Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Munich /Germany/, February 14 /Xinhua/ – China and Europe are partners, not adversaries, and certainly not “systemic rivals,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday.
Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks while answering questions about relations between China and the European Union after his speech at the "China in the World" session at the Munich Security Conference.
The diplomat noted that the depth of the partnership between China and Europe is clearly demonstrated by their more than half a century of interaction and daily trade turnover exceeding US$2 billion, but he warned that exaggerating the differences could harm Sino-European relations.
While acknowledging differences in social systems, values, and development paths, Wang Yi emphasized that these differences do not create grounds for rivalry, and that differences are not grounds for confrontation. The correct approach, he argued, is instead one of mutual respect, mutual approval, and mutual learning, so as to work together to achieve common development and fill the world with light.
The head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted an ancient Chinese proverb: “All things develop together without hindering each other; all paths run parallel without contradicting each other,” adding that “a noble man strives for harmony, but not uniformity.”
As Wang Yi explained, this means striving for harmonious coexistence while recognizing differences – a principle known as the "way of the noble man" – and China and Europe should act in accordance with this principle.
He emphasized that in today's complex and turbulent international environment, both sides must work hand in hand to implement multilateralism, defend the authority of the UN, resist unilateral bullying, and resist bloc confrontation.
Wang Yi expressed hope that the two sides would jointly implement the four global initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping and build a more equitable and rational global governance system, so that this would become the general direction of China-EU cooperation.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.