China’s Growing Overseas Presence Aims to Protect Beijing’s Interests

China’s ascendance on the international arena comes out from the defence the country's interests abroad, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday.

BEIJING (Sputnik) – China’s growing overseas presence is aimed at protecting the country's interests abroad, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday.

"Like many large countries, China expands its presence abroad," Wang stated at a briefing.

Tens of thousands of Chinese companies are working abroad, while China's 2016 overseas investment exceeded $100 billion, that is why the protection of the country's interests "is a pressing issue for Chinese diplomacy" and the actions of Beijing "are focused on the protection of its interests," he stressed.

China will not follow the expansion path as the world’s powerful countries traditionally did, the minister noted.

The Asian nation provided the largest number of peacekeepers for worldwide programs, and the contribution to the UN budget for peacekeeping missions is also the highest, he stressed.

Wang also voiced China’s intent to strengthen cooperation with other countries, including the collaboration in the legal and security areas.