Bold: need clarification

Bold: need clarification

Message from the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, H.E. Ambassador Lu Shumin

On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, on behalf of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Indonesia, and in my own name, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all those who have long been concerned about and supportive of China's development, and who have committed themselves to the friendship and cooperation between China and Indonesia.

Since China adopted the policy of reform and opening up 25 years ago, China has made remarkable achievements in its economic and social development.

China's gross domestic product (GDP) has been growing at an average annual rate of 9.4 percent; its social productivity and comprehensive national strength have kept rising; people's living standards have seen continuous improvement.

In 2003, China's GDP exceeded US$1.4 trillion, and per capita GDP passed the important benchmark of $1,000. At present, China's economy maintains a sound development momentum, with its GDP jumping by 9.8 percent, and foreign trade by 38.2 percent in the first quarter of this year. All of this serves as proof that in reform and opening up, China has embarked on a road of peaceful development.

The Chinese Government has set its development objectives for the first two decades of this century, namely, concentrating on the construction of a moderately well-off society and striving to quadruple the GDP to $4 trillion by 2020, with a per capita GDP of $3,000.

Under the guidance of the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of the Three Represents, the Chinese people are striving to reach this goal, sticking to the principle of focusing on economic construction, never wavering in carrying out the policies of reform and opening up, and implementing a people- centered, all-around, coordinated and sustainable development mode.

China's diplomacy is steadfast in safeguarding its sovereignty, national security and territorial integrity. "Peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" is China's basic policy on the Taiwan question. China is ready to make the utmost efforts with maximum sincerity to achieve a peaceful reunification of the motherland.

It is firm, however, in opposing any attempts to create "Taiwan independence", "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan". The Chinese government and people are convinced that people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are of the same blood, linked by common ancestral and cultural heritage, and the lofty cause of national reunification is bound to become reality.

China unswervingly pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, adheres to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and increases friendly exchanges and cooperation with other countries.

China advocates democracy in international relations and diversity in development models, and encourages the progress of economic globalization in a direction that benefits the common prosperity of all nations. China adheres to a new concept of security based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation, and opposes hegemony, power politics, and terrorism in all its manifestations. China will continue to work for a new international political and economic order that is fair and equitable.

China and Indonesia are committed to establishing and developing long-term and stable all-round cooperative relations of good-neighborliness and mutual trust. In 2003, the relationship between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Indonesia continued its good forward momentum.

The two countries conducted fruitful cooperation and exchanges in the political, trade, economic, scientific and technological, cultural, educational, military and security fields, and maintained good coordination and collaboration in international and regional affairs.

Leaders of the two countries kept regular contact. In October 2003, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao participated in the ASEAN plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (10+3) Summit in Bali, Indonesia, and held bilateral talks with Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

During the Asian Cooperation Dialog Foreign Ministers' Meeting and ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held bilateral talks with his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda.

The two countries also had fruitful trade and economic cooperation, with two-way trade volume growing rapidly. Bilateral trade volume between the two countries in 2003 reached $10.2 billion, with a record increase of 28.9 percent over 2002. From January to July 2004, the bilateral trade volume amounted to $7.29 billion, up 36.1 percent from the previous year.

Furthermore, the economic departments of our two countries have targeted the bilateral trade volume in 2005 at $15 billion. I am confident that with concerted efforts from both sides, China-Indonesia cooperation in the economic and trade fields will continue to make great progress.

As the largest developing country in both Asia and the world, China is striving to achieve its own development. China cannot develop without Asia, and Asia's rejuvenation needs China.

Only when China becomes developed and stronger can China make greater contributions to the world, and Asia in particular.

China will stick to the road of peaceful development, hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, and write a new chapter of Asian rejuvenation with other Asian countries. A stable, developed and prosperous China will definitely promote peace in Asia and the world at large, and provide more opportunities for the development of Asia and the world.