FM dismisses suspicion of 'seeking hegemony'

File photo of Wang Yi [Photo/chinanews.com]

BEIJING - Chinese Foreign Minister on Saturday dismissed the suspicion that China as a major rising power might repeat the old path of constraining other countries' development and seeking hegemony.

In a speech made at the luncheon of the Fourth World Peace Forum held in Beijing, Wang Yi reaffirmed China's stance in safeguarding contemporary international order and system and denied the conventional thinking that China as a major rising power might put the development space of others under constraint and seek hegemony.

"As a participant of and contributor to the global and regional order, a growing China would only mean greater strength for peace and more positive energy in the world." Wang said.

China contributes the biggest number of peacekeeping personnel among the permanent members of the UN Security Council, and takes an active part in settling global hotspot issues through political dialogue.

As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter, the cornerstone of contemporary international system and order, Wang said China was directly involved in designing and building process of the international order and wouldn' t overturn it nor want to start everything anew.

"We will join other countries in safeguarding and further developing the existing order and system." Wang said, adding that China is a participant in the international order, not challenger; a facilitator, not trouble-maker; and a contributor, not a "free-rider".

As for the relationship between the U.S. and China, respectively the largest developed country and developing country, which Wang addressed after his speech, "exchange and cooperation remain the mainstream of the bilateral relationship".

Quoting the just-concluded seventh Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) and sixth High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE) between the two countries, Wang said there are extensive common interests between them bilaterally, regionally and globally.

"Our solution is to co-build a new type of relationship between China and the U.S. featuring non-conflict, non-confrontation as the base line and mutual respect as the interaction principle." Wang said.