http://www.chinamission.be/eng/mhs/202201/t20220127_10635268.htm
On January 27, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the latter’s request.
Wang Yi said, the most important task for China and the United States at present is to follow through on the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden during their virtual meeting last November. During the meeting, President Xi Jinping summarized the experience and lessons learned in the China-U.S. interactions over more than half a century and clearly put forward the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, charting the course for the sound development of China-U.S. relations. President Biden responded positively, saying that the United States does not seek a “new Cold War”, does not seek to change China’s system, does not seek to act against China by revitalizing its alliances, does not support “Taiwan independence”, and has no intention to have a conflict or confrontation with China, thus sending a positive message in contrast to the previous administration. However, what the world has seen is that there has been no substantive change in the keynote of the U.S. side’s China policy and President Biden’s stated position has not been fully implemented. The U.S. side is still sticking with erroneous words and deeds related to China, which have dealt a new blow to bilateral relations.
Wang Yi said, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Shanghai Communiqué. The fact that neither China nor the United States has the intention to change the other is a prerequisite for the normalization of bilateral relations and should also serve as a guarantee for peaceful coexistence between China and the United States in the future. The post-pandemic world will face new situations and challenges, but competition between major countries is not the theme of the world, nor will it solve the problems faced by the United States and other countries. As the world’s top two economies and permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the United States should bear in mind the two peoples’ fundamental interests, follow the trend of world development, and properly implement the important consensus between the two heads of state. Both sides must grasp the general direction of China-U.S. relations, live up to their commitments by concrete actions, expand the positive aspects of cooperation between the two countries, and control and manage differences in a constructive manner. Wang Yi stressed, pressure will only make the Chinese people more united, and confrontation will not stop China from becoming stronger. The burning issue is that the United States should stop interfering with the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, stop playing with fire on the Taiwan issue, and stop creating various anti-China “small cliques”.
Blinken said that it is important for foreign ministers of the two countries to have regular communication, stressing that there is no change in President Biden’s stated position during the meeting between the two heads of state. The United States and China have both overlapping interests and differences, and the United States is ready to manage and control differences in a responsible manner. The United States’ one-China policy remains unchanged. The United States will cheer for its athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, and wishes the Chinese people a happy Spring Festival.
Blinken briefed Wang Yi on the U.S. position on the Ukrainian issue, among others. Wang Yi said, to solve the Ukrainian issue, it is still necessary to return to the new Minsk agreement. The new Minsk agreement, endorsed by the UN Security Council, is a basic political document recognized by all parties and should be implemented earnestly. China will support any effort that conforms to the direction and spirit of this agreement. At the same time, we call on all parties to remain calm and refrain from inflaming tensions or hyping up the crisis. Wang Yi stressed, the security of one country should not be at the expense of the security of others, and regional security should not be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs. Today in the 21st century, all parties should completely abandon the Cold War mentality, and form a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism through negotiations, with Russia’s legitimate security concerns being taken seriously and addressed.
