FM tackles China’s diplomacy focus in 2015

BEIJING:  “The keyword for China’s diplomacy in 2015 will be one focus and two main themes,” China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on the sideline of the annual session of the 12th National People’s Congress in Beijing.
One Focus is the “Belt and Road” initiatives. Wang said China will further enhance communication with other countries, expand the convergence of shared interests and explore possible areas for further win-win cooperation.
He elaborated that the priorities will be promoting connectivity, building overland economic corridors and pillars of maritime cooperation, he said.
China will also improve cultural and people-to-people exchanges and speed up talks of free trade areas with relevant countries.
“Two Main Themes” will be peace and development, the minister noted.
This year, China will work with the international community to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the World Anti-Fascist War and make itself a strong force for peace by learning lessons from the past and looking towards the future.
Wang said China will also take an active part in the UN development summit and international cooperation on climate change.
Summing up the diplomatic progress in 2014, Wang said it is worth mentioning that China focused on building a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation and has taken a new path of external relations characterized by partnership rather than alliance.
“We have basically established a global network of partnerships,” he said. “China’s circle of friends and partners has widened and will continue to expand.”
By 2014, China had established different forms of partnership with more than 70 countries and many regional organizations.
Wang described 2014 as one of harvest, forging ahead and breaking ground. (People’s Daily)