In Washington, D.C., Chinese Foreign Minister Reiterates Benefits of Belt and Road for the United States

Speaking to a forum at the CSIS in Washington today, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi underlined the importance of the Belt and Road in China’s foreign policy and its beneficial implications for the United States.

“The Belt and Road,” he said, “actively serves China’s own development, but also the commonality of all Asian-centric nations to develop themselves.” Sixty-five countries are involved in it realization, he said. It is aimed at developing the connectivity between these nations, but also, is based on “production capacity cooperation”. In addition, it enhances the “people to people relationships.” “People can learn from each other,” Wang said. He noted that the cooperation on production capacity would also be of great benefit to the United States, where China could contribute much in expanding U.S. infrastructural investment. “We can combine our efforts,” he said.

He was also very clear, in responding to a question regarding how China’s policy differs from that of the U.S., that China would like to build a new type of relationship with its counterparts, based on dialogue and cooperation, which he subtly contrasted with the more abrasive U.S. policy. He reiterated the Chinese position that they are intent on safeguarding the international system as this was established at the end of World War II and with the founding of the UN, noting that China had been the first country to sign the UN Charter.

“We have to safeguard the principles enshrined in that Charter, including the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. These principles have not been upheld,” Wang said.

Wang indicated five main tasks for China’s foreign policy: 1) helping other five to understand China’s development path; 2) safeguarding the international system; 3) developing the Belt and Road; 4) protecting China’s overseas interests; and 5) playing a more active part in resolving regional conflicts.

He said that China was firmly committed to eliminating nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula. While China was prepared to adhere to the new UN Resolution on North Korea, he said, there must be a negotiated solution to the crisis. “A war would be a disaster”, he said. Regarding the discussion of the THAAD missiles in South Korea, Wang said that the countries themselves must decide whether or not these will be deployed, but that the radar associated with the THAAD can see far into Chinese territory and therefore represents a potential threat to China as well. He expressed the hope that the two parties would take into consideration these concerns as well.