THE Global South should strive for development. Last November, President Xi Jinping announced eight actions China would take in support of global development, generating new energy for faster Global South development.
We should keep development as a central international agenda item, build up the momentum, enhance our capacity, and advance hand in hand toward modernization.
China is naturally a member of the Global South, because we have fought colonialism and hegemonism together in history and we are committed to the common goal of development and revitalisation. No matter how the world changes, our heart will always be with the Global South, and our root will grow deeper in the Global South. China will work with all Global South countries to add a new chapter to the annals of the history of the world.
Bloomberg: Direct talks have started between the U.S. and Russia on ending the war in Ukraine. President Trump has said he would welcome China’s help in the process. What role does China think it should play in this context?
Wang Yi: China has been calling for political settlement through dialogue and negotiation since the first day of the crisis, and has been actively working for peace and pushing for talks. Shortly after the eruption of the crisis, President Xi Jinping put forth four points on what must be done, an important proposition pointing out the way for our efforts. Hence, China released its position paper on the crisis, sent its special representative for shuttle diplomacy, and initiated the Group of Friends for Peace at the United Nations together with Brazil and other Global South countries. Our stance has always been objective and impartial, our voice has always been calm and balanced and our purpose is to create conditions and build consensus for resolving the crisis.

China welcomes and supports all efforts for peace. At the same time, it is also important to see the complexity of the causes of the crisis. As a Chinese proverb puts it, it takes more than one cold day to freeze three feet of ice. Likewise, melting that thick ice cannot be done overnight. No one wins in a conflict, but everyone gains in peace. The negotiating table is where the conflict ends and peace starts. Although the relevant parties have not had their positions fully aligned, they all hope to have a fair and durable peace deal that is binding and accepted by all the parties concerned. And that is a valuable common point, and all the parties should jointly strive for it. China is ready to work with the international community, in light of the wills of the parties to the conflict, to continue to play its constructive role in resolving the crisis and realising lasting peace.
One last point on this question. The Ukraine crisis has been dragging on for over three years. In hindsight, the tragedy could have been avoided. All parties should learn something from the crisis. Among many others, security should be mutual and equal, and no country should build its security on the insecurity of another. We should advocate and act on the new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and that is the way to truly realise lasting peace and security on the Eurasian continent and across the world.

CGTN: The impressive emergence of DeepSeek showcases China’s innovation capability in artificial intelligence. Some say that the U.S. finds it unacceptable to let China get ahead in science and technology. What is your view on China-U.S. competition in science and technology?
Wang Yi: Recently, China’s scientific and technological innovation has more than once defied people’s imagination. From breakthroughs in atomic bombs, missiles and satellites decades ago to the Shenzhou space missions and the Chang’e lunar exploration program, to 5G, quantum computing and DeepSeek, generations of the Chinese people have never stopped in their endeavour for innovation. And we are witnessing an ever-expanding horizon for China to become a science and technology powerhouse.

Admittedly, this journey has not been smooth. Be it space science or chip making, unjustified external suppression has never stopped. But where there is blockade, there is breakthrough; where there is suppression, there is innovation; where there is the fiercest storm, there is the platform launching China’s science and technology skyward like the Chinese mythological hero Nezha soaring into the heavens. As well put by an ancient Chinese verse, “No mountains can stop the surging flow of a mighty river.” Likewise, “small yard, high fence” cannot suppress the spirit of innovation, and decoupling and supply chains disruption will only lead to self-isolation.
Science and technology should not be used to put up an iron curtain. It should be the wealth that benefits all and is shared by all. To promote common development of humanity, China has taken real measures to implement the Global AI Governance Initiative put forth by President Xi Jinping, and released the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All. We have also proposed the Initiative on International Cooperation in Open Science together with Brazil, South Africa and the African Union, calling on all to give priority to scientific and technological capacity-building of the Global South so that no country is left behind. We are ready to share the fruits of our innovation with more countries and jointly explore the mysteries of the stars and oceans.

Reuters: Right after Trump returned to the White House, he imposed fresh tariffs on China over fentanyl. But at the same time, he is offering to build a good relationship with China. How differently will China engage with the Trump administration over the next four years compared to his previous term?
Wang Yi: Mutual respect is a basic norm governing state-to-state relations. It is also an important prerequisite for China-U.S. relations. No country should fantasize that it can suppress China and maintain good relations with China at the same time. Such two-faced acts are not good for the stability of bilateral relations, or for building mutual trust.
On fentanyl, it must be made clear at the outset that China always takes resolute measures against drug trafficking and manufacturing, and China has put in place the toughest and most comprehensive counternarcotics policies in today’s world. As early as in 2019, upon the request of the U.S. side, China scheduled all fentanyl-related substances, the first country to do so. But the abuse of fentanyl in the United States is a problem that must be confronted and resolved by the United States

itself. China has been assisting the United States in various ways on humanitarian grounds. The United States should not return good with evil, or even impose arbitrary tariffs. No responsible major country should do that.
As the Chinese saying goes, “If one’s action fails, look for the reason within oneself.” The United States should go over what has actually happened: What has it achieved from tariff and trade wars these years? Has its trade deficit widened or narrowed? Has its manufacturing become more competitive or less competitive? Has U.S. inflation gone up or down? Has the life of its people got better or worse? China-U.S. business relations are based on two-way and reciprocal interactions. Cooperation will bring about mutual benefit and win-win, and China will definitely take countermeasures in response to arbitrary pressure.
As the world’s largest developing and developed countries respectively, China and the United States will stay on this planet for a long time. They must therefore seek peaceful coexistence. As President Xi Jinping noted in his telephone call with President Donald J. Trump earlier this year, confrontation and conflict should not be an option. Given the extensive common interests and broad space for cooperation, it is possible for China and the United States to become partners helping each other succeed and prosper together.

China will stay committed to the three principles proposed by President Xi Jinping—mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation—in promoting steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations. At the same time, we hope that the U.S. side will listen to the calls of the two peoples, see clearly the trend of the times, take an objective and rational view of China’s development, engage proactively with China in practical exchanges, and work together with China to pursue the right way of getting along with each other to the benefit of the two countries and the whole world.
People’s Daily: How does China see the current role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)? What proposals will China put forward during its presidency? What topics will be discussed at the upcoming SCO summit in China?
Wang Yi: This year is the SCO’s “China Year.” The SCO was born in China and named after Shanghai. This means something special to us. We are very pleased to welcome it home.
It is even more heartening that the SCO has grown through the past 24 years from a six-member organization to a big family consisting of 26 countries. It has become a regional cooperation organization with the largest geographical area and population.

The key to the SCO’s growth lies in its commitment to the Shanghai Spirit, in its adherence to the founding principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development, and in its success in charting a new path for regional cooperation.
As the rotating president, China is putting together more than 100 events in political, security, economic and people-to-people fields under the slogan of “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move.” We will take real actions to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit and promote SCO development.

I would like to let you know that China will host the SCO summit in Tianjin this autumn. Leaders will get together by the Haihe River to reflect on the SCO’s accomplishments, plan the future, and build consensus for cooperation. It will help the SCO embark on a new journey from China and make the organization a more close-knit community with a shared future.