Spokesman calls on US to translate commitment into action

Published: March 09,2024

By Cao Desheng

Liu Jieyi, deputy secretary-general and spokesman for the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, gives an exclusive interview to China Daily. QIAO YUHAO/CHINA DAILY

The United States should translate its commitment into real action and work with China to build a stable, healthy and sustainable bilateral relationship, said the spokesman for the ongoing second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

During an exclusive interview with China Daily, Liu Jieyi, the spokesman, said that to ensure the bilateral ties stay on the right course, the two countries should work with each other on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.

“It takes two to tango. The United States should see the value of working with China and change their perception of China as a strategic rival or whatever negative definition they have in mind or sometimes openly declared,” said Liu.

“And of course, once our sovereignty, security and development interests are being harmed, we certainly will firmly protect our interests. This goes without saying,” he added.

Liu’s previous positions include China’s permanent representative to the United Nations and head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, which underscore his expertise in navigating complex international waters and cross-Strait relations.

He started to work as a standing committee member and vice-chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPPCC National Committee last year.

With regards to the protracted Ukraine crisis, Liu said that it is imperative for all the parties to realize that this is not a last-man standing situation. “A negotiated solution to this crisis is needed,” he said.

From the very beginning, China has been playing a very constructive and positive role in moving different parties in the direction of calming things down and of seeking a negotiated solution to the crisis, Liu said.

“I think countries, particularly countries that pump weapons into this crisis, pouring oil on fire, should realize that what they have been doing is hurting people in Ukraine, in the Russian Federation, and in the region. They should change their attitude and work with the countries that are trying to move things to negotiations to stop the crisis.”

Liu warned of the mounting deficits in development, security and governance in the world, saying that the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, all proposed by President Xi Jinping, are important contributions to making sure that humanity moves in the right direction.

He said that the initiatives are broadly supported by the majority of the international community because “they see in such proposals a real interest for them and also for the international community”.

“You always have countries that put their own narrow national interests before the common interests of the international community. But I’m confident that more and more people in the world will see the value in these initiatives and the need to work together to put them into practice and to create a path toward a better world,” he said.

Speaking of his role as a CPPCC National Committee member currently, Liu said this is a very important responsibility, and “you really feel that you can contribute to areas that are important for what the country is doing”.

Every year when the “two sessions” are held in March, members of the CPPCC National Committee will bring their proposals and recommendations to the meeting to participate in State affairs.

“A lot of work has been put into such proposals and recommendations, leaving no stones unturned in finding out what happens on the ground and focusing on the most urgent and most important issues that need to be dealt with in this form,” he said.

“There are numerous examples of CPPCC proposals and recommendations being incorporated into the decision-making process as part of national policies, relating to different aspects of our social and economic development, the environment and many other issues.”

During his exchanges with foreign friends, Liu takes the opportunity to explain to them what the CPPCC is and how consultative democracy is a part of China’s whole-process people’s democracy.

“Many countries face elections this year. There is serious international concern that some elections could create problems or even chaos, not only internally, but also having a spillover effect on other countries,” Liu said.

“When foreign visitors come to the CPPCC and see what we do in China, they make comparisons and draw their own conclusions. They note that the whole-process people’s democracy is to make sure that people’s voices are heard and their aspirations are reflected in decision-making and decision implementation and in the process of constantly improving things for the people and for the country.”

China Daily