Diplomatic success due to adhering to Five Principles, ministry says

China said on Tuesday that its diplomacy is pioneering a successful path and making good progress thanks to adhering to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remark in response to some US media outlets claiming China has been using its economic power as strategic weapon for its recent diplomatic success.

"As the largest developing country, China’s economic power is not the strongest," Hua said. "We want to develop friendly relations with various countries around the world through mutual respect, equal treatment, and cooperation for mutual benefit."

At the same time, "China has enough will and power to successfully protect its core interests," Hua added.

China has recently recorded a number of diplomatic achievements, including normalizing relations with Norway, resuming ties with Sao Tome and Principe, and Mongolia has promised to prohibit the Dalai Lama from visiting the country.