TOP CONCERNS: Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi briefs Chinese and international media on China's foreign policy at a press conference on the sidelines of the Third Session of the 11th National People's Congress in Beijing on March 7 (XING GUANGLI)

China-Russia relations

Our relationship with Russia is one of the priorities of China's diplomacy. The two countries have enjoyed mutual support on issues that concern each other's core interests. We have the same or similar views on many major international and regional issues. And we coordinate and communicate closely.

Practical cooperation between China and Russia enjoys bright prospects. Last year the two countries signed a series of important cooperation agreements covering oil, natural gas, coal, electricity, nuclear energy and high speed rail links. The

relevant cooperation projects are now well underway. We expect the Sino-Russian oil pipeline project to be completed by the end of this year and the pipeline to enter into operation next year.

In addition, the two countries are committed to promoting cooperation between China's northeast and Russia's Far East and Eastern Siberia. The two sides have agreed to promote cooperation in a series of cross-border infrastructure projects. I believe they will serve as exemplars.

Thanks to the personal commitment and support of the leaders of both countries, and to the joint efforts of both sides, today's China-Russia relationship is a mature, stable, healthy and dynamic strategic partnership of coordination. It has become a model for international relations, particularly relations between major countries.

This year will see many high-level exchanges between China and Russia. President Hu Jintao, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao and other Chinese leaders will have frequent meetings and talks with President Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Federation Council Chairman Sergei Mironov, State Duma Chairman Boris Gryzlov and other Russian leaders.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Putin, Vice President Xi Jinping will pay an official visit to Russia in late March during which he will attend the opening ceremony of the Year of Chinese Language in Russia. I believe all these meetings and visits will give a new strong impetus to the further growth of China-Russia relations. And I'm confident that the relationship will become better and better.

China-U.S. relations

After President Barack Obama took office last year, the China-U.S. relationship started on a good footing. But at the end of last year and the beginning of this year the United States sold arms to Taiwan and U.S. leaders met the Dalai Lama. These moves seriously disrupted China-U.S. ties and created difficulties in bilateral cooperation. This is not in the interests of either side, and responsibility for the situation does not lie with China.

A few days ago U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and Jeffrey Bader, Senior Director for Asian Affairs of the White House National Security Council, visited China. During their visit, both sides had in-depth candid discussions on the China-U.S. relationship and related issues. The Chinese side further gave a complete account on its principled stand on the China-U.S. relationship and on major issues including Taiwan and Tibet. We pointed out that recent U.S. actions have seriously violated the principles set out in the three Sino-U.S.joint communiqués, and the China-U.S. Joint Statement. They have undermined China's core interests and the overall interests of the bilateral relationship. China firmly opposes these actions.

As a matter of urgency the United States should now take China's position seriously, and take practical steps to demonstrate respect for China's core interests and major concerns. It should handle sensitive issues appropriately and work with the Chinese side to restore stable development to the China-U.S. relationship.

A sound China-U.S. relationship is not only in the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples. It is also conducive to peace, stability and the development of both the region and the world at large. China attaches great importance to China-U.S. relations, and has always been committed to building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship between the two countries. We hope that the United States will work with us in joint efforts toward this end.

China-Japan relations

I think China-Japan relations have bright prospects and major opportunities. The two countries should work together to push forward the strategic relationship of mutual benefit. We should jointly increase strategic input to our bilateral relations and have closer cooperation and communication at the bilateral, regional and global levels. We also see great potential in practical cooperation.

I want to underline that, in addition to traditional areas of cooperation, we have new opportunities for cooperation in energy, the environment, the circular economy and high and new technologies. These are emerging industries of strategic importance and there is huge potential for our cooperation in these areas. China and Japan are both Asian countries and we should work together to contribute to the revitalization of Asia.

China and Japan are neighbors who face each other across a narrow strip of water. We have always maintained that differences between our two countries over the East China Sea should be handled through consultation and negotiation in order to uphold both our strategic relationship of mutual benefit and the fundamental interests of the people of both countries. China's attitude is positive, not negative.