Wang Yi says, "Let's expand cooperation and reduce conflict"... Presses U.S. again to stay out of Taiwan

[Financial News] Wang Yi, China's top diplomat and foreign minister, emphasized Beijing's willingness to expand cooperation with the United States while again urging Washington to refrain from intervening in the Taiwan issue.
According to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China on the 1st, Wang held a phone call with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the 30th of last month and discussed bilateral ties and the Taiwan issue.
Wang said the agreements reached at the U.S.-China summit in Beijing in May, including the building of a "constructive, strategically stable relationship," had set the strategic direction for bilateral ties for the next three years or more. He added, "The two countries should remove disruptions, overcome obstacles and move steadily in the right direction."
He also stressed, "Based on the spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit, the two sides should turn the important agreements reached by the leaders into concrete policies and practical actions." He added that a "constructive, strategically stable relationship is not just a slogan, but a task that must be carried out through action, face-to-face engagement and long-term effort."
Wang also said, "We should expand the list of cooperation and broaden positive agendas, while reducing the list of conflicts and managing various risks."
On Taiwan, he reaffirmed Beijing's hard-line stance. He said, "The Taiwan issue is one where a small move can affect the whole situation," and added, "We hope the United States will handle Taiwan-related matters with the utmost caution, and then even more caution."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China said, "The two foreign ministers agreed that the call was positive and constructive," and added that they had agreed to faithfully implement the important agreements reached by the two leaders and continue communication in a flexible manner.
The phone call between the two foreign ministers came about two months after their previous conversation on April 30. The two also met in person in Beijing on June 14-15, when they accompanied their respective leaders at the U.S.-China summit.

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter