Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. Photo: Xinhua

China and the US are both big countries. Neither side can remodel the other, but we can choose how we want to engage, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress. He answered questions of journalists from home and abroad on China's foreign policy and external relations, Xinhua News Agency reported.

In response to a question regarding how US-Israel joint military strikes against Iran could impact Trump's possible China visit, and China's expectation for the visit and development of bilateral relations, Wang said that the relationship between China and the United States is one of far-reaching and global implications. Turning our backs on each other would only lead to mutual misperception and miscalculation. Sliding into conflict or confrontation could drag the whole world down.

China and the US are both big countries. Neither side can remodel the other, but we can choose how we want to engage, that is, to commit to a spirit of mutual respect, to hold the bottom line of peaceful coexistence, and to strive for the prospect of win-win cooperation. That's what serves the interests of Chinese and American peoples, and that's also the expectation of the international community, according to Wang.

It is heartening to see that the presidents of the two countries have led by example. By maintaining good interactions at the top level, they have provided important strategic safeguard for the China-US relationship to improve and move forward, and they have brought the relationship back on an even keel after the ups and downs. This year is a "big year" for China-US relations. The agenda of high-level exchanges is already on the table. What the two sides need to do now is to make thorough preparations accordingly, create a suitable environment, manage the risks that do exist, and remove unnecessary disruptions, Wang said.

China is always committed and open. It is critical that the US side work in the same direction. I believe that when the two sides treat each other with sincerity and good faith, we will be able to lengthen the list of cooperation, and shorten the list of problems; we will be able to, under the strategic guidance of the two presidents, produce results that are satisfactory to both peoples, achieve consensus that is welcomed by the whole world, and make 2026 a landmark year of sound, steady and sustainable development of China-US relations, Wang noted. 

Global Times