Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, March. 8 (Greenpost)–China is on a long march to modernization and it has no need or intention to replace the United States’ international role, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday.

“Some Americans allege that China will replace America’s role in the world. This conclusion is fundamentally wrong,” Wang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People’s Congress.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets the press at a news conference in Beijing, on the sidelines of the national legislature’s annual session on March 8, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua]

On trade frictions between the two countries, Wang said that trade war is never the right solution, as it will harm both the initiator as well as the target country in a globalized world.

“In the event of a trade war, China will make a justified and necessary response,” Wang said. “We hope China and the U.S. will have a calm and constructive dialogue as equals, and find a win-win solution.”

Despite elements of competition, China-U.S. ties are defined more by partnership, not rivalry, he added.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi answers questions on China’s foreign policy and foreign relations at a press conference for the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2018.[Photo: Xinhua]

Citing a latest poll, Wang said over 50 percent of the American people have a favorable view of China and the figure has been rising steadily in recent years.

“I hope people will not focus just on the problems of U.S.-China relations, but also pay attention to the positive aspects,” he said.

“The more China develops, the more it can contribute to the world,” the foreign minister said, stressing China’s commitment to peaceful development and win-win cooperation.

Photo from Xinhua