Talk Freely about World Situation, Speak Glowingly of China's Diplomacy

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 19, 2001

Talk Freely about World Situation, Speak Glowingly of China's Diplomacy

From an overall perspective, the basic trend of the international pattern and the development of the situation have not changed because of the "September 11" incident. Peace and development remain the main theme of our times, the polarization of the world continues to advance forward in a zigzag, the international environment facing China remains to be one of opportunity outweighing challenge...

Following is the full text of the exclusive interview by our correspondents Huang Qing and Wang Fang with Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan

CORRESPONDENT: First of all, we would like to request Foreign Minister Tang to make an overall appraisal of this year's international situation.

TANG JIAXUAN: This year is the beginning of the new century, it is also an extremely unusual year. The international situation has witnessed frequent occurrence of major contingencies featuring ups and downs and intricacy and complexity, the increase of uncertain factors, particularly the major influence generated by the "September 11" incident on the international political, economic, security and cultural fields. When the problem of hot spots in some regions has not been solved, new hot spots have emerged. The influence of the accelerated decline of the world economy has been gradually felt.

But from an overall perspective, the basic trend of the international pattern and the development of the situation have not changed because of the "September 11" incident. Peace and development remain the main theme of our times, the polarization of the world continues to advance forward in a zigzag, the international environment facing China remains to be one of opportunity outweighing challenge. General peace, local wars, general relaxation, local tensions, general stability, and local turbulence are the basic development trend of the international situation at present and for a period of time to come.

CORRESPONDENT: Some new changes have taken place in the international security situation this year, please say something about how you look at these changes.

TANG: Currently, the international security problem tends to become diversified. Traditional security factors and non-traditional security factors are interwoven, the danger of terrorism and other non-traditional security issues is being aggravated and has become another major actual threat to international security. The problem of some hot spots still exerts serious influence on regional and even international security.

After the "September 11" incident, there was a sudden change in the Afghan situation which has jumped to become a major hot spot in the world today. As a neighbor of Afghanistan, China has been closely following the development of the situation in Afghanistan and is playing an active role in solving the Afghan issue. We have timely put forward a five-point proposal for the settlement of the Afghan question, stressing that the future regime of Afghanistan should be extensively based, reflect the interests of various ethnic groups, live together in friendship with various countries, especially with neighboring countries, and that the United Nations must play an important role in this process. It is gratifying to note that not long ago, the various factions of Afghanistan, under the auspices of the United Nations, reached an important agreement in Bonn on forming an interim government of Afghanistan. This represents a good start in Afghanistan's advance toward peace and stability. We express our welcome to this, and hope that the various factions of Afghanistan will put national conciliation above everything else, earnestly carry out the already reached agreement, and restore Afghanistan's peace and stability as quickly as possible.

China has consistently supported the Middle-East peace process and advocated solving the Middle East issue in a fair, comprehensive and reasonable way. Currently, the bloodshed conflict between Israel and Palestine has escalated, the Middle East peace process is thus faced with severe tests. We are deeply concerned about this. China strongly condemns acts of violence, hoping that the parties concerned would take effective measures to halt all activities of violence as quickly as possible, and actively create conditions for easing the tense situation and restart peace talks.

CORRESPONDENT: How to look upon the adjustment and change in the international relations this year?

TANG: Some positive changes have appeared in the international relations this year. First, in order to cope with the challenges confronting them, the various countries are actively seeking the meeting point of interests, they are strengthening dialogs and cooperation for solving the problem of peace and development in multilateral and bilateral fields. Second, the relations between big countries are changing from tension to relaxation. In the first half of this year, the relations between big countries experienced some zigzag, and contradictions were rather acute; in the second half of the year, especially after the occurrence of the "September 11" incident, the various big countries were seeking consensus and enhancing cooperation, as a result, their relations improved and developed. Third, mutual visits and meetings by ranking officials among various countries increased, and there were frequent hot line telephone talks. Such direct contacts and exchanges between leaders have played an irreplaceable. stimulating role in the adjustment of international relations. Generally speaking, the above-mentioned changes facilitate the development of the trend of world polarization and are beneficial to world peace and stability.

But at the same time it should be noted that the basic contradictions in the international relations remain unresolved, some deep-seated problems between big countries continue to exist, the gaps between the North and the South continue to widen, there is no visible change in the irrational international order.

CORRESPONDENT: Currently, the internal and external views generally are that the world economic situation is grim, what is your view about this?

TANG: In my opinion, the world economic growth has entered a new period of adjustment. The longest growth period of the US economy since World War II has come to an end and has entered recession. The three major economies of the United States, Europe and Japan have declined simultaneously since the 70s of the 20th century, the world economic growth is at the lowest level in the last 10 years. There are many reasons for the appearance of this situation. The "September 11" incident has obviously played an aggravating role. Owing to reduction in international trade and international direct investment, the developing countries are faced with more difficulties. In the face of the new situation, the various countries should strengthen coordination and cooperation in the fields of international trade and finance. There are needs for the developed countries to further adopt flexible measures toward the developing nations in the aspects of increasing aid, reducing debts and opening markets. The new round of multilateral trade talks started by the WTO Doha Conference was an active signal. We hope various countries would make common efforts to push the world economy forward toward a recovery as quickly as possible.

CORRESPONDENT: China's diplomacy this year, featuring appropriate magnification and relaxation, full of sound and color, has scored great successes. Foreign Minister, please say something specific about this.

TANG: In face of the changeable international situation, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core, taking a broad and long view and making wise decisions, has led us in further opening up a new phase in diplomatic work through making cool observation, calmly dealing with the situation, grasping the opportunity and making best use of the situation, as a result, China's international status and role have been notably enhanced.

China has actively played a constructive role in the international anti-terrorist struggle. After the occurrence of the "September 11" incident, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core paid high attention to the impact of this major sudden incident, swiftly made a correct judgment of the situation, timely defined the strategy for coping with the matter. We persist in opposing all forms of terrorism, take an active part in international anti-terrorist cooperation, motivate the United Nations and its Security Council to play a leading role. Meanwhile, we clearly state that the military actions aimed at terrorism should have a clearly set target, should conform to the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter as well as to the norms of publicly acknowledged international law and must not be confused with a particular nation or religion. China's words and deeds give expression to the image of a large, responsible country featuring peace and justness, which has thus won the extensive favorable comments of the international community.

China has successfully hosted the 9th APEC Leaders Informal Conference. This grand meeting, held at the crucial moment soon after the occurrence of the "September 11" incident and when the world economy was faced with a grim situation, on which APEC member economies placed great hope and which became the focus of world attention. Under the chair of President Jiang, the participating leaders, centering round the theme "new century, new challenge, participation, cooperation and promotion of common prosperity", had an in-depth exchange of opinions and reached extensive consensus. The complete success of the conference has injected fresh vigor to the development of the APEC and has reinforced people's confidence in the recovery of world economic growth.

China's relations with principal countries present a new situation of development. After experiencing difficulties in the first half of the year, Chinese-US relations have been gradually restored and improved in the second half of the year. President Jiang and President Bush held the first meeting during their attendance at APEC Leaders Informal Conference in Shanghai, during which they reached an important consensus on developing the Chinese-US constructive cooperative relationship, opening up a new prospect for relationship between the two countries.

This year is a year of bumper harvest for the China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership. There have been close contacts between ranking officials of the two countries, President Jiang met with President Putin several times, particularly the Sino-Russian Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation he formally signed with President Putin during his visit to Russia has laid down a legal foundation for the development of long-term, friendly relations between the two countries.

The comprehensive partnership between China and Europe has developed smoothly, the fourth meeting between the Chinese and European leaders has scored important achievements, bilateral relationship has entered the new stage of all-directional cooperation.

China-Japanese relationship has experienced twists and turns, however, in the spirit of "taking history as a mirror, and looking forward to the future", and through efforts of both sides, the relations between the two countries have been put back to the track of normal development.

China's good neighborly relations of friendship and cooperation with surrounding countries have entered a new stage of comprehensive development. This year, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan jointly declared the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), this marked the birth of a new regional cooperative organization featuring the search of security through mutual trust and cooperation through mutual benefit.

China's cooperative relations with the ASEAN nations have experienced constant expansion. At the 5th China-ASEAN Leaders Conference (10+1), China and ASEAN countries defined the major fields of cooperation for the new century, unanimously agreed on the establishment of a China-ASEAN free trade zone in the next 10 years, this is of far-reaching significance to the long-term development of bilateral relationship and regional prosperity.

China's cooperative relations with the vast number of developing countries have scored significant development, maintained frequent mutual visits by ranking officials, strengthened political consultations, and expanded economic and trade cooperation. President Jiang's successful visits to six Latin American countries in April have added a new chapter to China-Latin American friendly and cooperative relations

China's ties with African countries are developing smoothly, the various items of follow-up work of China-African Cooperative Forum are advancing step by step.

CORRESPONDENT: Finally, Foreign Minister Tang, please brief us something about the outlook of China's diplomacy next year.

TANG: The year 2002 will be a year of important significance in the history of our Party and State. According to the basic trend of the development of the international situation, I think next year China's diplomacy will continue to witness the coexistence of opportunity and challenge, with the former outweighing the latter. We should unswervingly implement Deng Xiaoping's diplomatic thinking, persistently carry out the important thought of "the three represents", further enhance our sense of the general situation, of hardships, adaptability and innovation, strengthen our confidence, calmly cope with any situation, change our style of work, work in a down-to-earth manner, greet the convocation of the Party's 16th National Congress with excellent work achievements and make our due contributions to continuing pushing forward the modernization drive, accomplishing the great cause of the reunification of the motherland, to the defense of world peace and the promotion of common development.

By People's Daily Online

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