Highlights of press conference on China's foreign policy and diplomatic relations (6)

On Belt and Road

Infrastructure and public well-being projects under the Belt and Road Initiative have played an important role for partner countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, Wang said.

Wang said that looking into the future, the joint building of the Belt and Road will be conducted on a more solid foundation, with more vitality and broader prospects after the pandemic.

According to Wang, China-Europe freight trains have transported 8,000 tons of materials used to help combat the virus from January to April. 

On ties with ASEAN

China stands ready to further improve the level of economic integration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with joint efforts to enable the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership this year, Wang Yi said.

Wang said that China will continue to see ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and support the central role of the trade bloc in East Asian cooperation.

The two sides must step up cooperation in reopening businesses and make up for the losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. 

On Korean Peninsula

Enhancing mutual trust and breaking the impasse on the Korean Peninsula require more concrete actions, Wang said.

China is glad to see continuous interaction between the leaders of the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and hopes the two sides will resume meaningful dialogues at an early date, Wang said.

The DPRK has taken positive measures to promote de-escalation of tension and denuclearization on the peninsula, but it is regrettable that such moves meet no response from the US, which is the main reason for the ongoing stalemate of their dialogue.