From February 29 to March 2, 2012, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi paid an official visit to India and the Republic of Korea (ROK). At the end of the visit, he received the interview by Xinhua News Agency and CCTV.

I. Minister Yang, please introduce to us your official visit to India and the ROK.

I paid an official visit to India and the ROK from February 29 to March 2 at the invitation of Indian Minister of External Affairs Shri S.M. Krishna and the ROK Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kim Sung-hwan. During the visit, I met with Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the ROK President Lee Myung-bak and held talks with Krishna and Kim Sung-hwan. We exchanged in-depth views and reached wide consensus on the bilateral relations and the regional and international issues of common concern.

II. What achievements have been made during you visit?

I exchanged opinions with the Indian side on the arrangements of the Chinese and Indian leaders' participation in the fourth meeting of BRICS countries and the bilateral meeting. We also shared views on the preparations and results of the BRICS meeting. China supports and is willing to work closely with India to make good preparations for the meeting. The two sides agreed to make best use of the leading role of the meeting to promote cooperation of BRICS countries, make the meeting another opportunity to gather consensus and deepen cooperation and push forward the cooperation of BRICS countries.

Our two sides spoke positively of China-India relations. We believe that the China-India relations with sustained, stable and healthy development will benefit not only the Chinese and Indian people but also peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world at large. We reached consensus on the 2012 bilateral exchange and cooperation programs and agreed to keep high-level mutual visits and contacts and actively explore cooperation on infrastructure, investment, environmental protection and finance. We consented to carry out maritime security cooperation and planned the timetable of dialogue and consultation mechanism between the Chinese and Indian foreign ministries this year. We agreed to establish the mechanism of mutual visits of the spokespersons and the consultation mechanism of the African affairs divisions of the Chinese and Indian foreign ministries and step up communications between the media.

During my visit to the ROK, I exchanged views with the ROK side on the themes and results of the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit. China supports the ROK to host the summit and will help the ROK with the preparations.

China and the ROK made positive comments on the bilateral relations. We believe that to consolidate and develop the bilateral relations serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples and is conducive to the regional peace, stability and development. We agreed to further deepen the bilateral friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation in all fields and boost the development of bilateral relations.

I also shared views with the ROK side on the situation of the Korean Peninsula. We both believe that to maintain peace and stability on the Peninsula and realize long-term security and tranquility in Northeast Asia serves the interests of all parties concerned. We agreed to make joint efforts to that end. We also agreed to work with the international community to create conditions for the early resumption of the six-party talks.

III. What do you think of the prospects of China-India and China-ROK relations?

China and India are the two biggest developing countries in the world. In the new century, with the joint efforts of both sides, the bilateral relations have developed rapidly and comprehensively. Leaders of both countries unanimously hold the view that the world has enough space for China and India to grow side by side and enough room for the two countries to cooperate. China and India are partners rather than rivals. The bilateral friendly cooperation enjoys promising prospects. We are willing to work with India to implement the consensus of the leaders, enhance strategic mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, support and learn from each other and achieve faster and better development together.

China attaches great importance to developing relations with the ROK and always gives priority to developing relations with the ROK on our diplomatic agenda with neighboring countries. This year is crucial for the bilateral relations to move forward. The two countries will celebrate the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the "Year of China-ROK Friendly Exchanges", which will create new opportunities to the bilateral cooperation. We are willing to cooperate with the ROK to continue to increase strategic mutual trust, deepen economic and trade cooperation, strengthen cultural and educational exchanges, enhance coordination and cooperation on major regional and international issues, push forward the bilateral cooperation and bring more benefits to both countries and peoples.