BEIJING, March 18 (INP): China reassured vaccine cooperation with Pakistan, keeping high the spirt of helping each other at the time of need, as all-weather friends.

The assurance was held out by a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Zhao Lijian here at a news conference, while commenting on the report President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi and his wife received their COVID-19 jabs with Sinopharm vaccine.

Zhao Lijian said, he said they have taken note of the report, adding “China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners. Pakistan is the first country in the world to have received China-assisted vaccines, which fully attests to our special friendship and has fostered a new highlight in our practical cooperation.

We will continue to work with Pakistan including in vaccine cooperation to contribute to the building of a community of health for all.”

The spokesperson also commented on the recent joint statement issued by United States and Japan ter holding their "2+2" Security Consultative Committee, saying that China's behavior, where inconsistent with the existing international order, presents challenges to the international community.

He took strong exception to the statement, Zhao Lijian stating, “the US-Japan joint statement maliciously attacks China's foreign policy, flagrantly interferes in China's domestic affairs, and attempts to harm China's interests.

We deplore and reject it and have lodged stern representations with both countries.”

He added, first, there is only one system in the world, and it is the UN-centered international order; there is only one set of rules, and it is the basic norms governing international relations with the UN Charter as its cornerstone.

The US and Japan are not entitled to define what the international order is, still less to impose their standard on others.

Second, China is always an important force to safeguard world peace and promote common development. We have established partnerships with 112 countries and international organizations, joined more than 100 inter-governmental organizations and signed over 500 multilateral treaties.

China now stands as the largest contributor of peacekeepers in all the permanent members of the Security Council. The US is accustomed to upholding double standards and cherry-picking with international law and international rules. During its nearly 250 years of history, there were only 16 years when it was not at war. It also runs hundreds of military bases all over the world.

The international community has its fair judgement as to who poses the top threat to world peace and security.

Third, China's position on issues relating to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, the South China Sea and the Diaoyu Island is consistent and clear. Our resolution and will to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests is rock solid. China's sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea and the adjacent waters, the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands is indisputable.

The South China Sea is more than 8,300 miles away from the continental United States. Despite the distance, the U.S. side has repeatedly sent warships and military aircraft to the South China Sea for military drills and close-in reconnaissance, without a break all year round.

It is the United States that has been flexing muscles and practicing coercion and intimidation. Issues concerning Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang are China's domestic affairs that brook no foreign interference.

The US-Japan joint statement shows a disregard for historical merits of the issues, as well as facts and truth. It is but further evidence of the two countries colluding to meddle in China's internal affairs and malign China.

Fourth, the United States and Japan, stuck in the Cold-War mentality, deliberately seek bloc confrontation and attempt to form an anti-China circle. This runs counter to the trend of our times and the aspiration for peace, development and cooperation shared by the region and the vast majority of countries in the world.

It will only bring chaos or even conflict to the region and further expose the US-Japan alliance's true face of undermining regional peace and stability.

Fifth, Japan, driven by the selfish aim to check China's revitalization, willingly stoops to acting as a strategic vassal of the United States, going so far as to break faith, harm relations with China, invite the wolf into the house, and betray the collective interests of the whole region. Such despicable behavior is deeply unpopular.

Sixth, we urge the United States and Japan to immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs, stop forming the anti-China clique, and stop undermining regional peace and stability. China will take all measures necessary to resolutely defend sovereignty, security and development interests.”

INP/JAVED