Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) and Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio hold a joint press briefing in Rome, Italy, Aug 25, 2020. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

ROME - Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Tuesday that starting "a new Cold War" is to reverse the course of history and kidnap the whole world.

Wang made the remarks at a press briefing here with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio after their talks.

Wang said China does not intend to engage in such a Cold War and is firmly against any hype about a so-called "new Cold War"

Responding to a question regarding China's comments on the so-called "new Cold War" that China and the US are possibly heading into, Wang said China does not intend to engage in such a Cold War and is firmly against any hype about a so-called "new Cold War."

In Wang's view, such an attempt "is against the world development trend. And I think countries in the world are not going to be behind this mentality. Instead we are going to join hand to oppose anyone who is trying to drag us back into that 'law of the jungle'."

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With Di Maio by his side, Wang said China and Italy should work together to plan for the development of Sino-Italian relations in the next 50 years.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) and Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio pose for a photo before holding talks in Rome, Italy, Aug 25, 2020. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

He attributed the steady and healthy development of Sino-Italian ties in half a century to three factors.

Firstly, as representatives of Eastern and Western civilizations, China and Italy always appreciate and learn from each other, respect the development path chosen by the people in the other country, and support each other's legitimate concerns on issues of core interests.

Secondly, as major economies in the world, both China and Italy have always adhered to the policy of opening up and developing mutually beneficial and win-win relationships.

Wang said China and Italy should work together to plan for the development of Sino-Italian relations in the next 50 years

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Wang said China has become Italy's largest trading partner in Asia and Italy is the fourth largest trading partner of China in the European Union. 

Thirdly, as friends and partners, both sides always lend a helping hand when the other country encounters difficulties, said Wang, citing the touching stories between the two governments and two peoples during the devastating Wenchuan earthquake that hit southwest China's Sichuan Province in 2008, and this year's COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Wang, mutual assistance between China and Italy comes from the long-standing friendship between the peoples of the two countries, and is based on the Chinese cultural tradition of helping others. It has nothing to do with politics or self-interest from beginning to end, he said.

If there is still any talk of "politics of generosity", it's "an insult to the humanitarian spirit," he said.

Italy is the first leg in Wang's first foreign tour as the COVID-19 epidemic eases. The official visit in Europe from Aug 25 to Sept 1 will also take him to the Netherlands, Norway, France and Germany. 

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