Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at a press conference on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress, in Beijing, March 7, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday that faced with the complex and volatile international environment, China will firmly be a force for peace, stability and progress in the world. 

Wang Yi held a press conference Thursday on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress, and answered questions from journalists from home and abroad on China's foreign policy and foreign relations. 

China will continue to speak up for justice, promoting win-win cooperation in 2024, Wang said, while warning that talking down China will backfire and misjudging China will result in missing opportunities. 

China will stand firmly on the right side of history and on the side of human progress, Wang said, and looked forward to jointly creating a shining "South moment" in global governance. 

Wang stressed that China will never allow Taiwan to be separated from its motherland. He said China's policy on the Taiwan question is clear, which is to continue striving for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity. 

Neighborly relations

Asia is our common home, and to build this home well is the common aspiration of all countries in the region, Wang said. He stressed that China and neighboring countries should resolve differences and frictions through dialogue and consultation and jointly address various risks and challenges.

Wang Yi stressed that China and neighboring countries should resolve differences and frictions through dialogue

China will take justified actions to defend its rights in accordance with the law, and respond to unwarranted provocations with prompt and legitimate countermeasures in the South China Sea, Wang said. 

READ MORE: Wang refutes fallacy of aggressive China in South China Sea

On the Korean Peninsula, he said, anyone undermining peace, and stability in that region will pay a heavy price. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (second left) speaks at a press conference on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress, in Beijing, March 7, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

The foreign minister stressed that the "Belt and Road" remained an engine for common development, an accelerator of the world's modernization.

On Palestine

Wang said China explored the Chinese way of addressing hot-spot issues. China is committed to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and to political settlement. "On all hotspot issues, China always promotes talks for peace and never adds fuel to the fire," Wang said. 

He iterated that China supported Palestine in becoming a full member of the United Nations. 

China calls for a more broad-based, more authoritative, and more effective international peace conference to work out a timetable and road map for the two-state solution

The foreign minister called for the release of all those held captive and called on the international community to prioritize an immediate ceasefire.

ALSO READ: China urges Israel to cease discrediting 'two-state solution'

Restoring justice to the Palestinian people and fully implementing the two-state solution is the only way to break the vicious circle of Palestinian-Israeli conflicts, Wang said.

"We support Palestine's full membership in the UN, and urge certain UN Security Council members to stop laying obstacles to that end," Wang said, adding that China calls for a more broad-based, more authoritative, and more effective international peace conference to work out a timetable and road map for the two-state solution. 

Ties with Russia

China and Russia have forged a new paradigm of major-country relations that differs entirely from the obsolete Cold War approach, Wang said.

ALSO READ: Xi: China-Russia ties embrace new development opportunities

On the basis of non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party, China and Russia strive for lasting good-neighborliness and friendship and seek to deepen their comprehensive strategic coordination.

"Maintaining and growing the China-Russia relationship is a strategic choice by the two sides based on the fundamental interests of the two peoples, and it is also what we must do to keep pace with the trend of the world," Wang said.

China supports the holding in due course of an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, he said. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi listens to a question as he attends a press conference on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress, in Beijing, March 7, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Ties with US

On ties with the United States, Wang stressed that peaceful coexistence remained the bottom line, and that the consequences of a conflict between the two major countries would be unimaginable. 

Wang Yi said the US could hurt itself if it single-mindedly focused on containing China and urged Washington to take an objective and rational view of China's development

Wang said the US could hurt itself if it single-mindedly focused on containing China and urged Washington to take an objective and rational view of China's development, and match its words with actions to honor the commitments on China-US relations.

EU ties 

China will adopt a visa-free policy for Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg on a trial basis, starting March 14, Wang said.

"We hope more countries will also offer Chinese citizens visa facilitation and work with us to build fast-track networks for cross-border travels and encourage speedy resumption of international passenger flights," Wang said at the press conference. 

READ MORE: UN body: China's visa-free policy shows trust, confidence

He expressed the hope that China-EU relations will move ahead smoothly with green lights at every crossing. The EU's labeling of China as "a partner, competitor and systemic rival" at the same time is neither consistent with reality nor viable, he said.

New China-Africa summit 

A new meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will be held in autumn in Beijing where Chinese and African leaders will discuss future development and cooperation and hold in-depth exchanges of governance experience, Wang said Thursday. 

Global AI governance

China emphasizes both development and security in global artificial intelligence (AI) governance, Wang said while calling for concerted efforts.

"New things and new opportunities should be embraced, and brakes should be checked before setting off," Wang said.