Foreign Minister Wang Yi calls on Washington to stop 'undermining China's sovereignty and security'

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

"Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China has always respected the choice of the American people and has never interfered in the internal affairs of the United States," Wang Yi said in his opening remarks at the "Lanting" forum in Beijing.

China's foreign minister stressed that Beijing has no intention of challenging Washington or trying to replace the United States.

"We are willing to live in peace and strive for common development with the United States. Exactly as such, we hope the United States will respect China's fundamental interests, national dignity and right to development," the diplomat added.

He called on Washington to "stop smearing the Communist Party and China's political system, stop tolerating or even supporting the wrongful words and actions of separatist forces advocating 'Taiwan independence', and stop undermining China's sovereignty and security in internal affairs related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet."

Mr. Wang Yi emphasized: China does not seek to overthrow the governments of other countries, and values ​​and protects peace around the world.

"China is a country that has always valued and protected peace around the world. Over the past 70 years, we have not provoked war or occupied a single inch of foreign territory. We try to resolve differences through dialogue and disputes through negotiations. We have no intention of exporting our ideas, nor do we try to overthrow the government of any country," said the Chinese Foreign Minister.

He also stressed that China ranks second in the world in terms of contribution to the United Nations' regular budget and funding for peacekeeping operations, and its forces.China's peacekeeping force is the largest among the permanent members of the UN Security Council.