On November 20, 2021, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered video remarks at the Global Town Hall, elaborating China's position on China-U.S. relations.
Wang Yi said, China and the United States are the world's largest developing and developed countries. Whether they can manage their relations well bears on the future of the world. It is a "question of the century", and the two countries must come up with a good answer together.
Wang Yi said, on November 16, President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden had a constructive meeting that was in-depth, candid, wide-ranging and substantive. The Chinese leader stated China's position and bottom line, and at the same time also expressed our sincerity about cooperation and proper management of the differences. Both sides believe that the bilateral relationship is extremely important and must not be messed up, and that the two countries need to respect each other and coexist in peace.
Wang Yi said, at the meeting, President Xi Jinping underscored the need for mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between the two countries. He made an insightful explanation on what the three principles mean and on that basis, identified four priorities for China and the United States to focus their efforts on. These important remarks reflected the Chinese leader's deep thinking on the evolution of the China-U.S. relations, and they also outlined the framework for its development in the future.
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.
Peaceful coexistence is an inherent principle in state-to-state interactions. Peace is the biggest shared aspiration of humanity. Nothing is possible without peace. In particular, 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.
Win-win cooperation is the right direction of history. Globalization is an irreversible trend of the times. Those who practice isolationism and protectionism will hurt both themselves and others. With their interests deeply intertwined, China and the United States will both lose in any zero-sum game. Only by pursuing mutual benefit and common development can the two countries achieve steady and sustained growth.
Wang Yi said, when talking about the future of China-U.S. relations, President Xi Jinping compared China and the United States to two giant ships that are breaking waves and forging ahead. He pointed out that the two sides must keep a steady hand on the tiller to make sure that the two ships will not deviate from the route, lose speed, or even collide with each other. We hope that the United States will match its important statements including not fighting a new Cold war, not seeking conflict or confrontation, and not supporting "Taiwan independence" with specific policies and real actions. Only in this way can the China-U.S. relationship achieve steady and long-term growth and benefit both countries and the whole world.