Continuing friendship, walking together, and meeting challenges together
——State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi was interviewed by the central media on attending the OIC Foreign Ministers Council and visiting Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nepal
On March 28, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi gave an interview to the central media after attending the 48th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and visiting Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nepal in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The full text is as follows:
Q: You have visited Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nepal recently. Can you tell us about the overall experience of this trip to South Asia?
Wang Yi: This trip to South Asia comes at a time when the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis are spreading, and world peace and development are facing new challenges.
We deeply feel that all South Asian countries are strongly looking forward to maintaining the rare peace and tranquility in the region and accelerating the post-pandemic economic recovery. Countries pay more attention to China's status and role, and hope to strengthen strategic communication and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China.
The visit consolidated the traditional friendship between China and South Asian countries, enhanced mutual understanding, deepened strategic mutual trust, clarified key cooperation directions and areas, and consolidated a broad consensus on solidarity, cooperation and common development under the new situation.
Neighborhoods occupy the primary position in China's overall foreign affairs.
No matter how the international situation changes, China always views and develops relations with neighboring countries including South Asian countries from a strategic perspective.
The more turbulent the international situation is, the more we must hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and win-win results, uphold the concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in neighboring diplomacy, share the same destiny with neighboring countries, and promote the building of a community with a shared future in Asia.
China is willing to work with neighboring countries to actively implement the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and leaders of various countries with practical actions, support each other's core interests and major concerns, join hands to promote development and revitalization and improve people's livelihood, jointly maintain regional security and development environment, and coordinate Respond to the challenges of international changes and open up a more stable, prosperous and better future for the region.
Q: The media of Islamic countries paid high attention to the Chinese foreign minister's first attendance at the OIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and spoke highly of your important propositions such as strengthening China-Iran partnership and promoting just resolution of hotspot issues. Could you please introduce what consensus was reached at this meeting?
Wang Yi: The Chinese Foreign Minister was invited to attend the OIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting for the first time, which is not only the inheritance of the friendly history between the two sides, but also the expectation of strengthening future cooperation.
The theme of this foreign ministers' meeting is "Partnership to achieve unity, justice and development". In view of the current turbulent and changing international situation, this theme has important practical significance and reflects the common aspiration of most countries in the world. main target.
During the meeting, on behalf of China, I delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the OIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting, summarizing the "three perseverances" of mutual respect and trust, solidarity and mutual assistance, and mutual learning between the two major civilizations of China and Iran, and put forward that China is willing to work with Islamic countries. The "four partners" of solidarity and cooperation, development and revitalization, security and stability, and mutual learning of civilizations.
In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan especially quoted the Prophet Muhammad's famous saying "seek knowledge even if it is far away from China", emphasizing that Islamic civilization and Chinese civilization have many common values and pursuits, which should be given to Iraq and China under new historical conditions. A new era of friendship.
OIC Secretary-General Taha pointed out that the first participation of the Chinese Foreign Minister at the meeting is of historical significance, sending a strong signal that China attaches importance to the Islamic world and strengthens cooperation between Iran and China.
Islamic countries appreciate China's active help in Iraq's fight against the epidemic and recovery of development, and speak highly of China's support for Islamic countries to use Islamic wisdom to solve current hotspot issues. They are eagerly looking forward to the new level of Iran-China relations and new contributions to the Islamic civilization and Chinese civilization for the cause of human progress. .
At this meeting, China and Islamic countries reached important consensus on a wide range of issues: we agreed to deepen China-Iran strategic communication and cooperation, jointly resist civilizational discrimination, and jointly oppose the theory of superiority of civilizations and conflict of civilizations; we agreed to continue to unite to fight the epidemic and deepen vaccine production. , drug R&D and other cooperation, and work together to defeat the epidemic; unanimously agreed to build the "Belt and Road" with high quality, consolidate traditional cooperation, and cultivate emerging bright spots; unanimously agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on the implementation of global development initiatives, and contribute to the realization of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Motivation; agreed that it is urgent to promote a just settlement of regional hotspot issues, that the Palestinian issue cannot be forgotten, cannot be marginalized, and cannot allow historical injustice to continue; agreed that it is necessary to lead and drive the overall unity of developing countries, advocate genuine multilateralism, and abandon the Cold War mentality , resist camp confrontation, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.
Q: In the face of rising uncertainty in the internal and external environment, as all-weather partners and "hardcore" friends, how will China and Pakistan deepen strategic cooperation and safeguard and expand common interests?
Wang Yi: During this visit, Pakistani government and military high-level officials reached new important consensus on deepening the strategic cooperation between the two countries under the current international and regional situation.
We will promote all-weather friendship.
The traditional friendship between China and Pakistan is unbreakable and rock solid.
No matter how the international and domestic situations change, China will unswervingly adhere to its friendly policy towards Pakistan.
The Pakistani side reiterated that the Pakistan-China friendship is the cornerstone of Pakistan's diplomacy, and it is also a high consensus of the Pakistani government and opposition parties.
Adhering to Pakistan-China friendship and cooperation is a red line that no one can cross.
We will deepen all-round cooperation.
China welcomes Pakistan's deeper participation in China's new development pattern.
The two sides agreed to consolidate the transportation and energy infrastructure projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, expand into a wider range of fields such as industry, agriculture, and digital, and promote the corridor to achieve more comprehensive, sustainable, and high-quality development, and effectively play an important role in Pakistan's economic and social development. Let more Pakistani people feel the vitality and practical benefits of China-Pakistan friendship.
We will defend international fairness and justice.
China and Pakistan have agreed to practice genuine multilateralism, resolutely oppose bullying by powers, and resist the resurgence of the Cold War mentality.
The two sides will continue to maintain communication with the Afghan interim government, give full play to the important role of the coordination and cooperation mechanism of Afghanistan's neighboring countries, and contribute their respective strengths to the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Both countries believe that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be upheld when dealing with international and regional hotspot issues, and a lasting and effective solution should be sought through dialogue and consultation.
Q: This visit to Afghanistan is the first time that the Chinese government has sent a high-level delegation to Afghanistan since the establishment of the Afghan interim government. What is the main consideration for this trip?
Wang Yi: This visit to Afghanistan mainly focuses on three goals: first, to continue the traditional friendship between the two peoples; second, to inspect the construction and administration of the Afghan interim government on the spot; Mutual trust basis.
This visit is also a continuation of China's bilateral contacts with Afghanistan in Tianjin, Doha and other places, aiming to send a clear signal that the Afghan issue is still at an important position on the current international peace and security agenda, especially for Afghanistan's neighboring countries. , all parties should assume their due responsibilities and play a role in construction.
China has always taken a responsible attitude on the Afghan issue and adhered to the "three respects" and "three nevers".
China respects Afghanistan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, respects the independent choice made by the Afghan people, and respects Afghan religious beliefs and ethnic customs.
China never interferes in Afghanistan's internal affairs, never seeks self-interest in Afghanistan, and never seeks the so-called sphere of influence.
As Afghan friends often say, China is the only major country that has never hurt Afghanistan. We are willing to develop normal and friendly relations with Afghanistan as a neighbor on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
We have noticed that the Afghan interim government has actively responded to the concerns of the international community and has achieved some visible results in state governance.
It is hoped that the Afghan interim government will continue to be inclusive and prudent in governance, and make efforts in a direction that conforms to the interests of the Afghan people and the expectations of the international community.
On the premise of respecting Afghanistan's sovereignty, the Chinese side is willing to carry out mutually beneficial cooperation with Afghanistan in an orderly manner based on the principles of focusing on improving and improving people's livelihood, focusing on enhancing Afghanistan's independent development capabilities, and focusing on practical results without making empty promises.
The Chinese side also stressed that security is the foundation and premise of development, and hoped that the Afghan side would fulfill its commitments and take more effective measures and more resolutely to combat all terrorist forces including the "East Turkistan Islamic Movement".
The Afghan side spoke highly of the millennium friendship between China and Afghanistan, thanked the Chinese side for extending a helping hand when the Afghan people were in the most difficult time, looked forward to China's greater support in Afghanistan's reconstruction and development, and hoped to participate in the "Belt and Road" process.
The Afghan side promises that it will never allow any terrorists to operate in Afghanistan, and never allow anyone or any organization to use Afghanistan's territory to take actions against other countries, let alone conduct actions that undermine China.
China hopes and believes that as long as Afghanistan achieves true independence and independent development, the Afghan people truly take their destiny in their own hands, and with the joint support of the international community and regional countries, the reconstruction and development of the "Heart of Asia" will be promising in the future. The people will also get rid of the troubles of years of war and live a peaceful life.
Q: China-India relations have been at a low point in recent years due to the border issue. What consensus has been reached with the Indian side during this working visit to India? How will China-India relations develop next?
Wang Yi: China and India are partners rather than rivals. They should achieve each other instead of consuming each other. This is a strategic judgment made by China after careful consideration.
There are indeed boundary issues left over from history between China and India, which sometimes affect and challenge bilateral relations.
At the same time, we firmly believe that, as two mature and rational neighbors, we should place the border issue in a proper position in the bilateral relationship, and should not use the border issue to define or even hinder the overall development of the bilateral relationship.
We propose that China and India should view bilateral relations with a long-term perspective, view each other's development with a win-win mindset, and participate in multilateral processes with a cooperative attitude. This constructive thinking can stand the test of time and is in line with the historical logic of China-India exchanges.
During this visit, he had an in-depth exchange of views with Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Doval.
The most prominent feeling is that both sides believe that the continued stagnation of China-India relations is not in the fundamental interests of the two peoples and is not conducive to regional peace and stability.
It is necessary to adhere to the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries that "China and India do not pose a threat to each other, but provide opportunities for each other's development", properly resolve practical issues of common concern, and manage and control the differences that have existed over the years, so as to help the stable and sustainable development of bilateral relations.
Restoring peace and tranquility in the border areas is in line with the common aspirations of the two countries. It is necessary to achieve normalized management and control on the basis of disengagement on the spot, and to take effective measures to reduce the military level in the areas along the actual control line, build confidence measures, and not threaten with force, etc. Important consensus reached so far.
Both sides believe that China and India share similar or similar positions on major international and regional issues, and should strive to understand and support each other to provide more positive energy to the turbulent world.
During the meeting, Doval's national security adviser made an analogy.
He said that just as mountains and rocks cannot stop a stream from flowing down, some differences between the two sides should not change the general trend of the development of bilateral relations.
I believe that in the face of the current complex and volatile international and regional situation, China and India should not only make joint efforts to remove the stones in the bilateral relationship, but also meet each other halfway, so that the trickling streams of China-India friendship will converge into a mighty trend of the times and break through All kinds of obstacles, rushing in the right direction.
Q: The political situation in Nepal changed last July. This is the first visit of a Chinese foreign minister to Nepal after the establishment of the new Nepalese government. What consensus did the two sides reach?
Wang Yi: China and Nepal are connected by mountains and rivers, and the people have been friendly from generation to generation.
The two countries have always stood by each other and shared a common destiny, setting a model for countries big and small to treat each other as equals and cooperate for win-win results.
We agreed that mutual understanding and support is the tradition of friendship between China and Nepal, and it is also the foundation of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
China's friendly policy is aimed at all parties and people in Nepal, maintaining continuity and stability.
We will continue to firmly support the Nepalese side in safeguarding national sovereignty and national dignity, support the Nepalese side in exploring a development path that suits its own national conditions and interests, and support the Nepalese side in pursuing independent domestic and foreign policies.
The Nepali side also reiterated that it will firmly adhere to the one-China policy, firmly support China in safeguarding its core interests, and will never allow any forces to use Nepalese territory to harm China and harm China's interests.
We unanimously agreed to speed up the joint construction of the "Belt and Road", promote key cooperation projects, ensure smooth land crossings between the two countries, explore cross-border cooperation, enrich and expand the channels for economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries, and gradually build a trans-Himalayan three-dimensional interconnection network to enable The Himalayas have become the link of friendly cooperation between the two countries.
The Chinese side is willing to help Nepal give full play to its three advantages of human resources, geographical location and natural ecology, share China's development opportunities, and speed up its own development and revitalization.
China will continue to provide vaccines and material support to Nepal to help Nepal completely defeat the epidemic.
We unanimously reiterated that the two sides will defend the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and the basic norms of international relations, resist unilateralism and oppose power politics.
The Chinese side is happy to see Nepal live in friendly relations with other countries and become a high ground for cooperation between China and South Asia.
The Chinese side appreciates the Nepalese side's firm support for the global development initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, and is willing to work with the Nepalese side to accelerate the promotion of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, so as to inject impetus into the development and prosperity of developing countries, especially the least developed countries.
Q: This visit comes at a time when the crisis in Ukraine continues to spill over. How do countries view the Ukraine crisis and its impact?
Wang Yi: The Ukraine crisis occurred in Europe, but the spillover effect has spread to the whole world, affecting world peace, stability and economic recovery.
The vast number of developing countries, including South Asia, are highly concerned about the development of the situation. They are full of worries that the world will fall into division and confrontation, and are seriously concerned that unilateral sanctions will damage the global industrial chain and supply chain.
The general consensus is that:
To resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue, neither war nor sanctions are good solutions.
The international community should persuade peace and promote talks, rather than adding fuel to the fire.
It is necessary to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and safeguard the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries.
At the same time, there must be equal treatment on this issue, and there should be no double standards.
It is necessary to advocate a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept.
The security of one country cannot be at the expense of compromising the security of other countries, and regional security cannot be guaranteed by strengthening military blocs.
In accordance with the principle of indivisibility of security, we must build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture, so that Europe is free from war and other regions are not involved.
We must protect the right of all countries to pursue independent foreign policies, and oppose political pressure and forced side selection.
In dealing with complex issues and different opinions, we should not adopt the simplistic approach of being either an enemy or a friend, nor should we revive the Cold War mentality and create camp confrontation.
It is necessary to maintain the hard-won situation of peace, stability and development in the region, and resist the introduction of camp confrontation and turmoil in Asia.
Asia refuses to be a chessboard for great powers to play against, and Asian countries are by no means pawns for great powers to confront each other.