China takes active attitude to address East China Sea issue with Japan (来源：英语学习门户网站EnglishCN.com)

China has always taken an active attitude to address the East China Sea issue with Japan, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said here Sunday.

Yang made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature.

China has always held that differences between China and Japan on the East China Sea issue should be resolved through consultation and negotiation, so as to safeguard the China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relations, and ensure the fundamental interests of people in both countries, Yang said.

China has taken an active attitude, instead of a passive one, in addressing the issue, he said.

He said China and Japan had reached a principled consensus on the East China Sea issue, adding that both sides should honor the spirits of the principled consensus and create conditions for its implementation, in order to make the East China Sea a "sea of peace, friendship and cooperation."

Under a China-Japan principled consensus on the East China Sea issue, reached in June 2008, the two sides will, through joint exploration, select by mutual agreement areas for joint development in the block mentioned by the consensus under the principle of mutual benefit.

Cold War mentality, zero-sum thought behind the times

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Sunday more and more countries have realized the Cold War mentality and zero-sum thought are behind the times.

Yang made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of China's National People's Congress, or the parliament.

Helping each other like passengers in the same boat and seeking mutual benefits and winning together in face of global challenges has become the only way of survival and development, Yang told reporters when asked to comment on changes in international relations over the past decade.

China urges US to make joint efforts to promote sound relationship

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Sunday urged the United States to make joint efforts with China to promote a sound bilateral relationship.

"A sound China-US relationship is not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples of the two countries, it is also conducive to the peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large," Yang told a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature.

"China has always attached importance to its relationship with the United States, and we have always been committed to promoting the positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relationship," he said.

"We hope that the United States will work with us in a joint effort toward this end," he said.

Sino-Japan relations face great development potential, opportunity

The China-Japan relationship faces great development potential and opportunity, and the two sides should take concerted efforts to push forward the Sino-Japanese mutually beneficial strategic ties, China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Sunday.

The two countries should both increase strategic input on the development of ties, and enhance communication and coordination on bilateral, regional and global levels, Yang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the country's annual parliamentary session.

In addition to cooperation in traditional sectors, there are emerging and crucial opportunities for bilateral cooperation, such as energy and environment, circular economy and new high technologies, Yang said.

"China and Japan both locate in Asia and the two sides should work together to contribute to the prosperity of Asia," he said.

FM refutes accusations of China's "tough stance"

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said here on Sunday that China was misunderstood by some people who said the country was becoming "tough."