Sino-Russian practical cooperation can tackle hegemony, Wang says

As long as China and Russia stand together, international order will not fall into disarray, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday.

In an interview with Xinhua News Agency and China Media Group in Beijing on the international situation and China's diplomacy in 2021, Wang also urged the United States to refrain from "saying one thing yet doing another" and to match its commitments with real, concrete actions to restore sound and stable development to China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.

He highlighted cooperation between China and Russia in pandemic response, the world's economic recovery, regional stability and global governance, saying that the two nations' "strategic coordination and practical cooperation has global significance and plays an irreplaceable role".

As long as China and Russia, as two major countries with global influence, work together to deepen coordination hand in hand, justice in the world will not collapse and hegemony will not win, Wang said.

He criticized Washington for continuing to stir up trouble on issues concerning China's sovereignty, security and development interests while claiming that it harbors no intention of having a conflict or confrontation with China, saying that the US has placed its credibility in serious doubt.

Wang urged the US to give up its obsession with suppressing and containing China. By taking such a step, relations between the two countries could return to the right track and develop steadily.

"As long as the US sees China as a partner instead of an adversary or enemy, the two countries could benefit each other and prosper together," he said.

"As long as the US gives up its obsession with ideological confrontation, the systems and paths adopted by China and the US could work in parallel and coexist peacefully on this planet."

While reiterating that China's reunification is an unstoppable trend, Wang warned that Washington continuing to condone and abet "Taiwan independence" forces "will put Taiwan into an extremely precarious situation and bring an unbearable cost to the US itself".

Regarding China-European Union relations, Wang said that the two sides share an extensive consensus on issues such as upholding multilateralism and enhancing global governance, and have achieved positive outcomes in tackling climate change and jointly responding to COVID-19, in addition to the marked growth of bilateral trade and Belt and Road cooperation.

However, Wang pointed out that Europe's policy toward China seems to suffer from "cognitive dissonance".

"It is hard to imagine that on one hand, Europe seeks to build a comprehensive strategic partnership with China, and on the other hand, it defines China as a systemic rival," he said, adding that the difference in their systems does not mean China and Europe have to be rivals, and they could well respect, learn from and complement each other.

On the China-EU Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, Wang said it is good for China, and even better for Europe. "Obstacles to the agreement are obstacles to one's own development and will hurt the long-term interests of the European people."

During the interview, Wang expressed concerns about new challenges posed by external forces trying to create division and confrontation in Asia through "erecting walls" and "decoupling". He called on Asian countries not to allow any country outside the region to stoke bloc-based confrontation in Asia and push the region toward a new Cold War.

"We must not allow any country outside this region to undermine the existing regional cooperation structure and the regional integration process and replace them with one of their own design. We must not allow any country outside the region to provoke an arms race in the region or even proliferation of nuclear weapons and threaten security and stability in Asia."

Wang called for upholding true multilateralism, saying that China will cooperate with other nations to defend international fairness and justice.

When asked about a few countries' moves to politicize the upcoming Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics to be held in February, Wang said the political maneuvering of a few Western politicians will do no harm to the Olympic Games, but only expose the ugly intention of those attempting to tarnish the event.

Speaking of China's contribution to global solidarity in fighting the pandemic, Wang said that as of Dec 26, China has provided more than 2 billion doses of COVID vaccines to over 120 countries and international organizations.

"China has fulfilled the pledge and commitment made by President Xi Jinping to the rest of the world and has become the biggest provider of outbound vaccines among all countries."

Noting that the Global Development Initiative is an international public good from China to implement the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, Wang said it has won the endorsement and support of multiple international organizations including UN agencies, and nearly 100 countries.