Global Times: In roughly 90 minutes, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday addressed 21 questions ranging from China’s relations with major countries of Russia and the US, to the situation in Iran and the China-Japan ties…In front of this barrage of challenging and complex questions, Wang, drawing on traditional Chinese classics and metaphors, faced them head-on and pitched China’s diplomatic vision.
This marks the 12th time that Wang Yi has addressed a press conference during China’s “two sessions” as foreign minister, and his remarks have sent a calm and confident message that in a world marked by turbulence and chaos, China’s approach and wisdom, embodied in its four global initiatives, constitute one of the important public goods it has offered to the international community.
“Under the guidance and stewardship of President Xi Jinping, China’s diplomacy provides the most-needed stability and certainty to a world in turmoil and serves as an irreplaceable mainstay amid global turbulence,” Wang Yi said.
China’s answers in focus
About four hours before the press conference began, Global Times reporters noticed a long line outside the press conference hall at the Media Center Hotel. Some foreign journalists came to set up their camera equipment as early as 6 am.
Some foreign journalists said they were eager to hear China’s voice and China’s proposals amid the increasingly turbulent and complex international situation.
Among the 21 questions raised during the press conference, 11 were raised by foreign journalists including how China and Russia – two major powers – can counter attempts to reshape international law and global trade rules, the role that China plays in the global governance and how the US-Israeli joint military strikes against Iran could impact US Pre
Foreign journalists from Pakistan, India, Brazil, Japan, Nigeria and Indonesia also raised questions about neighborhood diplomacy, China-EU relations, the “US-China co-governance” framework, China-Latin America relations under the influence of the US and the erroneous remarks of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Taiwan, as well as the future development of China-Japan relations.
Seven questions directly involved the US, and the replies shed light on China’s view of major-country diplomacy and the role it could play in today’s world that is facing growing geopolitical tensions and challenges.
China and the US are both big countries. Neither side can remodel the other, but we can choose how we want to engage, Wang said in response to a question regarding how the joint US-Israeli military strikes against Iran could impact Trump’s possible China visit, and China’s expectation for the visit and development of bilateral relations.
This year is a “big year” for China-U.S. relations. The agenda of high-level exchanges is already on the table. What the two sides need to do now is to make thorough preparations accordingly, create a suitable environment, manage the risks that do exist, and remove unnecessary disruptions, Wang noted.
“If the message last year was of warning amid uncertainties, the one this year was marked by confidence,” CNN said in an article covering the press conference.
The Associated Press reported that China is striking a “largely positive tone” ahead of an expected summit between the leaders of the two countries later this month.
Bloomberg said “China’s top diplomat signaled that Beijing is prioritizing a stabilization of ties with Washington, even as he issued a pointed critique of US military actions in the Middle East.”
When addressing an NBC reporter’s question on whether China accepts the idea of a “US-China co-governance” framework, Wang said that there is no doubt that China and the US have a significant impact on the world, but we should not forget there are more than 190 countries on our planet. World history has always been written by many countries together, and the future of humanity will be forged through the collective efforts of all nations.
Diversity is the inherent nature of human society, and multipolarity is what the international landscape should look like, Wang said.
China-US relations is repeatedly touched upon. This reflects the international community’s keen attention to China-US interactions and underscores the significance of China-US relations on resolving specific international issues as well as reforming of the global landscape, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Sunday.
When responding to a question raised by a reporter from Japan’s Kyodo News Agency on the future of China-Japan relations, Wang said a China that has grown strong and its 1.4 billion people will never allow anyone to justify colonialism or reverse the verdict on aggression ever again. “The future of China-Japan relations hinges on Japan’s choice,” he said.
Analysts said many of the foreign minister’s words made at this press conference were both novel and profound.
“For example, when discussing China-Japan relations, this year they specifically mentioned the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trials, which had already defined Japanese militarism and nailed it to the pillar of historical shame. There is no way for it to escape the constraints established after World War II,” Wang Yiwei, an international affairs expert at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Sunday.
Precious public goods
“Weapons are ominous tools, and should not be used without discretion.” The Chinese foreign minister quoted an ancient Chinese saying when briefing his take on how China views the current situation in Iran and the propositions for resolving the Iran issue.
In the face of the Middle East engulfed in conflict, he emphasized, “this is a war that should not have happened – it is a war that does no one any good.”
The history of the Middle East tells the world time and again that force provides no solution and armed conflict will only increase hatred and breed new crises, Wang said.
Wang Yi clearly articulated some of China’s fundamental positions in current international affairs and global governance, such as supporting enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South, safeguarding and strengthening the role of the UN, and opposing the notion of so-called “China-US co-governance.” These positions also reflect China’s diplomatic emphasis on independence, peace, and development, Li said.
Global Times reporters observed that during the press conference, Wang Yi particularly welcomed questions from African and Latin American journalists.
Whether emphasizing the voices of Global South countries or responding to a Global Times reporter’s question on the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang Yi conveyed China’s ideas and practices regarding global governance and how to build a better world in today’s turbulent and intertwined international environment.
Li also noted that Wang’s remarks explained China’s concepts for international relations and blueprint for building a better world, as demonstrated in the China-proposed initiatives and mechanisms.
China, as one the main voices of the Global South, is a country that has achieved huge goals in the last decades, without invading other countries nor interfering in internal affairs of other countries, Mauro Ramos Pintos, journalist from Brasil de Fato who raised the question about China-Latin America relations during the press conference, told the Global Times.
“China’s wisdom in governance is something to be valued in today’s world,” he said when referring to China-proposed four global initiatives.
Wang on Sunday specifically elaborated on the Global Governance Initiative proposed in 2025, which was quickly echoed by over 150 countries and international organizations..
Why is the GGI able to draw such widespread response? Wang explained the key lies in the five major principles advocated by the GGI, namely, sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach and real actions.
“They meet the common expectations of the international community and reflect the shared aspirations of people from all countries.”
