The foreign minister of Bangladesh expresses regret about the Chinese ambassador’s remarks? Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded

“South China Morning Post” reporter: The Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh said when participating in the event a few days ago that if Bangladesh chooses to join the “U.S., Japan, India, Australia” four-sided mechanism, it will have a substantial impact on China-Bangladesh relations. The Foreign Minister of Bangladesh expressed regret for this. Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have any comment on this?

Hua Chunying: I can tell you clearly that China and Bangladesh are very friendly neighbors. We always develop bilateral relations based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, always respect each other, and always firmly support each other on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns.

We all know the nature of the four-sided mechanism of the United States, Japan, India and Australia. China opposes that individual countries are keen to engage in closed and exclusive “small circles”, exaggerating and inciting so-called Chinese challenges, and instigating relations between countries in alienated regions and China.

Reporter from the Press Trust of India: Regarding the question about the quadrilateral mechanism and the statement of the Bangladeshi Foreign Minister. China’s policy is not to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh stated that Bangladesh is an independent sovereign country that independently decides its foreign policy. I think the same is true in other countries. There are criticisms that China imposes its own foreign policy and position on certain issues on other countries, especially small countries. What’s China’s response to this?

Hua Chunying: I would like to ask you to clarify. You mentioned the statement of the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. I don’t know if your information is accurate or the wording is accurate. I haven’t seen the relevant report from the embassy in Bangladesh. But one thing is very clear. China has always treated other countries as equals, especially small and medium-sized countries.

As I said just now, China and Bangladesh are very friendly and have always developed bilateral relations based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, always respect and trust each other, and firmly support each other on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns. In South Asia, it is certainly not China that interferes in the internal affairs of other countries. We have been, are, and will continue to firmly adhere to the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs.

As for the four-sided mechanism, I think the Indian side has a better understanding of what the real intention of the four-sided mechanism is. Do you want to form a “small circle” to target China? I think the remarks against the four-sided mechanism are not about interfering in internal affairs, but expressing opposition to “small circles” and group politics, and also an expectation of maintaining regional peace and stability.