China will be more proactive in reinforcing ties with neighbors: diplomat

China will be even more proactive in pursuing a friendly and good-neighborly policy toward its neighboring countries in the new year, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao said on Wednesday.

Liu said in an interview with Xinhua that China will work on establishing a network of partnership with its neighbors.

He said China will strive to benefit neighbors through its own development and do more that brings people in the region closer to each other.

Liu said the Belt and Road initiatives that China put forward in 2013 does not seek dominance in regional affairs or sphere of influence. As compared with the Marshall Plan which contained additional requirements for the receiving countries, China's Belt and Road initiatives does not interfere in the internal affairs of the countries in the region, Liu said.

He said the proposal is compatible with existing regional mechanism and proposals and open to all other countries and regions in the world.

"It is open not only in terms of the participation of other countries and regions, but also in terms of cooperative areas and projects," Liu said.

Liu said China has always held that Asia's prosperity and stability depends both on cooperation of Asian countries and on an open regionalism plus constructive involvement of outside countries.

He said the common interests of China and the United States are mainly in Asia, while their contradictions and differences also mainly concern Asia.

"To build a new type of major country relationship between China and the United States starting from Asia is an unprecedented cause," Liu said, adding that it requires both sides to think profoundly, act carefully, march toward the same goal and respect the interests and concern of each other. He said the two sides should steadily advance the development of a pattern of positive interaction and cooperation in Asia.

Liu said China and Russia have seen continuous expansion of common interests and cooperative areas in the Asia Pacific region.

He said China and the European Union regard each other as important partners in affairs of this region and they share broad prospect of cooperation.

"The Chinese side is willing to see major powers play a constructive role in Asian affairs," Liu said.

He said China is ready to maintain communication with all parties concerned to expand common interests and jointly promote peace, stability and prosperity of Asia.

Liu said China will lift its strategic partnership with ASEAN to a new stage and further cooperation of mutual benefits with south Asia nations.