Q1. Foreign Minister, what is your view about China-Russia relations? President Vladimir Putin said that Russia-China relations have reached the highest level ever. Is it possible for China and Russia to further elevate their strategic partnership of coordination?

Wang Yi: I fully agree with President Putin’s positive and accurate assessment of the current China-Russia relations. China and Russia are each other’s biggest neighbors. We are both major countries in the world, and permanent members of the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council. We both shoulder special responsibility for upholding world peace and development. Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin, we have constantly deepened our strategic partnership of coordination which is fully in line with the logic of historical progress and underpinned by strong internal dynamism. It enables harmonious coexistence and mutual success of the two countries, and contributes to multipolarity in the world and greater democracy in international relations.

The current China-Russia relations have three main features. The first feature is everlasting friendship and never treating each other as enemy. China-Russia relations have advanced toward maturity by drawing upon historical experience and lessons. With far-sighted political vision, the leaders of the two countries made the historic decision of turning the page and charting a new course for the future. The idea of everlasting friendship and never treating each other as enemy embodied by the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation provides a solid legal basis for the two sides to carry out strategic cooperation at higher levels. Good neighbors wish each other well. Based on the correct strategic perception of each other, our two countries have found an approach to long-term engagement that serves our common interests. Through more than seven decades of joint efforts, China and Russia have forged a relationship characterized by robust mutual trust, deep foundation, rich substance and strong resilience.

The second feature is equal treatment and win-win cooperation. In the early 1990s, China and Russia established the principle of equality, mutual benefit and complementarity to guide our cooperation. Entering the 21st century, the principle of win-win cooperation has served as a fundamental guide for practical cooperation between the two countries in all fields. By keeping pace with the times and accommodating each other’s legitimate concerns, China and Russia have continued to deepen all-round cooperation and expand common interests. Through decades of development and cultivation, China-Russia relations have been significantly enriched in both breadth and depth. The combination of high-level cooperation initiatives and community-based cooperation projects has delivered tangible benefits to our two peoples, and enabled the world to share in the tremendous dividends of China-Russia cooperation.

Third, non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party. China and Russia are neighbors and major countries with global influence. As such, neither alliance nor confrontation serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the two countries and the two peoples. With the commitment to non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party, China-Russia relations pose no threat to any country in the world, still less are they subject to the disruption and influence of any third party. This relationship not only sets a fine example for a new type of major-country relations in the contemporary era, but also serves as an important force for stability in this turbulent and changing world. The principle of non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party is a creation in the history of international relations, and also the natural choice for the development of the bilateral relations.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. It is also the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The best way to commemorate history is to stay true to one’s original aspiration and keep forging ahead. I believe, under the leadership of both President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin, China and Russia will carry forward this great friendship with determination, foster a right view of the World War II history, and defend the outcomes of the victory of the war. The two countries will scale new heights continually in their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era, and contribute their combined strength to a more just and equitable international order.

Q2. China-Russia cooperation is thriving. Last year, bilateral trade exceeded US$244 billion, reaching a historic high. What do you think is the code to success that enables China-Russia cooperation to be so productive despite external disturbances? What are the priorities in the bilateral cooperation going forward?

Wang Yi: In the past decades, China and Russia, through joint efforts, have seen bountiful results in their cooperation that has been growing in size, strength and scope. From the 156 key projects carried out in China with Soviet aid decades back to the US$244.8 billion in bilateral trade today, from the Russian agricultural products on Chinese dinner tables to the Chinese cars on Russian streets, China-Russia cooperation has kept reaching greater depths and heights, injecting powerful dynamism to the growth of the bilateral relations.

Despite the current headwinds in global development, China-Russia cooperation has been making headway and maintaining a good momentum underpinned by stable scale and quality enhancement. This is first and foremost attributable to the stewardship of the two presidents. President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin have maintained close interactions, and laid out the top-level design for China-Russia relations in the new era, providing a solid strategic safeguard. Secondly, it is based on the shared need for development. China and Russia are fellow companions on the path of development and rejuvenation, sharing a boundary of more than 4,300 kilometers, and boasting mutually complementary strengths and enormous potential and space for cooperation. Thirdly, it is driven by a steady force from within. China-Russia cooperation aims to benefit the people of the two countries, and operates under a well-developed framework of mechanisms. No matter what kind of external interference or pressure there may have been, China and Russia have always been able to overcome difficulties and keep the cooperation from veering off course or losing speed. Fourthly, it is grounded in a solid popular foundation. The Chinese and Russian peoples have shared historical memories, similar values and ideals, and a deep, long-standing friendship. They set great store by their mutually beneficial cooperation, and stand together as an enduring source of dynamism for bilateral cooperation.

If we compare China-Russia cooperation to a high-speed train, it is a train that stays on track and races on at an unfaltering pace, through every landscape and in any weather. Facing a turbulent and changing world, China-Russia cooperation will continue going forward on track, and focus on realizing three goals: First, building a strong material foundation for the bilateral relations. China and Russia will build on their strong cooperation in economy, trade and energy, and create new areas of growth by tapping the potential in such fields as scientific and technological innovation and green development. Second, providing more opportunities for the rejuvenation of both countries. China and Russia will further expand mutual opening up, draw on each other’s useful experience, share progress in innovation and deepen industrial integration. Third, injecting stronger momentum into global development. China and Russia will strengthen synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union, spearhead regional cooperation and help keep global supply chains and value chains secure, stable and smooth through high-quality China-Russia cooperation.

Q3. What is China’s take on President Trump’s latest initiative on solving the Ukraine crisis? What is China’s comment on the outcomes of the telephone calls between the Russian and U.S. presidents?

Wang Yi: The Ukraine crisis has now entered its fourth year. It is regarded as the biggest geopolitical conflict in the post-Cold War era. Since the very first day of the conflict, China has been calling for a political settlement through dialogue and negotiation, and has supported all efforts for peace. This is also the call of the majority of the international community.

China has noted that President Putin and the Russian side have made it clear on multiple occasions that Russia never refuses dialogue to solve the conflict. Although situation on the battlefield remains complicated, momentum for peace talks has recently emerged. President Putin and President Trump spoke twice on the phone, and the two teams had several rounds of engagement, enabling serious discussions and some degree of agreement on the political settlement of the crisis and the improvement of Russia-U.S. ties. Small as it might be, this is a positive and necessary step toward peace. Peace does not fall into one’s lap; it is forged through active efforts. 

At the same time, it is also important to see the complexity of the causes of the crisis. There are still notable gaps in the positions of relevant parties on a number of key issues. Restoring peace remains a daunting task. In light of the wishes of the parties to the conflict, China is ready to work with the international community, especially the Global South, to play a constructive role, and support dialogue and negotiation efforts to address the root causes of the crisis, so that a fair and durable peace deal that is binding and accepted by all the parties concerned can eventually be reached, and lasting peace and security can truly be realized on the Eurasian continent and across the world.

Q4. How will warming interactions between Russia and the United States impact the global political and economic landscape?

Wang Yi: Russia and the United States have just taken their first steps in resuming normal engagement. This helps bring more stability to major-country relations and more positive expectations to a changing and turbulent international environment. We live in a world where certainty is becoming a scarce resource. Major countries should be aware of their international obligations, and actively provide this uncertain world with more stabilizing factors. As major countries in the world and permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, both Russia and the United States shoulder major responsibilities for world peace and tranquility, including global strategic stability. The choices they make will shape the course of the times and the landscape of the world. All other countries will be watching what they do.

At the same time, our Russian friends may have also noticed that some who do not want to see things settle are now making a lot of noise about a so-called “reverse Nixon” strategy. But such rhetoric not only degrades international politics to mere quid pro quo transactions, but also resurrects the obsolete Cold War mindset. To keep pace with the times, one must not have one’s body in the 21st century and head stuck in the zero-sum game thinking of the past. The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has withstood the test of a changing international landscape, and is keeping abreast with the development of our times, as solid and unshakable as mountains. We fully understand and support Russia’s diplomatic efforts to defend its own legitimate rights and interests. Humanity is bound together by a shared future. Major countries should follow the prevailing trend of history, fulfill their responsibilities, and contribute more positive energy to the betterment of the well-being of all.

Q5. How do you see the future trajectory of the trade war between China and the United States? Will China levy additional tariffs on products made in the United States?

Wang Yi: Every country has its problems in the course of development. All countries have their reasonable concerns. At the end of the day, the key to solving problems is in one’s own hands, not in the pocket of others. Instead of reflecting on itself, the United States tries to deflect responsibility and pin the blame on others, and goes on to impose arbitrary tariffs and even apply maximum pressure. This is like asking other people to pay for the bills incurred from one’s own illness. Rather than solving any problem, this practice will only severely disrupt global markets, undermine the international economic and trade order, and damage one’s own credibility. “America First” should not mean bullying others, still less seeking one’s own interests at the expense of other countries’ legitimate rights and interests. 

Using fentanyl as an excuse, the United States twice imposed additional tariffs against China. This is totally untenable. The abuse of fentanyl in the United States is a problem that must be confronted and resolved by the United States itself. China has the toughest and most comprehensive counternarcotics policies of today’s world. We have been assisting the United States in various ways on humanitarian grounds, but the United States has repaid goodwill with resentment and imposed additional tariffs. Is the United States really trying to solve the problem, or is it deliberately creating tension? If it truly wants to address the fentanyl problem, it needs to revoke the unjustified tariffs, engage in equal consultation with China, and seek mutually beneficial cooperation. China never accepts power politics or hegemony. If the United States insists on applying pressure and even goes down the path of extortion, China will surely take resolute countermeasures.

Mutual respect is a basic norm for state-to-state interactions. It is also an important prerequisite for China-U.S. relations. As President Xi Jinping noted in his telephone call with President Donald Trump earlier this year, China and the United States must seek peaceful coexistence, and conflict and confrontation should not be an option. China will stay committed to the principles proposed by President Xi Jinping—mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation—in promoting steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations. Meanwhile, we will take resolute measures to safeguard our sovereignty, security and development interests. We hope that the United States will see clearly the trend of the times and make sensible choices. 

Q6. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. How would you comment on the role of China and Russia in the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War? 

Wang Yi: This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, in addition to the World Anti-Fascist War. In that ferocious struggle between good and evil, China and Russia were two main theaters in Asia and Europe respectively, and the Chinese and Russian peoples were two vital forces fighting against fascism and militarism. The two peoples, undaunted by brutality, fought valiantly and made tremendous national sacrifices to stop and defeat the invaders and defend national sovereignty and dignity. They made significant, historic contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. The two sides also forged profound friendship, which has been the strong driving force for the comprehensive development of bilateral ties. On the basis of the great victory in World War II, China, Russia and other important members of the anti-fascist alliance worked together to found the United Nations and formulate the U.N. Charter and an array of pivotal international documents, which laid the groundwork for the modern international order and established the basic norms governing contemporary international relations. 

Faced with profound changes not seen in a century, we must stand firmly on the side of international justice, and work together with all peace-loving people around the world to defend the history written by fallen heroes, and reject any attempt or move to deny, distort or tamper with World War II history. We must make joint efforts to uphold the postwar international order, and take the 80th anniversary of the U.N. as an opportunity to safeguard its authority and standing, practice true multilateralism, and promote observance by all countries of the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter. We must advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world, further strengthen coordination at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and other multilateral fora, champion the voice of the Global South for strength through unity in this era, and work toward the goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the restoration of Taiwan. I wish to take this opportunity to emphasize that the restoration of Taiwan to China is a fruit of the victory in World War II and an important component of the postwar international order. In 1943, China, the United States and the United Kingdom issued the Cairo Declaration, which explicitly stipulated that Taiwan, which Japan had stolen, shall be restored to China. In 1945, China, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union issued the Potsdam Proclamation, reaffirming that “the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out.” On August 15 the same year, Japan accepted the Potsdam Proclamation by surrendering unconditionally, and signed the instrument of surrender undertaking to “carry out the provisions of the Potsdam Declaration in good faith.” The series of internationally legally binding documents have all affirmed China’s sovereignty over Taiwan and laid the cornerstone for the postwar international order. The historical and legal fact that Taiwan is part of Chinese territory is indisputable, and the Chinese identity of Taiwan compatriots brooks no suppression. No matter how the situation on the Taiwan island changes, the historical trend that China will eventually and surely achieve reunification is unstoppable.

Q7. Trump advocates global denuclearization. Do you believe he is sincere? Is China ready to give up nuclear weapons? Under what conditions is China willing to negotiate with Russia and the United States on the issue of strategic weapons? Is a tripartite agreement in this field possible?

Wang Yi: In January 2017, in his speech at the U.N. Office at Geneva, President Xi Jinping pointed out that nuclear weapons are “the Sword of Damocles” that hangs over mankind, and should be completely prohibited and thoroughly destroyed over time to make the world free of nuclear weapons.

“A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.” This is the important consensus reached by the leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states. On the first day it had nuclear weapons, China made the solemn declaration to the world that it undertakes not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances, and unconditionally commits itself to not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states and nuclear-weapon-free zones. China pursues a nuclear strategy of self-defense. It has no intention to engage in nuclear arms race with any country, and keeps its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security. China’s nuclear capabilities and nuclear policy are an important contribution to world peace.

Nuclear disarmament should follow the principles of “maintaining global strategic stability” and “undiminished security for all,” and be advanced in a step-by-step manner. Countries possessing the largest nuclear arsenals should, as a matter of course, assume special and primary responsibility for nuclear disarmament and continue to make drastic and substantive reductions in their nuclear weapons, thereby creating conditions for the ultimate goal of general and complete nuclear disarmament. The nuclear capabilities of China and the United States are not at all comparable, and the nuclear policies and strategic security environments of the two countries are entirely different. It is neither reasonable nor realistic for the United States to ask China to join in its nuclear disarmament negotiations with Russia at this stage. Russia, on its part, has repeatedly stressed its respect for China’s choice on this matter. 

The United States should effectively reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national security, stop building “nuclear alliances” through “nuclear sharing” and “extended deterrence,” stop deploying strategic forces such as ground-based intermediate-range missiles in close proximity to other countries, stop developing global anti-missile systems or other actions that would undermine strategic stability, and make concrete efforts for reducing the risk of a nuclear war and for realizing the goal of a world without nuclear weapons.

Q8. Both China and Russia have a time-honored history and a splendid culture. You have been to Russia many times. What impressed you most about Russia?

Wang Yi: You are right. China and Russia are great countries, and the Chinese and Russians are great peoples. For work purposes, I have visited Russia many times. I have been to cities like Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan, and met many friends from various sectors of society here. I have come to deeply appreciate that Russia is a country steeped in history. Wherever you go, you see well-preserved historical sites. From government officials to ordinary people, there is a strong culture of respecting, protecting and remembering history. Russia is also a country with a brilliant culture. Its illustrious literature and profound arts have a far-reaching impact on the development of world civilization. More importantly, Russia is a nation of resilient spirit, always uniting with extraordinary patriotic resolve at critical moments of national survival or when facing external suppression.

On Red Square 10 years ago, I was with President Xi Jinping at the celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War. It was right there more than 80 years ago that the Soviet soldiers, after an inspection parade, marched directly to the front lines. They fought with a fierce determination to defend every inch of their homeland to the last drop of their blood, and wrote an epic chapter in the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. I am firmly convinced that 80 years on, under the leadership of President Putin, the unyielding and indomitable Russian people will surmount all kinds of difficulties and challenges, march forward with more solid steps on the path of national development and revitalization, and achieve even greater success.