FM calls for US, N.Korea flexibility in nuclear talks
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-03-06 10:21

China to promote world peace and stability

China's foreign policy and diplomacy aim at promoting peace, prosperity and cooperation in the world Sunday.

"We will continue to work together with the international community to bring about a world with fewer conflicts and more peace, less poverty and more prosperity, and fewer troubles and more cooperation," said Li.

Asked to comment on the Chinese foreign policy and diplomacy, the minister said that China's diplomacy serves both the Chinese people and people of other countries in the world.

"Over the past year, we have done our work earnestly and wholeheartedly to bring about a peaceful and stable international environment for the development of the country and improvement of the people's livelihood," said Li.

He added that the Chinese diplomats have adhered to the principle of "doing diplomatic work for the people", protected the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal persons abroad, and "properly handled" emergency incidents such as attacks against the Chinese citizens abroad.

"We stand for peaceful resolution of international disputes, and we have played our part conscientiously in the settlement of the regional hot-spot issues," said the minister, adding that China is finding "more and more friends and partners" around the world.

The minister said that China's diplomacy serves both the Chinese and people of the world.

President Hu to attend APEC summit in ROK

Li confirmed that Chinese President Hu Jintao will attend the informal leaders' meeting of the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation in the Republic of Korea (ROK) this year.

The itinerary of President Hu will be announced by the Foreign Ministry spokesman, he said without giving details.

It is "very likely" that Chinese President Hu Jintao would go to the United States this year for celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, the diplomat said.

China opposes hegemonism, stressing peace, democracy

China opposes hegemonism and advocates peace, multi-lateralism and democracy in international relations, Li told the press conference..

The theme of our times is peace and development but hegemonism remains a threat, Li said, reviewing late senior Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's remarks on China's foreign policy of peace.

"We are against any country that practices hegemonism; we are against any country that commits aggression on others; we are fair in our words and in our deeds," he said.

China receives 52 heads of state, government in 2004

Li said that a total of 52 heads of state and government of foreign countries visited China in 2004.

"Over the past year we received 29 visiting heads of state and 23 heads of government of foreign countries," said Li.

Top Party and state leaders of China, including President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao and Jia Qinglin, chairman of China's top advisory body, the Chinese People 's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), visited 34 countries

across the world in 2004 to "make many good friends for their motherland", added the minister.

"It is very important for us to make friends in the international community as we are trying our best to implement the principle of 'doing diplomatic work for the people'," he explained.

China now has 235 diplomatic missions worldwide, with a total of 5,600-strong staff members. Among them, more than 3,200 are from his ministry, Li said.

China is staunch force for peace-making

Li said that China is a staunch force for making peace in the world and does not pose any threat to the rest of the world.

Li said that China pursues a peaceful way of development and adheres to maintaining peace and stability in the world.

As the world's two important countries, Li said, China and the United States should take concerted efforts to further build the constructive cooperative partnership.

However, he said, "a handful of people in the United States still let their mentality linger in the Cold War era."

"The theory of China threat is unfounded and unscientific," Li said.

According to Western media, the top diplomat said, the US defense expenditures reached 455.9 billion US dollars, 3.9 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2004, while China spent 211. 7 billion yuan (25.5 billion US dollars) on national defense, 1.6 percent of its GDP.

In 2003, the US defense expenditures took up 47 percent of the global total, exceeding the accumulated expenditures of the following 25 biggest defense spenders, Li said.

"It's ridiculous to accuse China of a threat," he said.

Close

Today's Top News     Top China News
US-Japan security alliance should not include Taiwan         Market to have bigger say in yuan rate         Grain self-sufficiency still key for nation         Leading group to oversee energy sector         Heinz recalls its dye-fouled products         Iraqis set opening for new parliament	Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a (money) match       Grain self-sufficiency still key for nation       Top leaders join deputies, members in discussions       Migrant workers' plight causes concern       Economic zone facing Taiwan proposed       Heinz recalls its dye-fouled products