China pursues policy of peace
The following is an excerpt from a paper presented by Assistant Foreign Minister of China Chen Jian at the first general meeting of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region in Singapore on June 4, 1997. This is the first of two articles.
SINGAPORE: East Asia is enjoying a unique period of relative peace and stability with no imminent danger of war. Economic development has become the focus of all countries. Rapid economic growth and expanding economic and trade interactions have woven a strong safety net for the region. The process of multipolarization is accelerating, contributing to a more balanced region. The emphasis on dialog and cooperation is gaining momentum. All these are contributing to peace, stability and a multilayered security structure in the region.
The destiny of the next century lies in our own hands. A stable and constructive partnership among major powers, a mutually beneficial economic relationship among countries in the region, a realistic and dialog-oriented attitude toward potential disputes and, an open multilateral approach to security through cooperation are, to my mind, some of the most important constituents of a lasting peace in the region.
What kind of roles should the major powers play to maintain lasting peace and prosperity in the region?
Relations between the major powers have undergone profound changes since the end of the Cold War. The days of superpower rivalry and bloc confrontation are past history. For the first time this century, the danger of conflict between the major powers is fading away as all the major powers and forces -- the United States, China, Russia, Japan and ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) -- have shared interests and a common stake in regional peace and prosperity. To foster a stable relationship among them on that basis has become the concern of all as noted by the ARF SOM (ASEAN Regional Forum Senior Officers Meeting) leaders last May.
How will the major powers manage their relations in the next century? What should they opt for, dialog and cooperation or contention and confrontation? This is a challenge for us.
China hopes that all the major powers will realize their responsibility to mankind. In the joint venture of maintaining regional peace and prosperity, major powers must learn to treat each other as partners, not as contenders. Nor should one try to seek new rivalries where they are nonexistent.
China has all along pursued a foreign policy of peace and independence and committed herself to forge friendly relations and cooperation with other countries. China looks for cooperation instead of confrontation. It is China's consistent policy to cultivate friendly relations with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-Existence. We believe that such a commitment to cooperation rather than confrontation exemplifies China's goodwill and sincerity to safeguard regional peace and prosperity as manifested in her relations with the United States, Russia, Japan and ASEAN.
* Sino-U.S. relations
The United States of America is a major Pacific power, which is placed to make its unique contribution to peace and prosperity in the region. We, in China, attach great importance to the role of the United States and to a stable relationship with the United States in the firm belief that such a relationship would not only benefit our two peoples but would moreover be conducive to peace and prosperity in the region.
We are pleased to note that as a result of persistent efforts by the parties concerned, Sino-U.S. relations are moving in the right direction. This year has witnessed some important high-level visits between China and the United States. We are now preparing for the exchange of state visits by the presidents of the two countries that will take place later this year and next year.
* Sino Russian relations
No matter how the multipolarization process shapes up in the world, Russia is certainly one of the poles of the set-up. It is welcome that Russia is actively seeking a constructive relationship with Asian countries and playing a positive role in the region.
As the two biggest neighboring countries, China and Russia have established a strategic partnership of equality and trust geared toward the 21st century. This relationship was further deepened by the recent visit to Russia by President Jiang Zemin. The presidents of the two countries signed a joint statement supporting the formation of a multipolar world.
The new Sino-Russian relationship, being one of friendship and cooperation, neither an alliance, nor designed against any third party, serves the interests of peace and security in the region and the world as a whole.
* Sino-Japanese relations
Japan has much to offer to the rest of the world and to this region in particular. As long as Japan adheres to the road of peaceful development and adopts a correct attitude toward its history, Japan can play and is welcome to play a constructive role in maintaining peace and prosperity in the region.
The Chinese government has always attached importance to developing a long-term good-neighborly relationship with Japan and has devoted great efforts to this end. This policy of the Chinese government will remain unchanged. At present the Sino- Japanese relationship are improving. This year will witness the 25th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral relations between the two countries. We hope that the two countries will take advantage of this occasion to maintain a stable, healthy and lasting bilateral relationship.
* ASEAN
Speaking of multipolarization, one should not fail to see the emergence of ASEAN as a new power center and a significant force in the Asia-Pacific region. Over the past few years, ASEAN has played an ever-increasing role in the regional and international arena. This year will witnesses the 30th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN, and its enlargement from seven to ten members.
All members of ASEAN are China's close neighbors. It is of vital importance to China that our relationship is one of good neighborliness and close cooperation. China highly commends and fully supports ASEAN's role in promoting peace and development in the region. In this connection, China is happy to attend the ASEAN plus three summit meeting.
East Asia will maintain the momentum of economic growth, thus contributing to peace and stability in the region.
Nothing attracts more attention in the world today than the rise of East Asian economies.
The region is home to the world's fastest growing economies and supplier of ever-larger portions of world product. Inter-regional and intra-regional economic links have been significantly strengthened and interaction and interdependence among states is growing.
East Asia has the potential to become one of the major growth poles of the global economy in the next century. And its dynamic development promises to be a continuing stabilizing factor for peace and stability, with the safety net getting stronger each passing day.
One can't help but marvel at what is going on.
This being said, we should not lose sight of the complexities of the situations and potential obstacles standing in the way.
Clearly, there are still questions unanswered.
- Economic development in the region is not balanced, and the competition among countries at the same level of economic development is a growing concern.
- The elimination of poverty, the promotion of economic development by relying on scientific and technological progress and the attainment of coordinated economic, social and environmental development remain an arduous task.
And as for China, while remaining a developing country, she still needs dozens of years of arduous efforts to catch up with the world's moderately developed countries.
How shall we come to grips with all these challenges?
I do not wish to give way to the temptation to offer answers to it, answers being a commodity which you have no lack of.
But let us look at the issue in terms of China's interactions with other countries in the region.
Apart from other causes, mostly internal, China's boom benefited to no small extent from the relatively stable and peaceful environment in the region and from the regional economic strength which China has been drawing on. In turn, a prosperous China somewhere in the next century will become one of the engines of growth for East Asia, including Southeast Asia.
East Asia stands high up in this economic development strategy of China's.
Therefore, there is no reason whatsoever for China to risk her national interests by putting the peace and prosperity of the region in jeopardy. A stable and prosperous China is an important factor making for peace and prosperity of the region.
Now, let me say a few words about Hong Kong, whose special role in the economic picture of the region is widely recognized.
Hong Kong has been playing an important role in China's reform and opening to the outside world. China attributes the success of its reform and opening not only to the efforts of the people on the mainland but also to Hong Kong's important role as a bridge linking the mainland and the world. Hong Kong was, is and will continue to be such an important bridge. We hope others will, like us, help to consolidate this bridge. For this purpose and for the success of the idea "one country two systems", we have no reason to change the existing social and economic systems nor its lifestyle.
Window: China hopes that all the major powers will realize their responsibility to mankind. In the joint venture of maintaining regional peace and prosperity, major powers must learn to treat each other as partners, not as contenders. Nor should one try to seek new rivalries where they are nonexistent.