Open up a new vista & establish a new feature: Interview

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 17, 2003

Open up a new vista & establish a new feature: Interview

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CHINESE

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On this year's checkerboard of international relations appeared changeable situations round the Iraqi war and the post-war reconstruction. Amid the variegated world situations, China however performed a tour de force on its diplomatic front, which has won for it the reputation of being a big and responsible country in the world. Visits by President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to some countries have given the whole world an open, practical impression and affectionate to the people, a new image of the new generation of leaders in China. Recently, the People's Daily made an exclusive interview with Li Zhaoxing, minister of Foreign Affairs, asking him to give a synoptic summary on the special features in the light of new international situation, dealing with the new conception and result that China has achieved on the diplomatic front this year. Following is a yearend exclusive interview with Li Zhaoxing, Chinese Foreign Minister

Reporter: could you inform us of what are the special characteristics in the international situation this year, Minister Li?

LI Zhaoxing (hereinafter referred to as Minister): Reviewing the whole year, we found that the relaxation in international situation is a general trend with some regional turbulence. There are both opportunities we should take and challenges we must face.

First of all, contradictions around the world order in future and anti-terrorism have been further intensified. The launch of the Iraqi war and the complicated situation after the war are worthwhile for us to reflect upon and offered us a profound lesson. The majority of the countries in the world were calling for multilateral cooperation, maintaining the UN's role and peaceful settlement of disputes and problems. Facts speak eloquently that unilateralism and abuse of war can lead to nowhere but more troubles.

Secondly, There appeared more complicated situations in international security. The peace process in the Middle East full of twists and turns, the global rampancy of terrorist activities and the non-traditional challenges on security are tending to be serious.

Thirdly, the process of regional integration is speeding up. The construction of the EU integration and the cooperation of East Asia have been furthered. The world economy is in recovery but the trade protectionism is staging a comeback in some developed countries. The North-South gap is getting wider and the stability and development of the developing countries are confronted with larger challenges.

Reporter: May I have your view on the performance of the diplomatic work this year?

Minister: We have carefully implemented the important theory of the "three representatives" and the spirit of the 16th Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in which we've firmly exercised the peaceful diplomatic policy of independence with the initiative kept in our own hands. It is in this way that we successfully kept consistency and stability in our diplomatic work and in the meanwhile we've managed to avail of the advantages in keeping pace with the time to create a new situation in the work.

Over the year in the past, we've managed to balance and develop the relations with the world's powers, pushed forward diplomatic relations with the neighboring countries, strengthened cooperation with other developing countries and joined in the multilateral diplomatic activities. All this has helped create a favorable environment in the world and in surrounding countries for internal reform and opening up and for modernization drive. The principle of "administration exercised for the people" was also carefully practiced on the diplomatic front. For example, we tried our best to protect the legal interests and rights of the Chinese people in the leakage cases of the chemical weapons abandoned by the Japanese invading army in China and the fire accident at the Friendship University in Russia.

Reporter: Premier Wen Jiabao has just wrapped up his visit to the US. What do you think of the present Sino-US relations?

Minister: The Sino-US relations are all right in general. There are more communications and dialogues between the leaders of the two countries now. The two meetings between Chinese President Hu Jintao and American President George W. Bush and the official visit by Premier Wen Jiabao to the US are all very productive and many important consensus have been reached on the consolidation and expansion of constructive cooperation between China and the US.

The leaders of the two countries agreed that the Sino-US constructive cooperation should be further strengthened. The two countries will take measures to improve and expand bilateral cooperation in trade, economic, and other fields. In regard to Taiwan issue, the US leaders reiterated the consistency in one China policy, abiding by the three joint communiqu��|s and opposition to Taiwan independence from China. American leaders made public objection to any intention of changing the status of Taiwan unilaterally by Taiwan authorities.

January next year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the US. The Sino-US relations have weathered all difficulties over the past 25 years to steer ahead. It is a simple and significant fact that a healthy and stable Sino-US relation is in the interests of the two countries and is also good for the peace and development of the regions and the world at large.

Reporter: Could you please tell us how China played an active role in managing well the diplomatic work with the peripheral areas this year?

Minister: In order to push forward the friendship and amity with the neighboring countries for regional cooperation, we have set as guidance the "good neighborly policy and taking neighbors our partners". Under the principle of "making peace with, and stabilizing, our neighbors and helping bring prosperity to them", and the "peace, security, cooperation, and prosperity" as our goal we are actively pushing ahead the policy of good-neighborliness and friendship and for regional cooperation.

China-India relations have entered into a new phase featuring a comprehensive development. The two sides have published the "Declaration on Principle Governing Sino-India Relationship and Full-scale Cooperation". As to the relations with Japan we've adhered to the policy of making history to mirror for the future so as to push the relations forward with Japan. The Sino-Japan cooperation in various fields is making headway steadily. The traditional friendship between China and DPRK are getting stronger and China has established full-scale partnership with the ROK. Traditional ties between China and south Asian countries, say, Pakistan, are on the road of further deepening.

The mutual trust and trade and economic cooperation between China and ASEAN members have been promoted. China officially joined the "Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia" and declared the establishment of "strategic partnership for peace and prosperity" with the ASEAN.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has improved its structure. The signing of the important documents including "Moscow Declaration" and "Program for Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation among Shanghai Cooperation Organization Members" symbolized a new stage focused on substantial collaboration for the organization.

Reporter: The international community generally holds that China played an important constructive role in solving the nuclear standoff on the Korean Peninsula. What about the possibility for the second six-party talks within the year?

Minister: Our fundamental goal of dealing with the issue is to realize the nuclear-free and keep the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. Our great mediation efforts have led to the three-party talks and six-party talks in Beijing, which started the process of peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue on Korean Peninsula through dialogues and eased off the tension.

At present, all the parties concerned are making consultations with patience on the launch of the second six-party talks as early as possible. The consensus is that only by going through dialogues and meetings can a solution be possibly reached in the interests of and acceptable to all parties, thereby achieving a peaceful settlement on this issue in the end.

Reporter: As this is the first year for you to be in the terms of office as Foreign minister, could you please tell us the experience that impressed you most in your job this year?

Minister: I think it were the visit following President Hu Jintao to Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, the third summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, 300 years anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg, and the non-official meeting of South-North leaders that impressed me most.

It is President Hu Jintao's first diplomatic activity of great importance after he assumed the presidentship. At that time, the world cast a doubtful eye on China's ability in fighting against the SARS. This visit involved both bilateral and multilateral activities having things to do with either important neighboring countries or developed and developing nations representing different facades of the international community. The discussions with these countries during the visit touched upon many problems ranging from politics to economics and culture. The visit, featured with various patterns, rich contents and concrete fruits, has won from the international community understanding and support to China's construction and anti-SARS campaign and built up the image of China's new leadership as being open, practical, and amiable to the people.

Reporter: What's your view for China's diplomatic work next year?

Minister: We can say the diplomatic work this year has contributed a lot to the internal economic and social development. I am convinced that next year, under the guidance of the important theory the "three representatives" and the support of the leaders of the central government and the people of China, we can do even better a job in this aspect and bring more actual benefits to our people.

(By PD Online with article taken from People's Daily Dec.15)

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