BANGKOK
Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned rival powers against meddling in the Asia-Pacific, saying the region is “no one’s backyard and should not become an arena for big power contest”.
As reported by Chinese state media, Xi made the remarks on Thursday in a written speech ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, due to take place in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday and Saturday. “No attempt to wage a new Cold War will ever be allowed by the people or by our times,” he added in the speech.
The comments come days after the Chinese president held his first face-to-face meeting with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G20 summit, and as relations between Beijing and Washington hit historic lows amid tensions over Taiwan and North Korea, and simmering differences over the war in Ukraine and human rights.
