Xi highlights BRI, global COVID fight

The Belt and Road Initiative and the joint fight against COVID-19 were major highlights of President Xi Jinping's phone conversations with foreign leaders on Tuesday night.

Speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Xi said that the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging and only through unity and cooperation can the international community win the arduous fight against the novel coronavirus.

China is ready to continue to strengthen cooperation with Ukraine in areas including vaccines and traditional Chinese medicine to help the country overcome the pandemic, Xi said.

Zelensky said China has provided timely and valuable assistance to Ukraine and plays an important role in fighting the pandemic, and he hopes that the two nations can strengthen cooperation in areas such as vaccines and medicine.

On bilateral cooperation, Xi said the two sides should seek high-quality joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative, advance projects such as those regarding infrastructure and China-Europe freight trains, strengthen cooperation in agricultural products, and expand people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

China is ready to take next year's 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to advance relations with Ukraine and help the two countries better achieve their respective development goals, Xi added.

Zelensky said Ukraine values, and is committed to, developing a closer strategic partnership with China and stays true to the one-China policy.

In his talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Xi said that the two nations' close cooperation in combating COVID-19 adds new highlights to their bilateral ties.

China is willing to take vaccine cooperation with Turkey further and the two sides should jointly oppose moves that politicize source-tracing and defame countries in the name of the virus, Xi said, calling for promoting the building of a global community of health for all.

Erdogan thanked China for offering support to Turkey in the fight against COVID-19. He noted that the safety and efficacy of Chinese vaccines have been recognized and trusted by the world and said Turkey hopes to strengthen vaccine cooperation with China.

As China and Turkey are about to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Xi said China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Turkey in fields such as anti-terrorism and security.

The two sides should promote the synergy of the Belt and Road and Turkey's Middle Corridor Initiative, explore new ideas and measures to optimize their trade structure, and raise the level of their economic and trade cooperation, Xi said.

Erdogan said that Turkey is willing to further advance building the Belt and Road and expand pragmatic cooperation, and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Turkey.

Turkey firmly adheres to the one-China policy and supports China's efforts in safeguarding independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as cracking down on terrorism, he said.

Turkey does not allow anyone to use its territory to engage in separatist activities that compromise China's sovereignty, he added.

Speaking with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, Xi envisioned greater bilateral teamwork in areas such as vaccines and medical care, and said China is ready to further advance the Belt and Road with Caribbean countries.