During a public speech on November 20, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized peaceful coexistence with the United States and cooperation with ASEAN countries. He also stated that no one should "force any third party to take sides in competition" or "start vicious competition such as decoupling or disrupting the supply chains."
At the Global Town Hall themed "Opposing Division Through Solidarity, Promoting Development Through Cooperation," Wang Yi gave the keynote speech entitled "Opposing Division Through Solidarity, Promoting Development Through Cooperation." Wang first said that China does not want conflict or confrontation:
China does not want to have conflict or confrontation with any country. Instead, we stand ready to work with all countries to advocate the common values of humanity, practice true multilateralism, uphold the UN-centered international system, safeguard international order based on international law, and together, build a community with a shared future for mankind who all live in this one and same global village
He then emphasized that no one should "force any third party to take sides in competition" or "start vicious competition such as decoupling or disrupting the supply chains":
While competition may exist in the process of cooperation, it should be positive and benign in nature, and should be guided by the principle of seeking mutual benefit and win-win results. No country should arbitrarily start vicious competition such as decoupling or severing industrial and supply chains. Still less should one force any third party to take sides in competitions.
With regard to U.S.-China relations, which "are the world’s largest developing and developed countries," Wang referred to the recent meeting between Presidents Xi and Biden and noted that "both sides believe that the bilateral relationship is extremely important and must not be messed up, and that the two countries need mutual respect and peaceful coexistence." He further stated that:
Mutual respect is a basic precondition for state-to-state relations. Every country has its unique history and culture. It has core interests that it feels most strongly about and cannot give up. And it has the right to choose the social system and development path suited to its national conditions. All countries should understand and respect each other in the spirit of inclusiveness, rather than act condescendingly or even impose their will on others.
...conflict or confrontation for big countries like China and the United States, if ever happens, will do no good to either country, and will be an unaffordable disaster for the world. Therefore, no conflict, no confrontation, and maintaining peaceful coexistence should be a sensible choice that both China and the United States must firmly uphold. This is also the right way for big countries with different social systems to get along with each other.
With regard to China's relations with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Wang stated that:
The Asia-Pacific, in particular the most dynamic East Asia, is already blessed with a mature regional cooperation framework. There is the regional cooperation platform with ASEAN at its center and largely supported by ASEAN's partnerships. Among those partnerships, China's dialogue partnership with ASEAN has all along been a pioneer and a good example in regional cooperation. I would like to reiterate that China supports ASEAN's community building, supports ASEAN centrality in regional architecture, and supports ASEAN in playing an even bigger role in the Asia-Pacific region. We have taken note that ASEAN has independently put forth its own Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, highlighting that it will uphold the concepts such as openness, transparency, inclusivity, equality, mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual benefit, and keep to the important principles of respect for sovereignty and non-intervention. These concepts and principles are compatible with the purposes of the UN Charter, and align with the thinking behind China's foreign policy. China and ASEAN have engaged in productive cooperation on maritime affairs, connectivity, sustainable development and economy, four priority areas that ASEAN has proposed. We are prepared to further deepen cooperation in these areas.
In two days, China and ASEAN will convene a special summit to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their dialogue relations. The meeting will be an important milestone. President Xi Jinping will attend in person and together with leaders of ASEAN countries, review the major achievements and useful experience in China-ASEAN relations over the past three decades. The leaders will make plans and chart the course forward for future progress. The summit will further help strengthen and upgrade China-ASEAN relations, marking new strides to build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. It will also make new and greater contributions to peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
Chinese officials have stressed China's economic ties with its Asian neighbors recently. Last month, China's Premier Li Keqiang also called for more integration with ASEAN at the 24th ASEAN Summit. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, composed of ASEAN, China and four other nations, is set to come into force next January.
