BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- China's top diplomat on Sunday reaffirmed the country's role as a vital force for world peace, stability and justice, calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East and proposing that China and the United States focus on win-win cooperation.

Meeting the press on the sidelines of the annual session of the national legislature, Foreign Minister Wang Yi remarked on the Iran situation with a call for an immediate stop to military operations and for all sides to "return to the negotiating table as quickly as possible."

Middle Eastern affairs should be determined by regional countries independently, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

"Plotting color revolution or seeking regime change will find no popular support," he said.

On China-U.S. ties, Wang said 2026 is a "big year" for bilateral relations, noting that "the agenda of high-level exchanges is already on the table."

"What the two sides need to do now is to make thorough preparations accordingly, create a suitable environment, manage the differences that do exist, and remove unnecessary disruptions," Wang said.

"Neither side can remodel the other, but we can choose how we want to engage, that is, to commit to a spirit of mutual respect, to hold the bottom line of peaceful coexistence, and to strive for the prospect of win-win cooperation," he said.

The foreign minister hailed China-Russia relationship, saying it has "stood rock-solid against all odds."

The China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination has been based on equality, respect and mutual benefit since day one, which represents the direction of a new type of major-country relations, he said.

On the China-Europe ties, Wang said China consistently believes that Europe should naturally be a pole in a multipolar world, and that Europe is a key partner in China's modernization drive.

Noting that China and Europe are mutually complementary, he said, "Interdependence is not a risk; intertwined interests are not threats; and openness and cooperation will not weaken economic security, but building walls and barriers will only lead to self-isolation."

On China-India ties, Wang suggested the two countries uphold good-neighborliness and friendship and focus on development.

"We must maintain the correct strategic perception of each other as partner rather than rival, and opportunity instead of threat," he said.

Wang said the future of China-Japan relations "hinges on Japan's choice."

Noting that last year marked the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Wang said Japan should have deeply repented of the wrong path it chose, including its brutal invasion and colonization of Taiwan. However, the current Japanese leader claimed that a Taiwan contingency would constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan to exercise the so-called "right of collective self-defense."

"Since Taiwan affairs are purely China's internal affairs, what gives Japan the right to interfere with them? Why is Japan entitled to invoke self-defense if anything happens in China's Taiwan region?" he asked.

A strong China with 1.4 billion people will never allow anyone to justify colonialism or reverse history's verdict on aggression, Wang said.

TOWARD A MULTIPOLAR WORLD

At the press conference, Wang highlighted the significance of the Global Governance Initiative and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity in an increasingly turbulent world. He also called for upholding, not challenging, the central role of the United Nations (UN).

"China will never take the beaten path of seeking hegemony as its strength grows, nor do we subscribe to the logic that the world can be run by major countries," Wang said.

Wang said China's proposal is to build an equal and orderly multipolar world. "This should be the common responsibility of all countries."

In particular, the Global South has become a key driving force in promoting a multipolar world, he said, calling for enhancing the voice and representation of Global South countries in the UN.

On China's relations with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries, Wang said LAC countries should make their own decision in choosing friends.

"We never engage in geopolitical schemes, nor interfere in other countries' internal affairs, nor ask others to pick sides," he said. "Cooperation between China and LAC countries does not target any third party and should not be subject to interference by any third party."

On China-Africa ties, Wang said the friendship has withstood the test of changing international circumstances to demonstrate strong vitality. This year, China-Africa relations will see many new developments, including the implementation of zero-tariff access for 100 percent of African imports starting on May 1.

The 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Shenzhen in November. This marks China's third time hosting the event, following Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014.

Wang said China, as a good host, will work toward the goal of translating the vision and blueprint for building an Asia-Pacific community into actions and reality. ■