BEIJING: All parties should draw lessons from the Ukraine crisis, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday during a phone conversation with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.
Szijjarto, who requested the call, outlined the current situation in Europe and Hungary, especially the economic and financial challenges faced by Hungary due to the spillover of the Ukraine crisis.
He said Hungary is pleased with the achievements resulting from cooperation with China in various fields, especially the smooth progress of trade and investment cooperation.
Noting that the crisis in Ukraine has not only had a severe impact on Europe, but also had negative spillover effects around the world, Wang said that China has committed itself to promoting peace negotiations even though the country is not a party to the Ukraine crisis.
On China-Hungary relations, he said that China is ready to work with Hungary to build bilateral relations into a model of more mature and mutual-trust state-to-state relations, adding that the country will continue to pursue a friendly policy toward Hungary and support Chinese enterprises to invest in Hungary.
He also called on Hungary to work to push the EU to adopt a positive and pragmatic policy towards China. Szijjarto said that China has never been a rival to Europe, but a partner that offers opportunities for cooperation. Hungary will remain committed to promoting EU-China cooperation based on mutual respect, fairness and mutual benefit, he added.
May 14, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had urged the international community to advance a ceasefire in Ukraine to provide a green access to its grains exports.
Wang made the remarks during a video conversation with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. China is willing to maintain coordination with various parties to help address the food crisis, he said, adding that China has constantly provided emergency food aid to countries in need.
Wang said the trumpet of decoupling serves no one’s interests since both China and Germany are beneficiaries and contributors of globalization.
Noting the global challenges brought about by a combination of the geopolitical crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of vitality in the world economic recovery, Wang said China and Germany should strengthen strategic coordination to inject more stability and positive energy into the world. Baerbock said Germany supports multilateralism and is committed to improving Europe’s strategic autonomy.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Germany ties. Wang said that over the past five decades, the two countries have adhered to the concept of seeking common ground while reserving differences, mutual benefit and win-win results, and deepened cooperation in various fields.
The all-round strategic partnership between the two countries has become an important stabilizing factor in today’s world, Wang said, adding that the sound and steady development of China-Germany relations serves the interests of both sides and helps the two countries play a positive role in maintaining world peace, stability and development.
He said that the two countries should make good use of the government consultation mechanism, advance high-level dialogues on strategy, security, finance and people-to-people exchange, and strengthen exchanges among local governments and the youth as well as educational and cultural exchanges.
–The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
