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Special> 35 Years of Reform and Opening Up (1978-2013)> Society
UPDATED: November 29, 2008
Tang on China's Diplomacy Over the Past 20 Years
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Recently, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan was interviewed by Chinese reporters and answered their questions on the country's diplomatic achievements in the past 20 years, the current international situation and the new challenges facing China in the coming century.

Question: What are the most striking features of China's diplomatic route compared with the period before the reform and open-ing-up?

Answer: Entering the new period of reform and opening-up, China has turned its domestic focus to economic construction. Consequently, it has readjusted and re-determined its international strategy and diplomatic policies.

First, abide by the principle of self-independence; do not ally with any country or country bloc; determine our attitude and policies from the fundamental interests of the Chinese and all the people of the world in all international affairs.

Second, surpass the differences between social systems and ideologies; develop a friendly cooperative relationship with all countries in accordance with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (mutual respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence - Ed).

Third, set "opening-up" as a basic national policy, open exchanges and cooperation with all countries in the fields of trade and the economy, science and technology and culture on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

Fourth, in line with the great idea of "one country, two systems" advocated by the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, solve historical problems through peaceful negotiation. Now, Hong Kong has smoothly returned to the motherland and Macao will soon come back. The idea of "one country, two systems" has shown its vitality in realizing national reunification.

At the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s, many East European countries experienced great changes and the former Soviet Union disintegrated. Under such a complicated international environment, China continued to abide by the peaceful diplomatic policy of self-independence. As a result, it resisted and broke Western sanctions and made successful advances as the international situation changed.

Q: What achievements have been made in China's diplomacy in the past 20 years?

A: First, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, China has developed a friendly cooperative relationship with all countries. Currently, China has established diplomatic ties with 163 countries, while the figure before 1978 was 110. China has also developed trade and economic contact and cooperation with over 220 countries and regions in the world.

China has consolidated and strengthened its unity and cooperation with developing countries. It has established good-neighborly, mutual-trust, friendly and cooperative relations with all bordering countries. Meanwhile, it has improved its relationship with developed countries and major powers.

Chinese and US leaders paid a successful visit to each other and decided to establish a constructive strategic partnership oriented toward the 21st century. The relationship between the two countries has entered a new stage of development.

In the spirit of mutual respect and neighborliness, China and Russia solved most of the border issues left over from history and established a strategic cooperative partnership of mutual trust and oriented toward the 21st century. Not long ago, Chinese and Russian leaders held the first informal "no ties" meeting, which deepened the bilateral relationship.

Last November, Chinese President Jiang Zemin paid a state visit to Japan, the first ever by a Chinese president. The Chinese side emphasized a healthy and stable development of Sino-Japanese relations by learning from history and looking to the future. Through careful consultation, both sides agreed to build a friendly and cooperative partnership oriented toward the 21st century dedicated to peace and development and issued a joint statement.

The relationship between China and the European Union (EU) and its members has also seen an improvement. Leaders of China and the EU held their first meeting, and China has exchanged visits with most of the EU countries. Their cooperation was strengthened.

Second, as the largest developing country. China actively participated in multilateral diplomacy and has played a unique constructive role in international affairs. China firmly opposed any forms of hegemonism and power politics, protected the just rights and interests of the developing countries and promoted the establishment of a fair and reasonable new international political and economic order.

As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China insisted on solving international conflicts by peaceful means. China fully participated in and actively promoted the international disarmament process, cutting its troops by 1 million and 500,000 respectively in 1985 and 1997, which was greatly welcomed by the international community.

As an important member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Asia-Europe Meeting, China has made positive efforts toward the healthy development of regional cooperation. In regard to the Asian financial crisis, China took a series of domestic and foreign policies, contributed a lot to the stability of regional and world finance and the economy, and established itself as a major responsible country.

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