On May 25, 2021, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi was invited to attend and address a session on China at the Munich Security Conference via video link in Beijing. He elaborated on China's stance on the country's development, its relations with the world and China-EU cooperation.

Wang Yi said, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). China, a country with 5,000-year-long civilization, has gone through both glorious and tough times. Since modern times, the Chinese people have tried almost every political model in order to save the nation from subjugation and ensure its survival, but it was all in vain. It was the CPC that combined Marxism with China's reality and united with and led all the Chinese people to national independence and liberation and finally found the right path to prosperity and strength. That is socialism with Chinese characteristics. Especially in recent years, China has recorded a new series of historic achievements under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, ushering socialism with Chinese characteristics into a new era.

Wang Yi noted, the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a path of development featuring unremitting self-improvement. The fact that 1.4 billion Chinese are accelerating toward modernization is itself a milestone in the history of human development, and in particular China's historic contribution to the progress of the world. This is an unswerving path to peace. China follows an independent foreign policy of peace, and is the only country in the world that has written peaceful development into its constitution. China is committed to peaceful coexistence with other countries, and insists on no pursuit of hegemony, expansion or oppression, which is no doubt a major contribution to world strategic stability. This is a path of cooperation that benefits the globe. China is always a reliable partner of the international community, and attaches importance to win-win cooperation rather than developing itself at the cost of other countries' interests. As the biggest developing country in the world, China still puts its top priority on concentrating efforts to seek self-development. China will be bound to improve itself, and this will definitely make the world a better place.

Wang Yi pointed out that China is a trustworthy partner of all countries, not an institutional rival that confronts others. There is no one-size-fits-all model when it comes to a country's system. Different social systems do not necessarily make each other rivals, and different development paths do not necessarily hinder mutually beneficial cooperation. Mutual respect and pursuit of mutually beneficial cooperation can simply transcend differences of countries in social systems. China is confident in its system and also culturally inclusive. We will stick to the system and development path we have chosen, and fully respect the independent choices of other countries, and will not engage in exporting or competing on the system. The approach of drawing lines with values is itself nonobjective, irrational, and undemocratic. Peace, development, equity, justice, democracy, and freedom are the common values of all mankind. The standard of democracy and human rights is whether the people of the country are satisfied and happy.

Wang Yi said, China is ready to practice true multilateralism with European countries and the world and safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core. In the face of major changes unseen in a century and a once-in-a-century pandemic, the 193 member states of the United Nations are not 193 boats, but 193 sailors in the same boat. Therefore, we must work together, unite under the banner of multilateralism and enhance the consciousness of a community with a shared future to weather the storms. In terms of true multilateralism, it is important to firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, and major countries must take the lead in redressing the scales, enforcing the rule of law, assuming responsibility and focusing on actions. We must guard against any act that actually segments the world in the name of multilateralism by forming exclusive blocks and exercising bloc politics, or even taking sides on the basis of ideology.

Wang Yi said, China is willing to maintain and expand comprehensive cooperation with Europe based on the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit, and win-win results. China has always viewed China-EU relations from a strategic perspective, believed that cooperation is the general direction and keynote of bilateral relations, and regarded Europe as a partner rather than an opponent. China will, as always, firmly support the European integration process, support the EU's unity and self-reliance, and support the EU to strengthen strategic autonomy and play a greater role in the international community. China stands ready to step up anti-virus cooperation with Europe to jointly defeat the once-in-a-century pandemic; reinforce macro-policy coordination to boost global economic recovery; intensify green and digital cooperation to spearhead the world's innovative development; strengthen global governance to jointly tackle global challenges; and beef up people-to-people exchanges to promote the integration of Eastern and Western civilizations. The two sides should prevent the false information from covering up the truth and the political virus from undermining unity, and lay a solid public opinion and social foundation for the stability and long-term development of China-EU relations.

Wang Yi also answered questions on China-EU relations, the China-EU investment agreement, multilateralism and Xinjiang.