For
China, this has been a special year. We experienced
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two major events. One was the devastating earthquake
in Wenchuan, which caused grave loss of life and
property. In the face of the disaster, the Chinese people
showed great strength, courage, solidarity and
resilience. By now, the people affected by the
earthquake have been properly relocated and recovery
and reconstruction work is well under way. The other
event was the successful hosting of the Beijing
Olympic Games. That grand sporting event provided a
good opportunity for athletes from around the world to
show true sportsmanship. It also enabled the world to
learn more about China and for China to learn more
about the world.
In our fight against the earthquake disaster and
our efforts to host the Games, we received
understanding, support and assistance from the
international community. I wish to take this
opportunity to express sincere gratitude on behalf of
the Chinese Government and people.
Now the whole world wants to know in what
direction China is heading, both politically and
economically, after the Beijing Olympic Games. Let
me tell you in unequivocal terms that China will
remain committed to the path of peaceful development,
unswervingly pursue reform and opening-up, and
continue to adhere to an independent foreign policy of
peace. This is in the fundamental interests of the
Chinese people and the people of all other countries. It
is also in keeping with the trend of the world.
The Olympic Games that just concluded were
held in China, the largest developing country in the
world. The international community has highly
commended the efforts made by the Chinese
Government and people for the Games, and their
success has greatly inspired the Chinese people and
given them even more confidence and strength to
achieve modernization of the country.
At the same time, however, we are soberly aware
that China is a country with 1.3 billion people.
Although its total GDP is one of the highest in the
world, it trails behind more than 100 countries in terms
of per capita income. Development between urban and
rural areas and among different regions in China is
unbalanced. The rural areas, particularly in western
China, are underdeveloped. Tens of millions of Chinese
lack adequate food and clothing.
China is still a developing country, where
productivity remains low and further development is
constrained by the shortage of resources and energy
and by environmental consequences. Our socialist
market economic system, democracy and the rule of
law need to be further improved, and certain
outstanding social issues are yet to be resolved. To
achieve China’s modernization is a daunting task, and
we still have a long way to go. Both the opportunities
and challenges that we face are unprecedented. We will
seize the opportunities, rise up to challenges, dedicate
ourselves to nation-building and focus on development.
That is what the Chinese Government and people have
been thinking and doing.
People may ask how China is achieving its
development. The answer is through reform and
opening up. This year marks the thirtieth anniversary
of China’s reform and opening-up policy, a policy that
fundamentally changed the closed, backward and
ossified situation that had existed in China for years. It
is a policy that freed people’s minds and aroused their
initiative, liberated the productive forces, generated
great economic and social progress and instilled vigour
and vitality into the country. Without that policy, there
would not have been such change in China in the last
30 years.
To achieve the goal of modernization and build a
strong, prosperous, democratic, culturally advanced
and harmonious country, we will pursue the reform and
opening-up policy. It is of vital importance to the
development of China today. It is also a strategy that
will shape China’s future. We are firm in carrying this
policy forward.
The Chinese nation has all along cherished the
fine tradition and benefited from the wisdom of being
open to new ideas and drawing on the strengths of
others. The Chinese people have learned from 30 years
of reform and opening up that only continued
economic and political restructuring and reform in
other fields can lead to sustained economic growth and
social progress. And only continued opening up in an
all-round way can lead the country to greater national
strength and prosperity. This is the conclusion we have
drawn both from our practice and exploration and from
historical experiences.
The world needs peace, for only with peace can
there be development. China earnestly hopes to have a
peaceful international environment in order to achieve
its development goals. The Chinese Government is
committed to an independent foreign policy of peace
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and stands ready to work with other countries to
advance the noble cause of the peace and progress of
mankind.
Respect for sovereignty and non-interference in
the internal affairs of other countries is the prerequisite
for sound State-to-State relations. The Chinese people
have learned from their modern history of humiliation
that when a country loses its sovereignty, its people
lose dignity and status. China is firm in upholding its
hard-won sovereignty and territorial integrity and will
never tolerate any external interference. Following the
principle of treating each other as equals, China also
respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
other countries, as well as the independent choices of
their people for their own social systems and
development paths.
China is ready to develop friendly relations with
all countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit
rather than on ideology or on a political system. In
handling international affairs, we make our own
judgement on the merit of each case and take our
position in light of our national interests and the well-
being of the world’s people. We will neither blindly
follow the position of others nor give way to the
pressure of any forces. In international relations, China
does not seek to build alliances or become a leader and
will never do so in the future.
Peaceful settlement of international disputes is a
founding purpose of the United Nations and a basic
principle of international law. China is committed to
addressing historical issues and current differences
with other countries through dialogue and negotiation.
As a permanent member of the Security Council, China
will continue to play an active and constructive role in
promoting the peaceful settlement of international
hotspot issues and regional conflicts.
China’s development is peaceful in nature. It will
not harm anyone or pose a threat to anyone. China does
not seek hegemony now, nor will it do so in the future.
China keeps and develops an appropriate level of
military capability solely for the purpose of
safeguarding China’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity.
The confidence and pride of the Chinese nation
today are based on China’s economic development,
social justice, the civility of its people and moral
strength. China will, through its own development,
contribute to the peace and development of the world.
In the long history of humankind, the destinies of
countries have never been so closely linked as they are
today. Given the global nature of issues threatening the
survival and development of mankind, such as global
warming, environmental degradation, resource
constraints, frequent outbreaks of diseases and natural
disasters and the spread of terrorism, and in the face of
the intertwining challenges related to finance, energy
and food, no country can expect to avoid difficulties or
to handle the problems alone.
Ongoing financial volatility, in particular, has
affected many countries, and its impact is likely to
become more serious. To tackle the challenge, we must
all make concerted efforts. So long as people of all
countries, including their leaders, can do away with
hostility, exclusion and prejudice, treat each other with
sincerity and an open mind and forge ahead hand in
hand, humankind will overcome all difficulties and
embrace a brighter and better future.
China, as a responsible major developing country,
is ready to work with other members of the
international community to strengthen cooperation,
share opportunities, meet challenges and contribute to
the harmonious and sustainable development of the
world.