First, China pursues the road of peaceful development and seeks a stable and peaceful international environment. As the largest developing country, China tries to achieve its own development by safeguarding world peace and to promote world peace through its own development. China is active to fulfill its obligations as one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council. While energetically pushing forward UN reforms, it pays much attention to legitimate rights of the vast majority of developing countries. At the same time, China actively participates in diplomatic mediation concerning hot topics. Of special note, it plays an important role in promoting the passing of a number of resolutions by the UN Security Council, such as that on the Korean nuclear issue adopted in October 2006. China is also an active participant in UN peacekeeping missions. By the end of November 2006, China had dispatched 5,915 military personnel to take part in 16 UN peacekeeping missions, which makes it the largest contributor of peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. China has always tried to offer international assistance within its power. By September 2006, China had provided 49 least developed countries with 1,701 material or financial assistance packages and relieved 36 least developed countries from 172 debts.

Second, China tries to build up a good-neighborly surrounding environment by sticking to dialogues and cooperation. While adhering to the policy of "building friendship and partnership with neighboring countries," China continues to strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation. China-ASEAN relations are now at an all time high. In October 2006, China successfully held a summit to mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations and great achievements have been made in deepening the peace and prosperity-oriented strategic partnership with ASEAN nations. The relationship between China and Central Asian countries is being continuously deepened. In June 2006, China successfully hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Shanghai, which further promoted its friendly relationship of cooperation with Central Asian countries. China's relationship with South Asian countries is developing in an all-round way. President Hu's visits to India and Pakistan in late November 2006 proved very successful.

Third, China aims at a cooperative environment based on equality and mutual benefit by pursuing the policy of carrying out win-win cooperation with the rest of the world. The year 2006 witnessed unprecedented growth in foreign trade. The trade volume between China and the European Union, the United States and Japan maintained the momentum of relatively fast growth. By the end of November, China's foreign trade volume almost amounted to $1.6 trillion, an increase of 24.3 percent year on year. In dealing with trade disputes, China follows the policy of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation and adheres to WTO rules and relevant international practices, trying to correctly resolve relevant problems with other countries.

Fourth, China tries to build a security environment featuring mutual trust and cooperation for common security. China pursues a new security concept concentrating on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation, with a view to promote mutual trust through dialogues, dissolve conflicts through consultation and achieve stability through cooperation. In terms of international nuclear non-proliferation, China is playing an important role in solving the Korean and Iranian nuclear issues in a responsible manner. Notably, it has made great contributions toward restarting the multilateral talks on Korean nuclear issue and safeguarding the international non-proliferation regime. When it comes to the international antiterror cooperation, in March 2006, China participated in the joint antiterror military exercises under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In August, September and December of the same year, China respectively joined in antiterror drills with Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Pakistan. In terms of energy security cooperation, the Chinese Government has proposed the new energy security concept of "mutually beneficial cooperation, diversified forms of development and common energy security through coordination," to promote dialogue and cooperation on this issue. In terms of public health security cooperation, the Chinese Government fully supports Margaret Chan's bid for the directorship of the World Health Organization and energetically push forward the development of the world's health care undertakings.

Fifth, China always tries to enhance trust and reduce misgivings for the building of an environment of objective and friendly international public opinion. The Chinese Government attaches great importance to news release services and tries to raise the country's international image through a variety of channels by means of broadcast, television and Internet. Great efforts have been made to promote China's cultural exchanges with the rest of the world. By the end of 2006, China had already established 123 Confucius Institutes in 49 countries and regions. CCTV4, CCTV9 as well as CCTV's Spanish and French Channel already have 65 million overseas subscribers. At the same time, positive reports on China by foreign media have seen a big increase.