In this changing and turbulent international environment, China will remain a staunch force for peace, stability and progress of the world.

With such a statement, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi began his press conference at the Second Session of the 14th National People’s Congress of China (NPC).

– The world landscape today is undergoing a profound transformation and human society is confronted with multiple challenges. China will stand firmly on the right side of history and the side of human progress and will vigorously advocate peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit.

As Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized, China will pursue its development along with its efforts for peace and development of the world. At the same time, it will make greater contributions to world peace and development through its own development.

He stated that China and its neighboring countries will always be there for each other, and Asia is our common home. Making it a better place is the shared hope of all countries in the region. We will work for faster recovery of international passenger flights and make arrangements with more countries for visa-free travel and multi-year, multi-entry visa options.

The Foreign Minister of China said that the Chinese people have lived by and worked in the South China Sea for generations. – Since the early days, the South China Sea Islands have been territories under the jurisdiction of the Chinese government in accordance with the law. Nowadays, the South China Sea is the busiest, safest, and freest waterway in the world. Despite the turbulence in the world, peace and stability in the South China Sea have been maintained thanks to the collective efforts of China and ASEAN countries. This does not come by easily and should be dearly cherished. The most important experience we have drawn is that we must adhere to two principles. First, differences should be managed appropriately and resolved through dialogue, consultation, or negotiation between states directly involved. Second, peace at the sea should be upheld by China and ASEAN countries working together. These are also the core principles in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), signed in 2002. In upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea, it is important that China and ASEAN countries continue implementing the DOC and, at the same time, accelerate negotiations on a COC and establish regional rules that are more effective, substantive, and in line with the international law including the law of the sea. With strong efforts from China, the second reading of the COC was successfully completed and procedures for the third reading launched. We will work with ASEAN countries to strive for an early conclusion of the COC and to ensure that the South China Sea remains a sea of peace and cooperation.

China looks forward to continuing to promote unity and cooperation among developing countries, augmenting the strength of the South and jointly creating a shining “South moment” in global governance.

– The Global South is no longer the “silent majority”, but a key force for reforming the international order and a source of hope as the world undergoes profound changes unseen in a century, – Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. – The next meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be held in China this autumn. I believe that through this summit, China and Africa will enhance their long-standing friendship and deepen unity and collaboration to open up new vistas for faster common development and start a new chapter for a China-Africa community with a shared future. In a year of changes and confusion worldwide, the CPC Central Committee kept the safety of all Chinese compatriots abroad close to its heart. Throughout the year, the Ministry and our missions worldwide spared no effort to bring heartwarming care from the CPC Central Committee to all compatriots. We strengthened consular protection abroad, handling more than 80,000 cases of various types and issuing more than 6,000 reminders and alerts. We evacuated thousands of Chinese nationals from Sudan, Palestine, Israel, and other places, doing our best to protect the life and safety of Chinese nationals abroad.

At the press conference, such a pressing issue of our time as Artificial Intelligence did not remain on the sidelines.

– Artificial intelligence is now at a crucial stage of explosive growth, – Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. – We believe that there should be equal emphasis on development and security. New things and new opportunities should be embraced, and at the same time, brakes should be checked before setting off. Concerted efforts are needed to advance global governance on AI. Our main focus is to ensure that the three principles are met. First, ensure that AI is a force for good. Second, ensure safety. Third, ensure fairness.

Thus, he encouraged everyone to promote global AI governance jointly.

Gayrat Khonnazarov, UzA