On February 20, 2025 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Johannesburg. The meeting was chaired by South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola. Foreign ministers from G20 member states and guest countries, as well as heads of international organizations, including the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (U.N.), were present at the meeting.

Wang Yi said, the current international landscape is marked by transformation and turbulence. Regional conflicts and turmoil break out from time to time. The global security deficit keeps growing. It is time for the G20 to renew its commitment to the consensus of the Rio Summit, which is to act as a joint force for world peace and stability and build a safer world. To that end, Wang Yi put forward China's proposals.

First, acting as the guardians of world peace. Countries should respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and respect the development paths and social systems independently chosen by each other. Countries should persevere with dialogue and negotiation, and seek peaceful settlement to differences between countries and international and regional hotspot issues. Bloc confrontation and interference in other countries' internal affairs must be rejected. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence remain as relevant as ever under current circumstances.

Second, acting as the builders of universal security. Humanity is a community with a shared future. President Xi Jinping has proposed the Global Security Initiative, which advocates the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, a new path to security featuring dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliance, and win-win rather than zero-sum, and a joint response to traditional and nontraditional security risks and challenges. China is ready for closer exchanges and cooperation with all sides in this regard.

Third, acting as the defenders of multilateralism. As the international situation becomes more complex and global challenges more acute, it is all the more important to defend the authority of the U.N. and give full play to its role. Countries need to translate the Call to Action on Global Governance Reform launched by the G20 foreign ministers into action and firmly safeguard the international system with the U.N. at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter.

Regarding the Ukraine crisis, Wang Yi pointed out that recently the calls for peace talks are rising and the window of opportunity for peace is opening. Although the parties have different positions and it is hard to find simple solutions to complex issues, dialogue is always better than confrontation and peace talks better than fighting. China always calls for an early and peaceful settlement of the crisis and has been actively promoting peace talks in line with President Xi Jinping's four-point observations about what must be done. China supports all efforts dedicated to peace, including the recent consensus reached between the United States and Russia. China hopes that the relevant parties can find a sustainable and lasting solution that takes into account each other's concerns. Acting on the wishes of the relevant parties and keeping in mind the concerns of the international community, especially those of the Global South, China will continue playing a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis.

Regarding the current situation in the Middle East, Wang Yi said that the Gaza ceasefire agreement must be implemented in a continuous and effective manner. "The Palestinians governing Palestine" is an important principle that must be upheld in the post-conflict governance of Gaza, and the two-State solution is the only viable way out. The Palestinian question should not be marginalized once again. The international community should respect the choice made by the Syrian people, and at the same time, strictly prevent extremist forces from spreading and gaining strength in Syria and deny violent terrorists any safe haven in Syria.

Wang Yi stressed that this year represents an "African moment" at the G20. Countries must listen to what Africa has to say, take Africa's concerns seriously, support Africa's actions, and make greater contributions to peace and development in Africa. China firmly supports the African people in independently resolving African problems, and opposes external interference in the internal affairs of African countries. China believes that the African people have the wisdom, capability and right to take good care of their own affairs, and that the African Union's goal of Silencing the Guns in Africa will be achieved.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Wang Yi also met respectively with foreign ministers of Russia, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and other countries.