China, Bhutan vow to solve boundary issue as soon as possible

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji on Monday for talks on China-Bhutan boundary issues. The two sides vowed to solve outstanding issues as soon as possible.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, pointed out that the completion of border negotiations and the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bhutan are fully in line with the long-term and fundamental interests of the Bhutanese nation and people.

China is willing to work with the Bhutanese side to seize the historic opportunity to complete this important process as soon as possible, so that friendly relations between China and Bhutan can be fixed and developed in a legal form, Wang added.

Dorji said Bhutan-China relations are traditionally friendly and thanked China for its strong support and assistance to Bhutan.

Bhutan firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to work with China for an early resolution of the boundary issue and to push forward the political process of establishing diplomatic relations, he stressed.

The Bhutanese foreign minister also highly appreciates and supports the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, saying these initiatives have brought benefits to all parties, especially neighboring countries, including Bhutan.

Wang also told Dorji that China has always placed neighboring diplomacy at the forefront of its overall diplomatic agenda and has always adhered to the principle that all countries are equal, regardless of size.

“We respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries, as well as the legitimate aspirations and concerns of small and medium-sized countries,” said the Chinese foreign minister.

Wang added that the Chinese side will continue to stand firmly on the side of developing countries, shoulder its due international responsibilities, practice genuine multilateralism, support the democratization of international relations and oppose all hegemony and power politics.