…Says protracted conflict in Gaza, humanitarian catastrophe that shouldn’t have happened
From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, has said China is sincere in its quest to improve relations with the United States.
In an interview granted Al Jazeera, Wang explained that the China-U.S. relationship bears on the well-being of the Chinese and American peoples and the future of humanity and the world.
Wang recalled that in November, 2023, President Xi Jinping had a successful meeting with President Joe Biden in San Francisco upon invitation, and the two presidents agreed on a future-oriented San Francisco vision.
“China is sincere in improving its relations with the United States. A predictable, sustainable, healthy and stable China-U.S. relationship serves the interests of both the Chinese and American peoples as well as the whole world,” Wang said.
Wang however said the United States still sticks to its misperception of China, and presses ahead with its misguided policy to contain China.
According to Wang, “It has recently continued to woo its so-called allies in an attempt to provoke tensions at sea in the region and build networks to contain China at a faster pace. It has kept ratcheting up its unilateral sanctions, and gone all out to constrain China’s development of science and technology. The United States should not view the world through the lens of Cold War and zero-sum mentality, and it should not say one thing but do another.”
While saying that the people of the world have clear eyes, Wang added that even more so, for the Middle East, people can see easily who is on the right side of history and justice.
“What China brings to the world is cooperation, growth, stability and win-win. China’s development and rejuvenation enjoys strong internal impetus and conforms with the trend of history. It will not be stopped by any force,” Wang added.
On the 2024 election in the United States, Wang said the U.S. election is an internal affair of the United States.
China, he stated, never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries, adding that meddling with others is just not the Chinese way.
“Whoever is elected, Chinese and American peoples will still need to have exchanges and cooperation, and the two major countries must find the right way to get along with each other. The three principles – mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation put forward by President Xi Jinping are our fundamental guidance and goal when viewing and handling China-U.S. relations. During his recent phone call with President Biden, President Xi pointed out once again that two big countries like China and the United States should not cut off exchanges or turn their back on each other, still less slide into conflict or confrontation. They should instead cherish peace, value stability, and uphold credibility.
“The China-U.S. relationship cannot go back to its past. But it should, and can fully, have a bright future. China is ready to work with the United States to carry out more win-win cooperation, do more that benefits the whole world, and truly fulfil their respective responsibilities to the international community,” Wang also said.
Wang further dwelt on the measures China will possibly take to promote an immediate ceasefire regarding the conflict in Gaza.
The measures, according to Wang, were to realize ceasefire as early as possible; unimpeded humanitarian assistance must be ensured at all times; further spill over of the conflict must be forestalled, and historical injustice to the Palestinian people must be redressed timely.
Wang stated that the protracted conflict in Gaza has become a humanitarian catastrophe that should not have happened, which has gone far beyond the bottom line of modern civilization.
He also said for nearly six months, the conflict has caused over 100,000 casualties and displaced over one million civilians, saying that the international community must act now.
