China seeks course correction in US ties but will fight ‘all forms of hegemony’, top diplomat Wang Yi says
- In New Year’s Day article for Communist Party journal, Wang Yi rejects US framing of China ties as a rivalry between a democracy and an authoritarian government
- Byline cites Wang as director of Central Foreign Affairs Commission general office, the first confirmation of his new role as China’s top diplomat
“[We will] implement agreements reached by the top leaders of the US and China, seek to establish guiding principles of Sino-US relations and correct course [in bilateral ties],” Wang wrote in an article published on Sunday in Qiushi, the flagship magazine of China’s ruling Communist Party.
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The byline cited Wang as director of the general office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, the first public confirmation that he had taken over as China’s new foreign policy supremo, replacing Yang Jiechi who stepped down at age 72.
In his article, which aimed to review Beijing’s foreign policy over the past year and lay down key goals for the new one, Wang also pledged to deepen ties with Russia and achieve closer high-level communication with Europe.
China would also seek to deepen convergence on common interests with neighbours, he wrote.
Wang was promoted as a new member of the 24-strong Politburo, the party’s top decision-making body led by President Xi Jinping, during the 20th national congress in October.
The former foreign minister had been projected to take over Yang’s role since then.