Full Text: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's speech at the luncheon of the Fourth World Peace Forum (3)

We will continue to promote peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific. China is committed to the path of peaceful development, a commitment that is of immediate relevance for the Asia-Pacific. We do not seek dominance or sphere of influence in the region, nor do we intend to form military alliances or drive any country out of the Asia-Pacific. Instead, we are committed to solidarity and cooperation with other countries in pursuit of a new path of security for the region, which is built by all, shared by all, win-win for all and safeguarded by all. China will seek to resolve disputes with its neighbors over territory and maritime rights and interests peacefully through dialogue and negotiation and on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law. Disputes that cannot be solved for now are to be managed properly. We will work with the international community to uphold freedom of navigation and commerce that countries enjoy at sea, including the South China Sea, based on international law, and fulfill all international responsibilities and obligations as a main littoral state.

We will continue to expand the good momentum of economic development in the Asia-Pacific. Most of us in this region are developing countries. We all need development. We cannot allow disruption of our hard-won development opportunities. Nor can we allow exaggerated or even fabricated tensions to disturb our development. The implementation of the land and maritime Silk Road initiatives have provided fresh opportunity for comprehensively deepening mutually beneficial cooperation among Asia-Pacific countries in business, investment, industrial, infrastructure and other fields. Strengthening international cooperation in production capacity and making good use of financial institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Silk Road Fund will be a big part of this process.

China has worked actively to strengthen regional security dialogue and cooperation. It has conducted more than 100 joint military exercises with over 50 countries, including those in the Asia-Pacific, and established defense and security dialogue mechanisms with 27 countries. China is the first country to hold 10+1 defense ministers' meetings with ASEAN countries and we are deeply involved in multilateral defense exchanges through regional frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ASEAN Regional Forum and ADMM+. China successfully hosted the CICA summit, calling on countries in the region to accommodate each other's security concerns while safeguarding their own security and explore a widely accepted, open and stable security cooperation architecture that meets the needs of this region.

China has worked actively to facilitate the peaceful settlement of regional hotspot issues. As an important force for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, China has worked tirelessly to create conditions for restarting the Six-Party Talks. China successfully hosted the foreign ministers' meeting of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan. We support the political, security and economic transitions in Afghanistan and play a mediating role in its domestic peace process in a way that is acceptable to all sides. We are also engaged in facilitating national reconciliation in Myanmar by leveraging our own resources and advantages to promote peace and stability both inside Myanmar and along its borders with China.

Distinguished Guests,

Friends,

The past 70 years has seen a much changed world and rapidly shifting international landscape and balance of power. No doubt, a fast-growing China committed to socialism with Chinese characteristics is becoming an important factor for world development. Not surprisingly, China's foreign policy has attracted much international attention, and has given rise to various interpretation, speculation, and sometimes even misunderstanding. Here I wish to say to you on record that China will always be a participant in the international order, not challenger; a facilitator, not trouble-maker; and a contributor, not a "free-rider". This was, is and will be the case in the future. (mo