Chinese FM meets scholars from leading British think tanks

LONDON - Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday met with a group of scholars from leading British think tanks and called on them to be objective about China's development.

China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and sticks to the path of peaceful development and all-around opening-up, Wang told the scholars, adding that China has proven that its development contributes to world peace and stability.

Wang noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping has advocated a new type of international relations characterized by win-win cooperation, which will become the guideline for China to engage with other countries.

Rather than seeking confrontation and hegemony, China adheres to the principles of cooperation and win-win, and such principles are genetically imbedded in China's traditional culture and based on its practical needs for development, the foreign minister said.

China is willing to increase exchanges and dialogues with international experts and scholars, including those in Britain, in a bid to promote an objective and rational view over China's development, he said.

At the meeting, Wang also took questions from the participants regarding a wide range of hot international issues, such as China-Britain relations, China-US relations, Ukraine and the Middle East.

British experts said both Britain and Europe are paying keen attention to China's development, and China is a hot topic for the academic circle.

For a significant part of the world history, China has been one of the most politically, economically, and culturally advanced countries, according to the scholars.

While China's is regaining its due influence in the world, some people, who lack sufficient understanding of the country, are still skeptical of China's development, foreign policy and diplomacy, they noted.

The opportunity to have direct discussions with the Chinese foreign minister allows them to better understand China's diplomacy and its position on major international and regional issues, they added.

Wang started his three-day official visit to Britain on Monday.