Wang Yi has stated that China is willing to play a “constructive” role in the success of the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco.
The Chinese Foreign Minister made these remarks on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at the launch of a government report which contains a number of broad proposals for dealing with a litany of global challenges, including climate change, poverty and security.
The government report is titled “A Global Community of Shared Future: China’s Proposals and Actions.”
“As the world’s largest developing country and an important member of APEC, China is willing to comply with the expectations of the international community and play a constructive role in the success of APEC this year.”
Wang Yi
Also, Wang Yi called on the U.S. to do what it can to host a cooperative meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders in November, criticizing those who seek to play up a confrontation between democracy and authoritarianism.
Wang Yi said that the APEC summit in November should promote cooperation rather than provoke confrontation, and said the U.S. should show fairness and inclusiveness to create better conditions for a smooth meeting.
“Of course, we and all parties hope that the United States will recognise its responsibility as the host, demonstrate openness, fairness, inclusiveness, and responsibility, and create better conditions for the smooth holding of the meeting.”
Wang Yi
Wang gave a non-committal response when asked if Chinese President, Xi Jinping would attend the APEC summit. Xi was absent at a recent Group of 20 leaders’ meeting in India.
“Regarding your question about the arrangements for attending APEC, we are in communication with all parties and will make an official announcement in due course,” Wang said.
Dialogue between China and the United States has been gradually resuming despite tensions between the two superpowers, especially over Taiwan. Expectations are building that Xi would meet with Biden on the sidelines of APEC, after missing a chance for a face-to-face meeting at the G20 summit.
China To Oppose “Wanton” Expansion Of Military Alliances
At the same news conference, Wang said, without naming any country, that China will “oppose the wanton expansion of military alliances and the squeezing of other countries’ security space.”
He said Beijing would seek to “resolve differences and disputes among countries through dialogue and consultation.”
Beijing has been critical of Washington’s continued attempts to deepen military alliances in the Asia-Pacific region.
It has particularly disapproved of bases that the US military is building in the north of the Philippines facing democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory.
While introducing the government report, Wang urged for rejecting “small yards and high fences” and opposing “decoupling” and cutting ties, resisting protectionism and unilateral sanctions in order to build a fair, reasonable and transparent international trade system.
The policy paper reads, “Building a global community of shared future is the way forward for all the world’s peoples.”
The document also touches on Russia’s war in Ukraine, reiterating a multi-point position paper released by China earlier this year that was widely seen as conciliatory towards Moscow.
Western countries have warned China’s proposals could enable Russia to hold much of the territory it has seized in Ukraine.
“Conflicts and wars produce no winner,” the new paper states while adding that “there is no simple solution to a complex issue”.
The white paper noted that globalization is “not an option, it is the reality and the way of life.”
It also states that “Democracy is not Coca-Cola, tasting the same across the world as the syrup is produced in one single country. Democracy is not an ornament, but a solution to real problems.”
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