‘Sovereignty and security - China’s primary foreign policy aims’
The Fifth Session of the Eleventh National
People’s Congress held a press conference in the Great Hall of the
People on March 6, 2012. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi answered
questions from Chinese and foreign press on China’s foreign policy and
external relations.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi |
Foreign Minister Yang: Premier Wen Jiabao has outlined China's
foreign policy and foreign relations in his Report on the Work of the
government. Now I'm ready to take your questions.
CCTV and CNTV: Much has changed in the international situation over
the past ten years, and China's diplomacy has encountered many
challenges and tests. How do you see China's diplomatic work over the
past ten years? Moreover, we have seen confrontation and conflicts
between some countries. Under such circumstances, what do you think are
the new challenges confronting China's diplomacy and how do you see
China's diplomacy this year?
Foreign Minister Yang: I think it is very meaningful that we start
today's questions and answers from reviewing China's diplomatic work
over the past ten years, as a review of the past offers one insight into
the future.
The past ten years have been a decade when the world has undergone
major development, major changes and major adjustments. It has also been
a decade when China's diplomacy has forged ahead and made abundant
results. Over the past ten years, under the leadership of the CPC
Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary, China's
diplomacy has firmly served the overall interests of China's
development. We have properly handled thorny issues and worked actively
to open up new prospects for China's diplomatic work. China's diplomacy
has fostered a sound external environment for China's economic and
social development.
In my view, China's diplomatic work over the past ten years can be
summed up as follows:
First, serve overall interests. To safeguard China's sovereignty and
security has always been the overarching objective of all of China's
diplomatic endeavours. Over the past ten years, China's diplomacy
actively served the domestic economic and social development. We
effectively protected the lawful rights and interests of overseas
Chinese nationals and companies, and defended China's sovereignty,
security and development interests.
Second, pursue cooperation. We enhanced friendly relations and
cooperation with other countries in the world and regional and
international organizations. We intensified exchanges with them in the
political, economic and cultural fields and through both bilateral and
multilateral channels. We opened up new dimensions for pursuing win-win
cooperation.
Third, advance reform. We actively participated in global governance
and helped move the international system and international architecture
in a direction that serves the interests of developing countries. We
worked to raise the representation and influence of China and developing
countries as a whole in international affairs.
Fourth, enhance China's image. Through such platforms as overseas
visits by Chinese leaders, receiving visits to China by foreign leaders,
the Beijing Olympic Games and Shanghai World Expo, we engaged in dynamic
public and cultural diplomacy, endeavoured to enhance the friendship
between Chinese people and people of other countries, and showed to the
rest of the world a China that is culturally-advanced, democratic, open
and making continuous progress.
Fifth, make contribution to the world. We worked actively to uphold
world peace and promote common development. China has played a
constructive role in helping resolve regional and international hotspot
issues, and China has become an important engine driving world economic
growth.
Our world today is undergoing profound and complex changes. The trend
of our time towards peace, development and cooperation has gathered
momentum. At the same time, the underlying impact of the international
financial crisis is still with us. The world economic recovery lacks
momentum, and global challenges such as climate change and energy and
food security are still prominent. All these developments will exert
major impact on the international situation and China's diplomatic work
in the time to come.
This year, we will continue to advance our all-dimensional diplomacy
at multiple tiers and in a wide range of fields. We will continue to
take into account both the domestic and international situations, make
continuous innovation in our diplomatic practices and theories, and make
active contribution to the successful opening of the 18th National
Congress of the CPC and full implementation of the 12th Five-Year Plan.
The priories of China's diplomatic work this year are as follows:
First, serve China's domestic development. We will properly handle
the external risks and challenges, and create more favourable conditions
for China's economic and social development to serve the primary goal of
shifting China's growth model at a faster pace.
Second, uphold peace. We will continue to firmly defend China's
sovereignty and security, stand for handling and resolving regional and
international issues, in particular, those hotspot ones through
dialogue, consultation and negotiation, and play a responsible role as a
big country.
Third, promote cooperation. We will enhance our friendly relations
and cooperation with other countries and regional and international
organizations. We will work with them to deepen common interests, meet
global challenges and safeguard world peace and promote common
development.
RIA Novosti: Minister Yang, how do you comment on the presidential
election in Russia? What considerations does the Chinese side have for
the further development of the China-Russia strategic partnership of
coordination? This year, China will be the rotating president of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization and play host to the 2012 SCO summit.
Can you tell us some of China's considerations about the summit? And
what expectations does the Chinese side have for the future development
of the SCO?
Foreign Minister Yang: We have noted that the presidential election
of Russia was smoothly held on March 4th. President Hu Jintao has sent a
message of congratulations to President Putin. We wish the people of the
Russian Federation even greater achievements in their cause of national
prosperity and revitalization.
The Chinese government is prepared to work closely with the Russian
side to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination
between the two countries and enhance practical cooperation between the
two sides in all fields.
As far as the China-Russia relationship this year is concerned, it
can be summed up as 'one central task’ and ‘five priorities’.
The one central task is to fully implement the plan for the
development of China-Russia relations in the next ten years. The five
priorities are: First, ensure the success of high-level contacts and
mutual visits this year. Second, increase mutual political support.
Third, intensify practical cooperation between the two countries in
such fields as economy and trade, energy, science and technology,
infrastructure as well as at the local level. Fourth, step up cultural
and people-to-people exchanges. In particular, we need to work together
to ensure the success of the Year of Russian Tourism in China. And
fifth, enhance cooperation in regional and international affairs. We are
confident that with the joint efforts of the two countries, the
comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination will achieve even
greater results.
This year is the year of good-neighborly relations of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization. It is also the first year for the development
of the SCO in its second decade.
China will play host to the SCO summit this year. The theme of the
summit this year is to deepen good-neighbourly relations and plan the
future of the SCO.
There are three main items on the agenda of the summit. The first is
to discuss measures for enhancing friendly relations and cooperation
under the SCO framework, and formulate a strategy on the development of
the organization in the next ten years. Second, plan the next stage of
practical cooperation of the SCO, in particular the establishment of
institutional safeguards for the financing of multilateral cooperation.
Third, there will be an exchange of views on regional and
international situations, with a focus on improving the SCO measures in
coping with situations that pose threats to regional peace, stability
and security.
We believe that the SCO summit this year will help build on past
progress and open up new prospects for the future development of the
organization.
With respect to the future of the SCO, I believe all the parties
concerned will make better use of the advantage of geographical
proximity and work together to enhance cooperation for regional security
and stability and strengthen regional connectivity and people-to-people
exchanges so as to bring more benefits to their people.
To be continued
Courtesy: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of
China
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