Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Beijing on Monday.
As Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, pointed out, China and the UK, as permanent members of the UN Security Council and world powers, should fulfill their international obligations, demonstrate responsibility and make contributions to world peace and development.
Wang Yi recalled that last year, the leaders of the two countries held a telephone conversation and a face-to-face meeting, putting China-UK relations on the right track of improvement and development. According to him, China pays special attention to the UK’s commitment to a consistent, long-term policy based on mutual respect towards China.
“China is willing to work with the UK to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen exchanges in various fields, enhance mutual understanding, and promote the healthy and stable development of China-UK relations,” the Chinese Foreign Minister said.
T. Blair, for his part, noted that attempts to isolate China are doomed to failure and the world needs greater understanding of China. Both sides, he stressed, should intensify dialogue and exchanges at all levels of government and among various social circles, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote sustainable and positive development of bilateral relations.
On the Israeli-Iranian conflict, Wang Yi said differences between the countries should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and consultation, adding that Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran under the pretext of “potential future threats” and the US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency send a wrong signal to the world that disputes can be resolved by force rather than negotiations, thereby setting a dangerous precedent with serious consequences.
“All parties to the conflict should take measures to ease tensions and return to the path of political settlement through dialogue and negotiations to restore peace and stability in the Middle East,” Wang Yi concluded.
Tony Blair said the UK was paying close attention to the conflict between Israel and Iran and called for a return to the path of negotiations through dialogue and diplomacy to quickly restore peace, security and stability in the region. –0–