China’s top diplomat Wang Yi says unilateralism, bullying ‘biggest threat’ to global stability
- Foreign minister also calls for stronger ties with ‘close neighbour, friend and partner’ South Korea during meeting with counterpart Kang Kyung-wha
- His first visit to Seoul in nearly five years comes amid mounting pressure from Washington
Unilateralism and bullying are harming global peace and stability, China’s top diplomat said in Seoul, as Beijing seeks to repair strained relations with South Korea in the face of mounting pressure from the United States.
Speaking during a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also called for stronger ties with the traditional US ally that he described as “a close neighbour, a friend and a partner”.
“In the face of an international situation that’s full of uncertainties and in the middle of change unprecedented in a century, neighbours should engage with each other even more, step up cooperation to understand and support each other, to jointly safeguard our legitimate rights and interests, and together play constructive roles in regional peace and stability,” Wang told Kang, according to state-run People’s Daily.
Without mentioning the United States, Wang, who is also China’s state councillor, said the international order had been jeopardised by unilateralism and bullying, which were the “biggest threat” to world peace and stability.
Kang responded by stressing the importance of shared understanding to improve cooperation through more high-level exchanges and close communication.
“Through today’s talks, I expect that we can have in-depth exchanges of views on ways to enhance practical cooperation in the economy, environment, culture and people-to-people exchanges, and ways to cooperate over the denuclearisation of the peninsula and the establishment of peace,” she said.