China's Foreign Ministry reported Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's remarks at the press conference (March 7) on the sidelines of the NPC as follows:

Sino-Russian ties: “The more unstable the world is, the greater the need for carrying forward China-Russia cooperation. China and Russia should be each other's strategic support, development opportunity, and global partner. This is both an experience gained from history and an imperative under the current circumstances...We will set an example of strategic mutual trust, by firmly supporting each other in upholding core and major interests, jointly opposing ‘colour revolution’ and countering disinformation, and safeguarding national sovereignty and political security.”

With regard to the US: “we will not accept groundless accusations or defamation, and we will not allow our core interests to be breached.” But he added that “the list of areas where the two countries can and should cooperate is very clear, including COVID response, economic recovery, climate change and many others. We are open-minded to explore and deepen cooperation with the United States. We hope that the United States will move in the same direction and remove all its unreasonable restrictions on bilateral cooperation as early as possible, not create new obstacles.”

With regard to Europe: “In our view, China and Europe are two important players in this multipolar world. The relationship is equal and open, not targeting any third party or controlled by anyone else. China welcomes an EU that enjoys strengthened strategic autonomy, upholds multilateralism and commits itself to coordination and cooperation between major countries.”

On India: “China and India are each other's friends and partners, not threats or rivals. The two sides need to help each other succeed instead of undercutting each other; we should intensify cooperation instead of harboring suspicion at each other. The boundary dispute, an issue left from history, is not the whole story of the China-India relationship. It is important that the two sides manage the dispute properly and at the same time, expand and enhance cooperation to create enabling conditions for the settlement of the issue. The rights and wrongs of what happened in the border area last year are clear. So are the stakes involved. What happened again proves that initiating confrontation will not solve the problem, and that returning to peaceful negotiation is the right way forward. China's position is very clear: We are committed to settling the boundary dispute through dialogue and consultation. At the same time, we are resolved to safeguard our sovereign rights and interests. It falls on both sides to solidify the existing consensus, strengthen dialogue and communication, and improve the various management mechanisms to jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity in the border area.”