BEIJING, August 11 (INP): China has laid down priority areas of promoting its diplomatic ties with foreign countries, in post COVID-19 period. 

This was announced by a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Zhao Lijian here at a regular news briefing. 

While pursuing  its foreign policy, he elaborated China will strengthen international cooperation in epidemic prevention and control, actively explore the establishment of joint prevention and control mechanisms with other countries and carry out cooperation in drug and vaccine research and development. 

China will provide assistance to countries in need to the best of its ability for improving global public health governance. 

For China-US relations, we stand ready to work with the United States to build a relationship on coordination, cooperation and stability in the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, but we will never submit to its bullying and power politics.  

“We will firmly safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, uphold our legitimate development rights and interests, and defend our major country status and national dignity that the Chinese people have won through unremitting efforts.  

Although some extremist forces in the United States continue to stoke trouble, trying to push China-US relations into the so-called "New Cold War", China maintains continuity and stability in its policy towards the US.  

We believe that China and the United States need to have candid and effective dialogues, take concrete actions to manage differences and focus on and advance practical cooperation in various fields. This serves the common interests of the two peoples and meets the common expectations of the international community. 

For China-Russia relations, China will adhere to the strategic guidance of the heads of state of the two countries and push China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era to a higher level.  

For the China-EU relationship, we will look at it from a strategic and long-term perspective and work for its steady growth. For the China-Japan relationship, we will actively plan and promote exchanges and cooperation between the two sides to inject new vitality into its development.  

For the China-India relationship, the two sides should jointly safeguard peace and security in the border areas and maintain steady and sound development of bilateral ties.  

We will continue to deepen strategic mutual trust and expand shared interests with our neighbors and other developing countries. 

China will take an even more active part in the reform and improvement of global governance, give full play to the United Nations' central role, follow international law and basic norms governing international relations, and work with other countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind,” he added. 

 The spokesperson further said, COVID-19 has engulfed and impacted the whole world since its outbreak early this year. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is fully committed to domestic epidemic prevention and control and resumption of economic activities.  

We have actively planned and developed our relations with other major countries, responded rationally to the unreasonable pressure the United States has piled on China, made new progress in advancing China-Russia relations under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, and sustained cooperation as the main tone of China-EU relations.  

We will continue to improve relations with neighboring countries, strengthen solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries, advocate the building of a community of common health for mankind, firmly uphold China's sovereignty and security interests, and endeavor to fulfill the purpose of diplomacy for the people. 

China has always pursued an independent foreign policy of peace, and will always be a builder of world peace, contributor to global development and defender of the international order. This has not changed and will not change, he added. 

INP/JAVED