Wang Yi: China-Nauru relations turn a new page

On Jan 24, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Nauru Lionel Aingimea jointly met the press in Beijing after signing a joint communiqué on the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Nauru.

Foreign Minister Wang pointed out that Nauru made the political resolve at its cabinet meeting nine days ago to sever "diplomatic ties" with the Taiwan region and resume diplomatic relations with China, which was unanimously supported by its parliament. This is a political decision made independently by the government of Nauru that fully reflects the common will of the Nauruan people. China appreciates and welcomes this decision.

Foreign Minister Wang noted that today marks a new chapter in China-Nauru relations and that he and his counterpart just signed the Joint Communiqué on the Resumption of Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Nauru. The two sides decided to resume diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level as of this day. Nauru thus became the 183rd country to establish diplomatic relations with China.

Foreign Minister Wang pointed out that although China and Nauru are far apart geographically, the two peoples enjoy a long-standing friendship. As developing countries, China and Nauru face the common tasks of growing the economy, improving people's lives and realizing modernization. As members of the Global South, the two countries share the common aspirations to safeguard sovereignty and independence, uphold the common interests of developing countries, and work for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. These serve as the underlying logic for closer ties between China and Nauru and will surely open up broad vistas for cooperation.

Foreign Minister Wang said that China always believes that countries, regardless of size, strength and wealth, are equals and important members of the international community. China will, following the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, treat Nauru as an equal and support Nauru in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and chosen independently by its people. China looks forward to working with Nauru to deepen political mutual trust, advance mutually beneficial cooperation, enhance friendship between the people, and take bilateral ties to new heights. China will share with Nauru the development opportunities brought by Chinese modernization in a joint pursuit of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Foreign Minister Wang emphasized that the resumption of diplomatic ties between China and Nauru yet again shows the world that upholding the one-China principle is an unstoppable historical trend. The overwhelming majority of countries in the world accept the one-China principle and recognize that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. No matter how the situation in Taiwan changes, the historical and legal facts that Taiwan is part of China's territory will not change; the ethos of Chinese civilization that the territory must not be divided and the nation must not be disunited will not change; the international consensus supporting China in upholding national sovereignty and territorial integrity will not change; and the inevitable historical process of Taiwan's return to the motherland and China's reunification will not change.

Foreign Minister Wang noted that just a handful of countries still maintain "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan region for various reasons. This not only contravenes the interests of their own countries and people and goes against Resolution 2758 of the U.N. General Assembly, but also constitutes an infringement of China's sovereignty. It must be redressed sooner and later. China urges those countries to be clear-eyed about the trend of the times, seize the historical opportunities, fulfill their obligations under international law, and join the international community in coming to the right side of history. It is never too late to forge a friendship. China is ready to turn a new page in its relations with those countries on the basis of the one-China principle.