On Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other high-level Chinese officials held meetings with various foreign delegates to bolster their bilateral relationship and discuss cooperation in the international sphere.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
External Security Commissioner of Foreign Ministry Cheng Guoping met with the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Ambassador to China, Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri. Cheng called the UAE “China’s important strategic partner in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region” and appreciated the UAE’s “firm support” in countering terrorism and issues related to Xinjiang. The two pledged to work together to “strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism” and enhance regional stability.
Senegal
Assistant Foreign Minister, Deng Li, held a video meeting with Diplomatic Adviser to the President of Senegal, Oumar Demba Ba. The two leaders discussed the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which is scheduled for later this year. Senegal will be hosting the event and China will be participating as the co-chair. While China has promised to provide the country “full support” in hosting the event, Senegal has pledged to maintain “close communication and coordination” while preparing for the new session. Ba also appreciated the collaborated efforts made by China and Africa in actively implementing the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of FOCAC 2018, specifically in light of the hurdles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this forum, the two decided to “strive for greater progress in Africa-China ties”.
Kazakhstan
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone conversation with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mukhtar Tleuberdi. At the start of the conversation, Wang congratulated Kazakhstan on its 30th anniversary of independence. Thereafter, Wang said that China was “willing” to utilize the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic ties as “an opportunity and take the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road as the mainline to push forward the bilateral cooperation in various fields”. The Chinese official added that both sides must “align their cooperation plans, deepen cooperation in production capacity and investment, upgrade connectivity, promote cooperation in vaccine R&D and procurement, explore cooperation in fields such as digital economy, e-commerce and artificial intelligence, and continuously inject new impetus into the development of bilateral relations”.
Additionally, Wang condemned the US for how it “maliciously attacked and smeared China” and “violated the basic norms of international relations” by meddling in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, which Beijing views as being its internal affairs. For decades now, Beijing has been cracking down Hong Kong’s pro-democracy uprising and religious freedom of the Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, an ethnic minority community of the autonomous region. He further urged Kazakhstan to join countries in “rejecting bullyism, double standards and meddling in the internal affairs of other countries”.
Laos
President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, Thongloun Sisoulith. According to the statement released by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China was “willing to work with Laos to further strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance strategic communication and deepen experience sharing in governing the Party and country”. It further added that both sides must “push for more achievements in bilateral Belt and Road cooperation” by “steadily” advancing the construction of the China-Laos Economic Corridor and the China-Laos Railway. The statement also mentioned that the two sides should “deepen exchanges and cooperation in culture, youth, tourism and other fields”. Moreover, the two leaders jointly announced the official launch of the China-Laos Friendship Year program, which will feature “a series of celebrations to further cement public support for the China-Laos friendship”.
Pakistan
Foreign Minister Wang also had a phone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart, Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. During the discussion, Wang said that the two allies shared a “time-tested and rock-solid friendship”, which he noted was the “most precious strategic asset” for both sides. Furthermore, he assured that the bond will only continue to strengthen “no matter how the world situation changes”. Wang celebrated the decision to prepone the 10th CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee meeting, which he said will “inject new impetus into China-Pakistan practical cooperation” via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Meanwhile, Qureshi said that Pakistan had “approved a vaccine by China’s Sinopharm” for emergency use and will “actively consider granting market access” to other vaccines developed by China. This conversation comes as both countries celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the “China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership”.
Ukraine
Wang also held a phone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba Dmytro. Dmytro said that Ukraine was “looking forward to importing COVID-19 vaccines produced by Chinese enterprises”. In response, Wang said that China was “always opposed to the acts of politicizing the pandemic and vaccines” and that Beijing appreciated Ukraine’s “objective and fair stance on this issue”. Dmytro also added that the one-China principle is “the fundamental principle that Ukraine should adhere to”, referring to China’s dispute with Taiwan, who considers itself an independent nation while China considers it part of its own territory. Both countries are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a strategic partnership.
These conversations with Ukraine and Pakistan reflect China’s goals of furthering its vaccine diplomacy and attempting to reduce the suspicion surrounding its indigenous vaccine. China has stepped in to create an economical and easily accessible vaccine, as compared to the Pfizer and Moderna alternatives. Further, unlike the former vaccines, Sinopharm’s vaccine does not require an ultra-cold storage facility, which has enticed some nations to purchase the Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use. However, due to the lack of comprehensive data on its efficacy, the reliability of China’s vaccine remains under question. The suspicion surrounding its success has caused China to accuse the international community of “politicizing the pandemic and vaccines”, forcing Beijing to double down on its vaccine diplomacy efforts with countries such as Ukraine and Pakistan to achieve wider market access.
China Discusses Bilateral Ties With Ukraine, UAE, Senegal, Laos, Pakistan and Kazakhstan
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi both participated in teleconferences with officials from Ukraine, Laos, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan.
January 25, 2021
SOURCE: EPE-EFE