BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- China will surely become stronger, but will not become assertive, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday.
Wang made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the country's annual legislative session.
He stressed that assertiveness has never been part of the Chinese tradition and hegemony will never be its choice, even the country grows stronger.
"Yet like all other countries, China will protect its legitimate rights and interests, and will not allow any infringement of its sovereignty and dignity," Wang said, adding that all Chinese diplomats will "clearly" and "firmly" state China's positions against any of such infringements wherever they are.
China's ideal and goal have always been to "interact with other civilizations on the basis of mutual respect, live in peace with all other countries and pursue win-win cooperation with the rest of the world," Wang stated.
"Now and in the future, China will always reach fair conclusions on the merits of each matter, and act within the bounds of international law," he said.
