China News Agency, Beijing, March 29 (Reporter Li Jingze Huang Yuqin) The surrounding area occupies the first place in the overall situation of China's foreign affairs.
After the National People's Congress and the National People's Congress, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's first foreign visit once again took place in the surrounding area.
From 21st to 27th, Wang Yi visited Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nepal within seven days, and attended the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
This visit comes at a time when the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis are spreading and world peace and development are facing new challenges.
In the eyes of the outside world, the Chinese Foreign Minister's trip to South Asia revealed four "unusual" aspects.
Unusual one: Chinese foreign minister attends OIC foreign ministers' meeting for the first time
Wang Yi's trip to South Asia started from "hard-core brother" Pakistan.
In Islamabad, in addition to meeting with the Pakistani President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi was also invited to attend the OIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which was the first time for a Chinese foreign minister to attend the meeting.
At this meeting, Wang Yi bluntly stated that China came for "partnership", "unity", "justice" and "development".
The OIC is a symbol of the unity and independence of Islamic countries, and it is also a bridge for China to develop relations with Islamic countries.
Wang Jin, associate professor of the Middle East Institute of Northwestern University, believes that the invitation of the Chinese foreign minister to the meeting at a critical moment is of extraordinary significance. It is not only a heritage of the friendly history between the two sides, but also an expectation for strengthening future cooperation. It also shows China's open and inclusive attitude to coexist with different civilizations.
From being the "Four Partners" of Islamic countries to reaffirming the "Three Persistences" of China's exchanges with the Islamic world, China and Islamic countries reached important consensus on a wide range of issues during this visit, which further boosted bilateral relations.
OIC Secretary-General Taha pointed out that the Chinese Foreign Minister's first participation in the meeting is of historical significance, sending a strong signal that China attaches importance to the Islamic world and strengthens China-Iran cooperation.
Unusual 2: After the establishment of the Afghan interim government, China sent a high-level delegation to the first visit
Without prior notice, Wang Yi went to Afghanistan, a trip called "unexpected" by many foreign media.
Afghans often say that China is the only major country that has not hurt Afghanistan.
For the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister, Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Mottaki personally greeted him at the airport, saying that Wang Yi and his party were the most important high-level delegation they received.
This visit is also a continuation of China's bilateral contacts with Afghanistan in Tianjin, Doha and other places. During the visit, Wang Yi emphasized that China does not interfere in Afghanistan's internal affairs, does not seek self-interest or spheres of influence in Afghanistan, and reiterates that China is willing to respect Afghanistan's sovereignty under the premise of , and conduct mutually beneficial cooperation with Afghanistan in an orderly manner.
The Afghan side expressed that it expects China to provide greater support in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, and hopes to participate in the "Belt and Road" process; Actions against other countries are not allowed to engage in actions that undermine China.
Afghanistan is currently in a critical period from chaos to governance.
From March 30th to 31st, China will host the third Afghan Neighboring Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Tunxi, Anhui Province, and will also hold the "Afghanistan Neighboring Countries + Afghanistan" Foreign Ministers' Dialogue.
At that time, all parties will discuss the "Neighboring Country Plan" around the reconstruction and development of the "Heart of Asia".
Some commented that China's responsible attitude is in stark contrast to the irresponsible departure of the United States from Afghanistan.
Unusual 3: Chinese foreign minister visits India for the first time since the Sino-Indian border confrontation
This trip to South Asia, India is undoubtedly the highlight.
China-India relations have been at a low point in recent years due to the border issue. This is the highest-level diplomatic contact between China and India since the conflict in the Galwan Valley.
In New Delhi, Wang Yi met with Indian National Security Adviser Doval and Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar respectively.
Wang Yi put forward three ideas for developing China-India relations, emphasizing that China and India are partners rather than rivals, and should achieve each other rather than consume each other.
As two mature and rational neighbors, the two sides should place the border issue in the proper position of the bilateral relationship, and should not use the border issue to define or even hinder the overall development of the bilateral relationship.
Jaishankar said that the Indian side attaches great importance to its relations with China and has not changed its strategic judgment of its importance to China.
Doval used a figurative metaphor.
He said that just as mountains and rocks cannot hinder the flow of streams, some differences between the two sides should not change the general trend of the development of bilateral relations.
Wu Lin, an associate researcher at the Institute of Asian Studies of China Foreign Affairs University, believes that under the current situation, there are some signs of recovery in Sino-Indian relations. One of the main reasons is that the two sides have the same or similar positions on major international and regional issues. The future direction of Sino-Indian relations remains to be seen. Observed.
Unusual 4: Chinese Foreign Minister's first visit to Nepal after the establishment of the new Nepalese government
Nepal experienced political changes last year. Wang Yi's visit is the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Nepal after the establishment of a new government.
The visit also came after Nepal's parliament approved a controversial $500 million grant aid package from the United States.
In Kathmandu, Wang Yi met with Nepalese President, Nepalese Prime Minister and Nepalese Foreign Minister respectively, and met with Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) Oli and Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) Prachanda respectively.
During the meeting, Wang Yi expounded on China's three supports for Nepal: support for Nepal to pursue a development path that suits its own national conditions, support for Nepal to pursue an independent domestic and foreign policy, and support for Nepal to more deeply participate in the construction of the "Belt and Road".
He also stressed that no matter how the situation changes, no matter what challenges it encounters, China's friendship with Nepal will not change, and China's investment in Nepal will not decrease.
Foreign media focused on the discussions between the two foreign ministers on specific projects such as building cross-border railways and developing cross-border power cooperation.
Some commentators believe that China's friendly policy is oriented towards all parties and people of Nepal, maintaining continuity and stability. Mutual understanding and support are the tradition of China-Nepal friendship and the foundation of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Wang Jin believes that the cooperation between China and Nepal does not attach any conditions and is based on respect for Nepal's national sovereignty. Friendship with China has become a social consensus that surpasses all parties in Nepal. This visit has once again brought the relationship between China and Nepal closer.
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