On the 18th (local time), Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a speech at the United Nations Security Council. According to Reuters and other foreign media, amidst the commencement of negotiations between the United States and Russia to end the war in Ukraine, China expressed its support for all efforts that contribute to these negotiations.
Wang Yi, head of China’s ruling Communist Party’s Central Foreign Affairs Commission and concurrently Foreign Minister, stated at the UN Security Council meeting on the 18th (local time) that “China supports all efforts conducive to peace talks regarding Ukraine.”
Minister Wang further mentioned that China continues to uphold the four principles proposed by President Xi Jinping regarding the Ukraine war in 2022: respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, adhering to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respecting the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and supporting efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the crisis.
Regarding the Middle East issue, Wang emphasized, “Gaza and the West Bank are homes to the Palestinian people, not a ‘bargaining chip’ for political negotiations,” and that “the governance of Palestine by Palestinians must be a key principle in the governance of Gaza post-conflict.”
In a subsequent press conference, Wang remarked, “Countries are interdependent and share a common future, and no nation can go it alone,” underscoring the importance of multilateralism.
He also stated that “strong nations should not bully the weak, and we must not revert to the law of the jungle,” asserting that “regardless of changes in the international situation, China is committed to multilateralism.”
Although the United States was not directly mentioned, these remarks are interpreted as addressing the unilateral diplomacy based on America First policies during the second term of the Trump administration.
Bloomberg described China’s efforts to expand its interactions with the West as a “charm offensive,” analyzing that China is striving to strengthen its influence in the international community.
Starting with an official visit to the UK on the 13th, Wang also attended the Munich Security Conference held in Germany and will participate in the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in South Africa from the 20th to the 21st.