Beijing, Jan.17 (Xinhua News Agency)

On Jan.17, 2021, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi gave an interview to the media at the conclusion of his visit to Indonesia and the Philippines. The contents are as follows.

During your visit to Indonesia, Indonesia expressed that Indonesia and China were close brothers and heartily hoped to further develop sound cooperation with China. What are your expectations for China-Indonesia cooperation in post-epidemic era?

Wang Yi: On the same day of my visit to Indonesia, a flight fully loaded with Chinese vaccine materials arrived at the same time. Prior to his meeting with me, President Joko was the first to receive inoculation of Chinese vaccine through live television. This showed Indonesia’s trust in Chinese vaccines and its firm determination to fight with the pandemic. It was also a vivid portrayal of the two countries standing side by side through thick and thin to overcome difficulties.

China and Indonesia are both major developing countries and important emerging economies. With centenary changes combined with global epidemic, the cooperation between the two countries has strategic significance and global influence. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, President Xi Jinping and Present Joko have had three telephone conversations, exchanging strategic views on battles against the epidemic as well as on development and cooperation. This visit aimed to implement the consensus reached by the heads of two nations and identify the path of deep cooperation. Both sides agreed to establish the “three models” of major emerging powers and South-South cooperation.

First, a model of carrying out vaccine cooperation. The two countries took a lead in cooperation to promote phase III clinical trials and Indonesia has become one of the first countries to get vaccinated. We will encourage enterprises from both countries to join hands in vaccine procurement, production and technical cooperation, so as to help Indonesia become a regional vaccine production center, make high-quality vaccines available and affordable to more developing and Muslim countries, and contribute our share to building a community of common health for all mankind.

Second, a model of promoting the Belt and Road cooperation. It was in Indonesia that President Xi Jinping first put forward the crucial initiative of building the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. Cooperation on Belt and Road Initiative between the two countries has yielded remarkable results, demonstrating strong resilience and huge potentials in the face of epidemic. We will focus on major projects such as Jakarband-Bandung high-speed railway, “the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor” and “the Two Countries, Twin Parks”. We will foster new growth areas such as 5G，artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing. We will continuously increase the export of high-quality Indonesian products to China and Chinese investment to Indonesia, in order to raise the sense of gain for the people of the two countries. Both sides will also discuss the establishment of a closer comprehensive economic partnership to boost the long-term development of the two countries respectively.

Third, a model of upholding multilateralism.The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a victory of multilateralism and free trade. Both sides pledged to push for the early entry into effects of the RCEP, so as to release dividends of the world’s largest free trade area and accelerate regional economic integration, and promote the building of  global open economy. The two sides signed an agreement on cyber security cooperation, making positive efforts to promote the establishment of cyber security rules in regional and international society. Both countries are developing members of the G20. China will give full support to Indonesia in hosting the G20 Summit next year to jointly advance global governance and cooperation and promote world peace and development.

The Philippines is the last stop of your tour to neighboring countries. In recent years, great progress has been made in China-Philippines relations, as President Duterte vividly defines it as a carpet of flowers. How do you view the development of China-Philippines relations in the current and future period of time?

Wang Yi: The Philippines was one of the neighboring countries that I visited most frequently in recent years. This visit to the Philippines was another trip of heart-to-heart exchange and cooperation.

First, renew the long-standing friendship. Separated by a narrow strip of water, China and the Philippines face each other across the sea. Our bilateral relations have gone through storms, but friendly cooperation turned out to be the only right choice. After President Duterte took office, China-Philippines relations successfully completed the trilogy of turnaround, consolidation and improvement. Cooperation in diverse fields has taken on a new dynamic and yielded fruitful outcomes. This can not be achieved without two sides’ commitment to the original aspiration of friendship, which should and will run through the development of China-Philippines relations.

Second, show good faith in jointly fighting COVID-19. China and the Philippines enjoy a tradition of standing side by side and helping each other in times of hardships since ancient times. Facing the pandemic, both sides offered support to each other at the very beginning, demonstrating our neighboring friendship and brotherhood. During this visit, China announced to provide a batch of vaccines to the Philippines and support enterprises from both countries in entering into vaccine procurement cooperation, fulfilling President Xi Jinping’s pledge to make vaccines a global public good. Just as President Duterte said, China’s assistance in providing vaccines to the Philippines under the circumstance of its sharply increasing demands at home, which demonstrated China’s genuine friendship with the Philippines.

Third, boost confidence in economic recovery. During the visit, the two sides announced the launch of the fast track for essential travel, signed an agreement of economic and technical cooperation, and unveiled Bank of China Manila as the RMB Clearing Bank of the Philippines, which boosted economic recovery and confidence of both sides. China will continue to participate in Philippines’ Build, Build, Build program, vigorously promote cooperation on major projects and lay a better foundation for the long-term development of the Philippines.

Fourth, reiterate resolution to properly handle differences. The South China Sea issue is an inescapable issue between China and the Philippines, but it is by no means a deadlock. As Foreign Secretary Locsin said, the South China Sea issue was just a lone pebble in the broad avenue of bilateral relations. Both sides agreed that the South China Sea issue was just a small part while China-Philippines relations are the whole. Ninety-nine percent of the overall situation should not be affected by only one percent of dispute. In accordance with the important consensus reached by heads of the two states, both sides agreed to adhere to the right orientation of properly addressing differences and enhancing cooperation, thus together forging ahead towards the same direction. It was necessary to facilitate cooperation on offshore oil and gas, keep up with  the times to address the difficulties left over from history, and make joint efforts for peace and stability in South China Sea as well as the regional development and prosperity. 

Fifth, strengthen people-to-people bond. China and the Philippines have a long history of friendly interactions thanks to our geographical proximity, blood ties and people-to-people bond. During the visit, the two sides launched the Manila Forum and set up the Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding to encourage the two peoples to make frequent exchanges and have a positive view on China-Philippines relations and the prospect of practical cooperation. This will consolidate public will and social foundation for China-Philippine friendship and make more people to join hands in advancing China-Philippines friendship. It is believed that with concerted efforts, hearts of the two nations will come closer, people of the two countries will become extraordinary friends and brothers, and steady and long-term development of the comprehensive strategic cooperation relations will be promoted between the two countries.