The world is going under turmoil and profound changes unseen in a century are unfolding, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.

Individual countries, in order to maintain their hegemonic status, are going back to a Cold War mentality and creating antagonism, worsening the problems the world is facing, Wang said.

The most urgent imperative now is to maintain peace, Wang said, calling on countries to abandon the mentality of exclusive and absolute security, and stick to talks to solve conflict.

Wang urged the international community to oppose hegemony and group politics, safeguard the international system centered on the United Nations, and keep opening up.

The globalization of the economy is a trend that should not be stopped by geopolitical competition, Wang said, calling for countries to oppose protectionism and isolationism, and safeguard a multilateral trade system that is free, equitable and nondiscriminatory.