China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held a press conference Saturday morning on the sidelines of the annual session of the national legislature.

China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held a press conference Saturday morning on the sidelines of the annual session of the national legislature.

 

Here are the highlights of the press conference:

 

•China welcomes U.S. constructive role in Asia Pacific

?Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Saturday that China welcomes a constructive role of the United States in Asia Pacific while asking respect from the U.S. for China's interests and concerns in the region.

•Chinese FM urges respect of Africa's choice for partners

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Saturday urged all parties to respect African countries in choosing cooperative partners by themselves.

•Japan should not escalate tension over Diaoyu islands

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Saturday urged Japan to face up to reality and correct its mistakes over the Diaoyu islands issue, and work with China to properly address the issue to "prevent the current tension from escalating and getting out of control."

•New president's visit to inject impetus to Sino-Russian ties

China will take the opportunity of new president's visit to Russia to inject a strong impetus to its comprehensive and strategic partnership with Russia, said Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at a press conference on Saturday.

•China's new president to attend BRICS summit in S Africa

China's new president will attend the fifth leaders' summit of BRICS countries in South Africa, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Saturday.

•China to be more actively involved in int'l affairs

China will be more actively involved in international affairs and play its due role to make the international system more just and equitable, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Saturday.

•Int'l situation to go through profound, complex changes

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said here Saturday that in the next five to ten years, the international situation will continue to go through profound and complex changes.

?? FM opposes EU moves against China's PV products

China opposed the European Union's anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigation against the Chinese photovoltaic products, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Saturday.

? China says cyber space needs rules and cooperation, not war

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Saturday said "cyber space needs rules and cooperation, not war," while citing that China is vulnerable to cyber attacks and suffers such attacks most.

? Chinese made 83.18 million overseas trips in 2012

Chinese mainland residents made 83.18 million overseas trips in 2012 and there are about 20,000 China-funded enterprises overseas, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Saturday.

? Sanctions not fundamental way of solving Korean Peninsula nuclear issue

China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Saturday that sanctions are not the fundamental way of solving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.