Vietnam
On Friday, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephonic conversation with the new Vietnamese Foreign Minister (FM), Bui Thanh Son.
Wang said that China was “willing to strengthen friendly exchanges between the two parties” in “anti-pandemic, trade and investment, infrastructure and other fields, speed up the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative and Two Corridors and One Economic Circle”. Further, the minister expressed hope to “deepen people-to-people friendship and youth exchanges, properly handle maritime issues, and promote the new progress of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.”
He further highlighted China’s willingness “to work with the ASEAN countries... to mark the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations between the two sides, promote the early entry into force and implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, speed up the connection between the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, and upgrade China-ASEAN relations to better benefit the people in the region.”
In response, the Vietnamese FM said that Vietnam was ready to “strengthen cooperation with China..., vigorously push forward economic, trade, and investment cooperation in the post-pandemic period, step up connectivity in transportation and infrastructure, enhance maritime cooperation, and jointly safeguard maritime peace and stability.”
Cuba
On Monday, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Miguel Díaz-Canel on his election as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and expressed hope that “Diaz-Canel will deliver greater achievements in the new leadership position.”
Xi Jinping said that he was glad to learn of Díaz-Canel’s electoral victory and that stressed his election “reflects the trust and expectations of all PCC members and the Cuban people”.
Indonesia
On Tuesday, President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Xi pointed to the growing trade and investment cooperation between the two countries despite the COVID-19 pandemic and said that it showed strong resilience and great potential.
Xi urged both nations to “continue to promote cooperation in infrastructure projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, implement key projects such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor, cultivate such new growth areas as new energy and maritime cooperation, and strengthen cooperation in such fields as digital economy.” He further added that China “supports Chinese enterprises to increase investment in Indonesia.” Xi also expressed hope that Indonesia would promote “the effective implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership,” and “regional trade liberalization and economic integration.”
In response, Joko thanked China “for overcoming difficulties and providing valuable support for Indonesia in its fight against COVID-19” and said that the country would “continue to strengthen cooperation with China in vaccine production.”
Saudi Arabia
On the same day, President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
Xi stressed that “climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic are both major challenges facing mankind and should be tackled with a collective response by all countries within multilateral frameworks.” He affirmed China’s support for “Saudi Arabia’s proposals and measures on promoting global climate governance and sustainable development” and assured the Crown Prince of Beijing’s commitment “to work with Saudi Arabia... to uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, promote full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, build a climate governance system featuring win-win cooperation and fairness and equity, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.”
Meanwhile, MBS affirmed Saudi Arabia’s willingness “to work with China to deepen the friendship and mutual trust, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in such fields as energy, economy, and trade, and cement the strategic synergy between Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the Belt and Road Initiative.”
Gabon
On Tuesday, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also had a phone conversation with Gabonese Foreign Minister Pacome Moubelet-Boubeya.
“China is willing to strengthen coordination with Gabon on multilateral occasions,” Wang said, adding that it would “safeguard the common interests of China and Gabon, China and Africa, as well as developing countries and uphold international fairness and justice.” He added that China was also willing “to seek greater complementarity with Gabon within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), fully implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19.”
In response, Moubelet-Boubeya said that “China’s success is encouraging” for all developing countries and that it showed “that poverty is not the destiny of underdeveloped countries.” He also reaffirmed Gabon’s appreciation of its ties with China.
Germany
On Wednesday, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a video consultation with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.
Wang said that China and Germany needed to ensure the success of “the upcoming 6th round of China-Germany Inter-governmental Consultation a complete success” and “make good preparations for the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of China-Germany diplomatic relations in 2022.” He also noted that “China has become Germany's largest global trading partner for five consecutive years, and became its second-largest export market for the first time.” In this regard, he added that the nations “should oppose the so-called “decoupling” together, jointly keep the global industrial and supply chains smooth and stable, and enhance cooperation in such fields as trade and investment, healthcare, clean energy, digital economy, and 5G technological security standards.”
Meanwhile, Heiko Maas said that Germany stood “ready to work with China to prepare for a new round of Germany-China Inter-governmental Consultation, to increase dialogue in various areas, and to enhance practical cooperation in an early resumption of personnel exchanges, pandemic response, climate change, and cultural exchanges.”
The two sides concluded their talk by agreeing to discuss the cooperation in pandemic prevention and control, including the mutual recognition of international health codes.