Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a press conference on the sidelines of the "Two Sessions" on Tuesday. China's foreign policy on international and regional issues is in the limelight as the country's lawmakers examine the 13th five-year plan.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi gives a news conference on the sidelines of the ongoing session of the National People's Congress in Beijing on Tuesday, March 8, 2016. [Photo: China.org.cn]

 

Here are some of the highlights from Wang's remarks.

On China's Myanmar policy

The relations between the two countries will not be weakened by the changes in Myanmar's domestic situation.

The National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi, in Myanmar has kept friendly contact with China.

"Our mutual understanding and trust has been growing," Wang said.

On China-ASEAN relations

China wants to build an even closer China-ASEAN community of common destiny for mutual benefits.

On China-Europe relations

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi praised the improvement of Sino-European ties Tuesday, saying that positive changes in the relations are not a "temporary phenomenon" but an "inevitable choice."

On China-Japan relations

Wang summarized Japan's official attitude toward China as "double dealing", and he urged Tokyo to give serious thought and make the right choice upon the question of taking China as a friend or foe.

On consular protection

The Foreign Ministry will take measures, including enhancing security awareness among those traveling, setting up police-civilian cooperation centers in more countries, and shortening the response time, to protect Chinese people overseas.

On China-Middle East policy

China's policy on the Middle East is to facilitate peace talks with an objective and impartial attitude, instead of seeking a sphere of influence or proxies.

"China is honest and straightforward in such facilitation, which brings about unique strength," Wang said. "Therefore, Middle East countries expect and welcome a bigger role of China."

On China-Russia relationship

Sino-Russia relations are mature and stable and will not be weakened by particular incidents or temporary factors.

On construction of 'Belt and Road'

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative should not be seen as expansionism. The Initiative is China's idea, but the opportunities it has created belong to the world.

On China-US relations

China will consider more maritime cooperation with the United States.

On China-DPRK relations

Beijing "will not accommodate" Pyongyang's pushing its nuclear and missile programs, while Pyongyang's need for development and security will be supported.

On Korean Peninsula issue

China will stay unwavering to pursue the denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula. We are open to any or all the initiatives which could help bring the nuclear issue on the peninsula back to the negotiating table," Wang said.

On protecting overseas interests

China is building necessary infrastructure and logistical capacities in regions with a concentration of China's interests, which is reasonable, logical and consistent with international practices.

Wang was responding to a question on China's expanding overseas interests and in particular logistical facilities in Djibouti.

China's interests are expanding overseas, 30,000 businesses are operating in the world, and millions of Chinese are working everywhere around the globe.

"It is a pressing task for China's diplomacy to better protect its growing overseas interests," Wang said, adding China will not take the old path of expansionism and will not be engaged in any form of power politics.

On Philippines's arbitration

China is acting fully in line with law while not accepting the South China Sea arbitration filed by the Philippines.

On South China Sea

There are other countries than China to be accused of militarizing the South China Sea. Navigation freedom does not mean "doing whatever you want" in South China Sea.

Building defense facilities on its own islands and reefs, China is actually exercising the rights of self-preservation and self-defense.

China was not the first country that deployed weapons on the Nansha Islands nor the country that has deployed the most weapons, not even the country that has conducted the most frequent military activities.

Wang reiterated that the Nansha Islands have been China's inherent territory and every Chinese has the obligation to defend them.

On China's diplomacy

The major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics has already taken shape since President Xi Jinping assumed China's top leadership. The goal of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics is to help to realize the national dream of national rejuvenation and built a community of shared destiny for all mankind.

On UN resolution on DPRK nuclear issue

China has the responsibility and capability of implementing the United Nations Security Council resolutions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for its nuclear issues, including Resolution 2270 concerning the DPRK.

"China will adopt an objective and impartial attitude to carry out necessary evaluation, determination and monitoring, said Wang, noting that Resolution 2270 not only contains sanctions, but also reiterates the support for the six-party talks and asks various parties to refrain from taking any action that might aggravate tensions.

On G20 summit

The Group of Twenty (G20) Hangzhou summit is the most important diplomatic event China hosts this year. President Xi Jinping has expounded to the world how China will host the G20 Hangzhou summit.