Sun, March 07, 2010
BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held a news conference on the sidelines of the Third Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, China, March 7, 2010.
The year 2010 is a very important year for China in continuing to tackle the international financial crisis and promoting the recovery of world economy, he said. (2010 "a very important diplomatic year")
China-U.S. relations
Yang Jiechi said that the responsibility for the current difficulty in Sino-U.S. relations does not lie with China.
"The United States should properly handle relevant sensitive issues and work with the Chinese side to return the China-U.S. relationship to the track of stable development," Yang said. (FM urges U.S. to respect China's core interests)
Yang urged the United States to make joint efforts with China to promote a sound bilateral relationship.
"A sound China-U.S. relationship is not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples of the two countries, it is also conducive to the peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large," Yang told a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature.
"China has always attached importance to its relationship with the United States, and we have always been committed to promoting the positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-U.S. relationship," he said.
"We hope that the United States will work with us in a joint effort toward this end," he said. (China urges U.S. to promote sound relationship)
"The Chinese side further stated in full its principled position on China-U.S. relations and on major issues, including Taiwan and Tibet related issues," Yang said.
"We pointed out that the relevant moves taken by the United States side had seriously violated the principles set out in the three China-U.S. joint communiques and the China-U.S. joint statement.
"The moves undermined China's core interests and the overall interests of China-U.S. relations, and China is firmly opposed to these moves," he said. (China firmly opposed to U.S. moves that undermine ties)
China-Japan ties
The China-Japan relationship faces great development potential and opportunity, and the two sides should take concerted efforts to push forward the Sino-Japanese mutually beneficial strategic ties, Yang said.
The two countries should both increase strategic input on the development of ties, and enhance communication and coordination on bilateral, regional and global levels.
In addition to cooperation in traditional sectors, there are emerging and crucial opportunities for bilateral cooperation, such as energy and environment, circular economy and new high technologies.
"China and Japan both locate in Asia and the two sides should work together to contribute to the prosperity of Asia," he said. (Sino-Japan ties face great potential)
Yang said China has always taken an active attitude to address the East China Sea issue with Japan.
China has always held that differences between China and Japan on the East China Sea issue should be resolved through consultation and negotiations, so as to safeguard the China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relations, and ensure the fundamental interests of people in both countries.
China has taken an active attitude in addressing the issue, not a passive one. (China takes active attitude to address East China Sea issue)
China-Russia relationship
China-Russia relationship is mature, stable, healthy and full of vigor at the current stage, and the Sino-Russia strategic partnership of coordination is a model of international relations, especially of relations between big powers, Yang said. (China-Russia ties model of int'l relations)
Chinese President Hu Jintao and other leaders including top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao will separately hold summit meetings with their Russian counterparts this year.
Yang revealed Vice President Xi Jinping will have an official visit to Russia later this month at the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and attend the opening ceremony of the Year of the Chinese Language in Russia.
"The high-level meetings or visits between the two countries this year will inject new and great momentum for China-Russia relations," Yang said. "I believe the Sino-Russian relations will be getting better and better." (China, Russia leaders to hold summits)
The China-Russia oil pipeline is likely to be completed by the end of this year and the project will enter into operation in 2011. Yang said the China-Russia relation is one of the priorities of China's diplomacy and that there is much potential in the practical cooperation and development for both countries.
The two countries support each other on issues concerning core interests. On many major international and regional issues, China and Russia share same or similar views and have close communications.
China and Russia signed a series of agreements on energy, oil, natural gas, coal, power, nuclear and high-speed railways last year, Yang said. (Oil pipeline to be completed this year)
China-EU relationship
The EU has always been a very important part on the international stage and will play an "increasingly important role," Yang said.
China attached importance not only to the relations with EU as a whole but also those with EU members. (China highly values relationship with EU)
China-Africa relations
The relations between China and African countries have entered a stage of "sound development" and will be more "fruitful" in the future, Yang said. (China-Africa relations at stage of "sound development")
China-Latin America relations
"The Latin American countries and China are complementary to each other in terms of economic structure and social development, and there are good prospects for cooperation between the two sides," said Yang at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual parliament session. ("Good prospects" for co-op with Latin America)
China-Arab ties
The Fourth Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum would be held in China's northern municipality of Tianjin.
Foreign ministers from 22 Arab countries and secretary-general of the Arab League will participate in the conference, and would meet Chinese leaders during the conference, He said.
The conference would facilitate and improve cooperation between China and Arab countries, Yang said, adding that he is confident that the friendly, cooperative, and mutually beneficial ties between both sides would be further consolidated. (China-Arab co-op conference to be held in Tianjin)
