China seeks bigger role as a peace broker
Foreign minister lays out country's ambitions to exert greater influence on the international stage in conflict resolution and climate change
China aims to expand its influence abroad by mediating in international conflicts and having a more active role in the United Nations, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said yesterday as he outlined the nation's diplomatic agenda.
Observers said the remarks reflected Beijing's growing ambition to set the rules in global diplomacy, even though Wang stressed that China was not seeking to create a new world order.
On the sidelines of the National People's Congress meeting in Beijing, Wang said China would defend its national interests and play a bigger role in issues ranging from conflict in Afghanistan to climate change.
"We are seeking a unique Chinese approach to settling hot-spot issues," Wang said. "We will continue to put forward Chinese solutions."
China's top diplomatic priority was to push forward its "One Belt, One Road" initiative - a plan to boost infrastructure and trade links with countries from Asia to Europe - and marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the second world war, Wang said. It would also actively take part in UN environment and development conferences.
"China supports reforming the international order, but such reform is not about overturning the current system," he said.
He also said that unlike the Marshall Plan - the flood of US economic support to rebuild Europe after the second world war - the "One Belt, One Road" scheme was not based on geopolitics.