1. At the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, the current ASEAN chair, Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang will attend the 24th ASEAN-China Summit, the 24th ASEAN Plus Three Summit, and the 16th East Asia Summit from October 26 to 27. The meetings will be held through video conference.
2. At the invitation of Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Qatar from October 25 to 26. During his stay in Doha, State Councilor Wang Yi will meet with a delegation of the interim government of the Afghan Taliban.
3. At the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Dendias, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selaković, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania Olta Xhaçka and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy Luigi Di Maio, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Greece, Serbia, Albania and Italy from October 27 to 29.
CCTV: Today marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of New China's lawful seat in the United Nations. What is China assessment of the past 50 years?
Wang Wenbin: As you said, today marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of New China's lawful seat in the United Nations, which was a momentous event for the world and the United Nations. It marked the return of the Chinese people, or one-fourth of the world's population, back to the UN stage. The importance was significant and far-reaching for both China and the wider world.
This morning, President Xi Jinping attended the Conference Marking the 50th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Lawful Seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations in Beijing and delivered an important speech, which reviewed history and took stock of China's contribution to the cause of the UN and world peace and development over the past 50 years since the restoration, and looked into the future and laid out China's proposal and initiative on deepening cooperation with the UN, promoting peace and development of humanity and work toward a community with a shared future for mankind. The speech is highly relevant with far-reaching historical significance, attracts broad international attention and is warmly received by all parties.
President Xi Jinping pointed out that, for the past 50 years, the Chinese people have demonstrated an untiring spirit and kept to the right direction of China's development amidst changing circumstances, thus writing an epic chapter in the development of China and humanity; the Chinese people have stood in solidarity and cooperation with people around the world and upheld international equity and justice, contributing significantly to world peace and development; the Chinese people have upheld the authority and sanctity of the United Nations and practiced multilateralism, and China's cooperation with the United Nations has deepened steadily.
President Xi Jinping stressed that, in the world today, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, and the force for peace, development and progress has continued to grow. It falls upon us to follow the prevailing trend of history, and choose cooperation over confrontation, openness over seclusion, and mutual benefit over zero-sum games. We shall be firm in opposing all forms of hegemony and power politics, as well as all forms of unilateralism and protectionism.
President Xi Jinping pointed out that, we should vigorously advocate peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are the common values of humanity, and work together to provide the right guiding philosophy for building a better world. We should jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and work together to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity. We should stay committed to mutual benefit and win-win results, and work together to promote economic and social development for the greater benefit of our people. We should step up cooperation, and work together to address the various challenges and global issues facing humanity. We should resolutely uphold the authority and standing of the United Nations, and work together to practice true multilateralism.
Standing at a new historical starting point, China will stay committed to the path of peaceful development and always be a builder of world peace. China will stay committed to the path of reform and opening-up and always be a contributor to global development. China will stay committed to the path of multilateralism, always be a defender of the international order and work tirelessly for the lasting and peaceful development of the world and for building a community with a shared future for mankind!
People's Daily: You just announced that Premier Li Keqiang will attend a series of leaders' meetings on East Asia cooperation. How does China see the current East Asia cooperation and what's your expectations for the upcoming summits?
Wang Wenbin: East Asia is one of the most vibrant regions in the world with the greatest potential. Currently, East Asia cooperation enjoys an overall sound momentum. The ASEAN-centered East Asia cooperation mechanism has played an important role in promoting dialogue and cooperation and safeguarding regional stability and development. China sees ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and always attaches high importance to regional cooperation in East Asia. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN. The two sides are working to upgrade their strategic partnership and forge a closer community with a shared future, which will surely inject fresh impetus into East Asia cooperation. At the same time, East Asia cooperation faces more complicated factors with the continued spread of COVID-19 in the region, unbalanced economic recovery and attempts by a handful of countries to gang up and form cliques.
China hopes that the upcoming summits will converge consensus, deepen cooperation, and uphold the correct direction of East Asia cooperation and regional stability and prosperity through the following efforts. First, strengthen regional capability to deal with public health challenges. We need to further consolidate regional outcomes in combating COVID-19, deepen vaccine cooperation and improve contingency medical supplies reserve. Second, jointly promote green recovery and sustainable development. We need to dovetail post-COVID development plans, work for the coordinated, balanced and innovative development of industrial and supply chains, enhance cooperation in orderly energy transformation and address climate change. Third, consolidate the momentum for economic integration. We need to work for the scheduled entry into force of the RCEP to deliver dividends at an early date. Fourth, safeguard regional peace and stability. We need to stay committed to the ASEAN-centered open and inclusive regional cooperation architecture, properly handle hotspot and sensitive issues in the region through dialogue and consultation, and oppose acts that create division and undermine regional peace and stability.
Xinhua News Agency: Can you share with us the purpose of and consideration for State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Qatar and his meeting with the delegation of the interim government of the Afghan Taliban?
Wang Wenbin: Qatar is an important country in the Middle East and the Gulf region, and China's key partner of energy and economic and trade cooperation in the Middle East and the Gulf region. It has a unique role in and influence on Afghanistan and other regional hotspot issues. In recent years, under personal attention and strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, China-Qatar relations have been rapidly and deeply advanced with fruitful outcomes in cooperation in various sectors, even closer people-to-people exchange and good communication and coordination in international and regional affairs. This visit by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will further implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state on developing bilateral relations, deepen political mutual trust between China and Qatar, strengthen bilateral practical cooperation and work toward new progress in China-Qatar strategic partnership.
Since August this year, fundamental changes have taken place in the Afghan situation, and the Afghan people are seeing a historic opportunity to independently take control of their country's future. Meanwhile, the Afghan people are also facing many difficulties and challenges, where there is an urgent need for external support. As a traditionally friendly neighbor and cooperation partner of Afghanistan, China always calls for dialogue and engagement to guide the Afghan situation towards positive development and help the people tide over difficulties. Against such a backdrop, the Chinese side and the Afghan Taliban aut