China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, has reaffirmed his nation's stance on the Ukrainian crisis and suggested that relations with Russia might improve in the next year. Wang Yi has also praised the "historic leaps ahead" in ties between China and the Arab world.
In a video presentation to a conference in the Chinese capital, Wang also criticised the United States for deteriorating relations between the two largest economies in the world, saying that Beijing has "firmly rejected" Washington's "erroneous China policy."
China has resisted US aggressiveness in trade, technology, human rights, and its claims to a significant portion of the Western Pacific.
Due to its refusal to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and work with other nations to impose sanctions on the country, its ties with the rest of Europe have deteriorated.
According to a transcript of his remarks, Wang said, “With regard to the Ukraine crisis, we have consistently upheld the fundamental principles of objectivity and impartiality, without favouring one side or the other, without adding fuel to the fire, still less seeking selfish gains from the situation.”
He said China would also “deepen strategic mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation” with Russia. In the East China Sea last week, warships from both countries participated in combined naval drills.
According to Wang, the two countries' trade is growing “at a faster pace” than expected, and significant investment projects are underway.
Wang claimed that China and Arab countries “have reached consensus on forging a closer China-Arab community with a shared future,” referencing President Xi Jinping’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia, where he attended the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-Gulf Cooperation Summit.
Xi inked several strategic and economic partnership agreements during his trip and promised to keep importing massive amounts of oil from the Gulf and increase liquefied natural gas imports.
However, Wang noted in his speech that “China and the United States cannot decouple or sever supply chains,” despite Xi’s goal for more self-sufficiency in Chinese industry.
The United States “has stubbornly continued to see China as its primary competitor and engage in the blatant blockade, suppression, and provocation against China,” he said, adding that China would work to restore ties with the US.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and Wang had a phone conversation late last week.
According to the State Department, Blinken voiced worries about Russia’s war in Ukraine, its effects on global security and economic stability, and the importance of properly managing the US-China relationship.
According to a statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang accused the United States of “unilateral bullying” and pledged that China would continue to play a constructive role in finding a solution to the problem in Ukraine.