Diplomatic Priorities

Diplomatic Priorities

China-Russia relations

Our relationship with Russia is one of the priorities of China’s diplomacy. The two countries have enjoyed mutual support on issues that concern each other’s core interests. We have the same or similar views on many major international and regional issues. And we coordinate and communicate closely.

Practical cooperation between China and Russia enjoys bright prospects. Last year the two countries signed a series of important cooperation agreements covering oil, natural gas, coal, electricity, nuclear energy and high speed rail links. The relevant cooperation projects are now well underway. We expect the Sino-Russian oil pipeline project to be completed by the end of this year and the pipeline to enter into operation next year.

In addition, the two countries are committed to promoting cooperation between China’s northeast and Russia’s Far East and Eastern Siberia. The two sides have agreed to promote cooperation in a series of cross-border infrastructure projects. I believe they will serve as exemplars.

Thanks to the personal commitment and support of the leaders of both countries, and to the joint efforts of both sides, today’s China-Russia relationship is a mature, stable, healthy and dynamic strategic partnership of coordination. It has become a model for international relations, particularly relations between major countries.

This year will see many high-level exchanges between China and Russia. President Hu Jintao, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao and other Chinese leaders will have frequent meetings and talks with President Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Federation Council Chairman Sergei Mironov, State Duma Chairman Boris Gryzlov and other Russian leaders.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Putin, Vice President Xi Jinping will pay an offcial visit to Russia in late March during which he will attend the opening ceremony of the Year of Chinese Language in Russia. I believe all these meetings and visits will give a new strong impetus to the further growth of China-Russia relations. And I’m confdent that the relationship will become better and better.

China-U.S. relations

After President Barack Obama took offce last year, the China-U.S. relationship started on a good footing. But at the end of last year and the beginning of this year the United States sold arms to Taiwan and U.S. leaders met the Dalai Lama. These moves seriously disrupted China-U.S. ties and created diffculties in bilateral cooperation. This is not in the interests of either side, and responsibility for the situation does not lie with China.

A few days ago U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and Jeffrey Bader, Senior Director for Asian Affairs of the White House National Security Council, visited China. During their visit, both sides had in-depth candid discussions on the China-U.S. relationship and related issues. The Chinese side further gave a complete account on its principled stand on the China-U.S. relationship and on major issues including Taiwan and Tibet. We pointed out that recent U.S. actions have seriously violated the principles set out in the three Sino-U.S.joint communiqués, and the China-U.S. Joint Statement. They have undermined China’s core interests and the overall interests of the bilateral relationship. China frmly opposes these actions.

As a matter of urgency the United States should now take China’s position seriously, and take practical steps to demonstrate respect for China’s core interests and major concerns. It should handle sensitive issues appropriately and work with the Chinese side to restore stable development to the China-U.S. relationship.

A sound China-U.S. relationship is not only in the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples. It is also conducive to peace, stability and the development of both the region and the world at large. China attaches great importance to China-U.S. relations, and has always been committed to building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship between the two countries. We hope that the United States will work with us in joint efforts toward this end.

China-Japan relations

I think China-Japan relations have bright prospects and major opportunities. The two countries should work together to push forward the strategic relationship of mutual beneft. We should jointly increase strategic input to our bilateral relations and have closer cooperation and communication at the bilateral, regional and global levels. We also see great potential in practical cooperation.

I want to underline that, in addition to traditional areas of cooperation, we have new opportunities for cooperation in energy, the environment, the circular economy and high and new technologies. These are emerging industries of strategic importance and there is huge potential for our cooperation in these areas. China and Japan are both Asian countries and we should work together to contribute to the revitalization of Asia.

China and Japan are neighbors who face each other across a narrow strip ofwater. We have always maintained that differences between our two countries over the East China Sea should be handled through consultation and negotiation in order to uphold both our strategic relationship of mutual beneft and the fundamental interests of the people of both countries. China’s attitude is positive, not negative.

China and Japan have reached a principled common understanding on the issue of the East China Sea. This is the result of long-term efforts from both sides and was not attained easily. It should be cherished. I believe both countries should observe the spirit of the principled common understanding on the East China Sea and work to foster favorable conditions for its implementation, so as to turn the East China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.

China-EU relations

I believe that over the years the EU has played an important role on the international stage and that, with the passage of time, its role will become even more important. We value our relations with Europe highly. We attach importance to developing not only our relations with Europe as a whole but also our relations with individual member states.

In recent years the China-EU relationship has moved on the whole in a positive direction. We have enjoyed much success in practical cooperation in various fields. The EU is China’s largest trading partner. Last year, two-way trade exceeded $360 billion. We now have nearly 200,000 students studying in European countries.

That said, of course it is impossible to avoid all differences as we develop our relationship. China and the EU have different cultural heritages, historical backgrounds, stages of development and social systems. So it is only natural that we will have divergent views and differences over some issues.

What is important is to handle differences appropriately through consultations on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual beneft, and highlight commonalities in a wide range of areas. I believe the China-EU relationship will improve day after day, month after month and year after year. This year marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU.

The China-EU relationship is a mature relationship. Many European leaders and European citizens will come to the Shanghai World Expo and will be warmly received. We are also considering visits to European countries by major Chinese state leaders this year. The two sides should work together to add to the momentum of improvement and development in China-EU relations since last year.

The two sides should work jointly to enrich the comprehensive strategic partnership further. We should work together to enhance the comprehensive and strategic nature of the relationship and put it on a more solid footing. With concerted efforts, I believe China-EU relations will make big strides forward and enjoy many new growth areas.

China-Africa relations

China-Africa relations have entered a stage of sound development. The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held in Beijing in 2006. Chinese and African leaders came together to discuss how to push forward cooperation. At the summit, President Hu Jintao announced eight measures to enhance practical cooperation between China and Africa on behalf of the Chinese Government. A large part of these eight measures has now been completed and some are near completion. I believe the summit and the eight measures President Hu announced have raised China-Africa relations to a new and much higher level.

The fourth ministerial conference of FOCAC was held last November in Sharm el-Shaikh. Premier Wen Jiabao attended the opening ceremony of the conference and explained China’s proposals on enhancing cooperation with African countries. His statement was warmly received and supported by the various countries attending the conference. Premier Wen announced eight new measures for enhancing China-Africa cooperation.

Currently the various follow-up measures to the ministerial conference are well on track. As far as I am aware, good progress is being made in debt cancellation and tariff exemption. The China-Africa Science and Technology Partnership Program has been officially inaugurated, and the China-Africa Joint Research and Exchange Program will also soon start. I believe the various programs will all be implemented and that China-Africa cooperation will become ever more fruitful.

I have noted that there are some people internationally who are unhappy with the development of China-African relations and who keep making an issue out of China-Africa energy and resource cooperation. In fact, China’s oil imports from Africa only account for 13 percent of Africa’s total oil exports. The figures for Europe and the United States are each above 30 percent. China accounts for only one sixteenth of the total external investment in Africa’s oil sector. We are far behind the United States and European countries.

We support other countries’ cooperation with African countries in the energy sector on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. I see no reason for other countries to oppose China carrying out equal and mutually benefcial cooperation with Africa. Moreover, China cooperates with resource-rich and resource-poor African countries. I want to underline that Africa belongs to the African peoples. African people are the masters of the African continent and all other people are only guests. I believe guests should respect the will and freedom of their hosts in choosing their cooperation partners and friends.

I believe that if one wants to be a true friend and cooperation partner of African countries, one should do more concrete and positive things and save the rhetoric. China’s cooperation with Africa has helped African countries transform their latent advantage in energy and resources into real advantage in development. We have also helped African countries improve their infrastructure by building railways, roads and bridges. All these have brought real benefts to the African people.

Not long ago President Rupiah Banda of Zambia said, “No one can deny the contribution China’s investors have made to Africa: They are the people who truly help us.” President Paul Kagame of Rwanda remarked that China’s investments and loans have brought in what Africa needs. I believe these are fair statements.

BRIC countries and China-Latin America relations

It is true that the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) all have their own special features. But I’d like to point out that the four countries are at a similar level and stage of economic development, and that their positions on major international issues are close. In the face of increasing global challenges, the BRIC countries have enhanced cooperation among themselves and with other countries in the world in an active, pragmatic, open and transparent manner. I believe this is in the interests of the whole world. We wish the second BRIC summit to be held in Brazil this summer full success.

On the subject of Latin America, I believe Latin America and China are highly complementary in terms of the economy and trade and social development. There are good prospects for cooperation between the two sides.

Korean Peninsula nuclear issue

The six-party talks met with some twists and turns over the last year, but it is gratifying to see that none of the parties involved has given up on the objective of achieving a denuclearized Korean Peninsula, and none has abandoned the six-party talks mechanism, which is an effective multilateral mechanism. And they have all made their contribution to restarting the talks.

We believe that as long as all parties stick to the objective of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, stay in contact, maintain their patience and continue to work together for the common objective, there is much hope for restarting the sixparty talks and achieving all the objectives set out in the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement.

G20 summits

The G20 has played an important role in countering the global fnancial crisis. It was identifed as the premier platform for international economic cooperation at the Pittsburgh summit, and this marks important progress in international economic governance reform. We are happy to see that our neighbor, the Republic of Korea, will host a G20 summit around the end of this year. And before that another G20 summit will be held in Canada. We hope that all parties will work together to make the two summits successful.

I believe that it is important for the international community to prioritize the following four issues at G20 summits this year: first, meet the targets for reforming international financial institutions on schedule; second, facilitate the recovery and growth of the world economy, addressing in particular imbalances in global economic development; third, continue to increase coordination on macroeconomic policies and hold discussions on exit strategy; and fourth, oppose trade protectionism in various forms and work together to facilitate a comprehensive and balanced conclusion to the Doha round negotiations.

This year is a year for the G20 to push forward its institutional development. We will work with the other parties concerned to make the G20 more democratic, transparent, fair and effective and enable it to play a bigger and more effective role in global economic governance.

Climate change negotiations

It is a view widely held in the international community, not just in China, that important and positive outcomes were achieved at the Copenhagen conference. At the same time, much work remains to be done. China will work actively with other countries and organizations to meet the climate challenge in accordance with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol, the Bali Roadmap and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, so that the efforts of all countries in the world in meeting the climate challenge will yield more results this year. We hope that the Mexico conference will produce important and positive outcomes.

Iranian nuclear issue

On the Iranian nuclear issue, let me stress that it is our consistent position to uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and peace and stability in the relevant region. We have always called for a peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue through consultation and negotiation, and we have been playing an active part to that end. There are some difficulties surrounding efforts to settle the Iranian nuclear issue at present, but we don’t think that diplomatic efforts have been exhausted. Pressure and sanctions cannot solve this issue in a fundamental way.

We hope that all parties concerned will stick to the overall objective of seeking a diplomatic solution to the issues through negotiation and give full play to their political wisdom to find a comprehensive, reasonable and fair solution.

Afghanistan and Pakistan

I believe the Afghan Government and people have made important headway in promoting the peace and reconstruction process in their country. At the same time, it is true that Afghanistan is facing a series of domestic problems such as drug traffcking and terrorism. China supports the Afghan Government in its efforts to promote peace, security and stability in Afghanistan. Within our capabilities, we have provided condition-free assistance of various types to Afghanistan. For example, we have helped Afghanistan to build hospitals and water conservancy projects. We have also trained professionals in various fields for Afghanistan.

Not long ago, representatives of the Chinese Government attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)’s Moscow international conference on the issue of Afghanistan. I attended relevant international conferences on Afghanistan in Turkey and London. I should point out that during the conferences, I had the honour of having a conversation with President Hamid Karzai and the Afghan foreign minister and security adviser. They all spoke highly of China’s position on Afghanistan and China’s assistance to their country.

Representatives of many countries at the conferences were of the view that military means do not offer a fundamental solution to the Afghanistan issue. Many countries including China shared the view that the international community should give full support to efforts made by the Afghan Government and people.

I believe the SCO and its member states will continue to follow the situation in Afghanistan. There are still some uncertainties in the situation at present. I believe the SCO and its member states will continue to support efforts made by the Afghan Government and people. The UN Security Council plays an important role in addressing the Afghanistan issue. We hope the UN Security Council will continue to play its constructive role in this regard.

I believe the government of Pakistan has effective control over the situation in the country. China and Pakistan will continue to expand practical cooperation in various fields on the basis of equality and mutual beneft, and China will continue to support the stability, development and prosperity of Pakistan.

Asia-Pacific regional cooperation

China has actively promoted and taken full part in Asia-Pacific regional cooperation. We have put forward many initiatives and proposals in this regard and made our due contribution to regional peace, stability and development. Today, regional cooperation in this part of the world is growing with multiple mechanisms, on various levels and at different speeds. China is of the view that all parties should adopt an open and inclusive approach. Each mechanism should have its own focus, and different mechanisms should complement and reinforce each other. We are ready to join discussions—with an open and positive attitude—on any initiative that will contribute to regional integration, political mutual trust, practical cooperation and common development.

In the meantime I want to point out that China has always maintained that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should play a leading role in East Asian regional cooperation, and has supported ASEAN’s leadership role. At the same time we welcome constructive ideas from, and active efforts by, other parties in promoting regional integration. That is also China’s approach.