times. \"We will never allow Taiwan to be split from China,\" he asserted.
Wang reminded that the United States has made solemn commitments to abide by the one-China policy in the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and it should not renege on them.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that the United States and China are two great countries, and that the U.S.-China relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the 21st century, one that will determine the future of the world. He expressed the United States' hope to have candid communication with China, resolve differences, manage the bilateral relationship in a mature and prudent manner, and work together to address global challenges and maintain peace and stability in the world.
Rubio stated 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 big countries should act in a manner befitting their status, shoulder their due international responsibilities, maintain world peace, and help countries realize common development. \"I hope you will act accordingly and play a constructive role for the future of the people of China and the United States, as well as for the peace and stability of the world,\" Wang said.
Reference(s):
Wang Yi urges China, U.S. to find right way to get along in new era
cgtn.com
