China

The world today is undergoing major developments, major changes and major adjustments. The trend towards peace, development and cooperation, which represents the call of our times, has grown stronger than ever. As the world moves further towards multipolarity and economic globalization, multilateralism and democracy in international relations have won greater popular support, while openness and cooperation for mutual benefit and win-win progress have become the shared aspirations of the international community. Countries have become more interdependent. At the same time, the world remains in the grip of the financial crisis, and the prospects for economic recovery are still not clear. Worldwide, unemployment and poverty are worsening, and development imbalances are more acute. Global issues such as climate change, food security, energy and resource security, and public health security have been thrown into sharp relief. Non-traditional security threats, including terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, transnational organized crime and major communicable diseases, are threatening our world. Some long-standing hotspot issues remain unresolved, while regional and local conflicts continue to flare up. The instability and uncertainties on the international landscape pose severe challenges to world peace and development. In the face of unprecedented opportunities and challenges, we members of the international community should commit ourselves to peace, development, cooperation, common progress and tolerance, and continue our joint endeavour to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity and contribute to the noble cause of the peace and development of humankind. First, we should view security in a broader perspective and safeguard world peace and stability. The security of all countries has never been as closely interconnected as it is today. Security is not a zero-sum game, and there is no isolated or absolute security. No country can be safe and stable in the absence of world and regional peace and stability. We should embrace a new security mindset of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination. While maintaining our own national security, we should also respect the security concerns of other countries and advance the common security of humankind. We should adhere to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and seek peaceful solutions to regional hotspot issues and international disputes. There should be no wilful use or threat of force. We should support the United Nations in continuing to play an important role in the field of international security. We should oppose terrorism, separatism and extremism in all their manifestations and broaden international security cooperation. China has consistently stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons and for a world without nuclear weapons. We call on the international community to take credible steps to push forward the nuclear disarmament process, eradicate the risks of nuclear weapons proliferation and promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and related international cooperation. Secondly, we should take a more holistic approach to development and promote common prosperity. Increasing economic globalization has linked the development of all countries closely together. Without the development and equal participation of developing countries, there can be neither common prosperity in the world nor a more just and equitable international economic order. The developing countries now face a deteriorating external environment brought about by the international financial crisis. Their economies are slowing down, and their development endeavours are beset by serious difficulties. We believe that common development is an important way to redress global development imbalances and achieve sustainable development. The United Nations should increase its input in 9 09-52228 development; advance economic globalization in the direction of balanced development, shared benefits and win-win progress; and foster an international environment conducive to the development of developing countries. The international financial institutions should use their newly increased resources, first and foremost, to help developing countries move out of poverty and provide loans to them in a more flexible, diverse, convenient and efficient manner. Great effort should be made to increase the representation and voice of developing countries in the process of reforming the international financial system. We should take responsible measures to counter the international financial crisis, firmly oppose protectionism and actively work for an early, comprehensive and balanced outcome of the Doha Round negotiations. Developed countries should open their markets to developing countries and reduce or exempt tariffs for those countries. They should honour their official development assistance and debt relief commitments and, in particular, increase assistance to the least developed countries, with a focus on tackling such issues as hunger, health care and education. For developing countries, self-reliance is essential. They should explore development models conducive to their development and poverty eradication efforts. It is also in their interest to increase trade and investment cooperation, open markets to one another and step up South-South cooperation. Thirdly, we should pursue cooperation with a more open mind and work for mutual benefit and common progress. Climate change, food security, energy and resource security, and public health security are all global challenges, and no country is immune to them. The only way for us to meet those challenges and ensure harmony and peace is to engage in closer international cooperation. Climate change is one of the serious challenges to human survival and development, and international cooperation is the key to tackling that challenge. We should retain the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol as the main channel in addressing climate change, abide by the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, adhere to the mandate of the Bali Road Map, and work for the success of the Copenhagen conference with a view to achieving mutual benefit and common progress. Food and energy are vital to the livelihood, development and stability of all nations. We should increase our input into agriculture, develop advanced technologies, curb market speculation, increase food assistance and intensify cooperation with regard to agriculture and food. We should strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in the area of energy, step up the research and development of new and renewable energies, put in place a system for the research, development and dissemination of advanced energy technologies, and diversify the energy supply. The continued spread of influenza A — H1N1 — has presented a global public health challenge confronting the entire international community. China is ready to provide help, within its capacities, to other developing countries in the prevention and control of influenza A. Fourthly, we should be more tolerant towards one another and live together in harmony. Mutual learning and tolerance among different civilizations are an inexhaustible source of strength for social progress, and all countries — large or small, strong or weak, rich or poor — are equal. We should acknowledge differences in our cultural traditions, social systems and values, respect the right of all countries to independently choose their own development paths, let different civilizations and models of development draw on one another’s strengths through competition and comparison, and achieve common development by seeking common ground while reserving the right to differ. The Chinese people will soon celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Sixty years ago, the Chinese people won independence and liberation after a prolonged, hard struggle and became masters of the new China. Today, China’s national strength has grown remarkably and the people are better off. China’s development has contributed greatly to peace and development in the world, and China’s future is more closely interconnected with that of the world. A more developed China will make greater contributions and bring more opportunities to the world. We are committed to the path of peaceful development and the win-win strategy of opening up. We will develop friendly relations and cooperation with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. China has always been and will 09-52228 10 continue to be a positive force for world peace and common development. As a responsible and major developing country, China has always made common development an important aspect of its foreign policy. We have made a great effort to provide support and assistance to other developing countries. To further assist them, China will adopt the following measures. First, we will increase support for other developing countries hit hard by the financial crisis, honestly implement relevant capital increase and financing plans, intensify trade and investment cooperation and help increase the capacity of relevant countries for risk resistance and sustainable development. Secondly, we will continue to implement the measures announced at the United Nations High-level Event on the Millennium Development Goals to assist other developing countries in accelerating development and facilitating attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Thirdly, China will follow through on the measures to help African countries that were announced at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, increase assistance to Africa, reduce or cancel debts for African countries, expand trade and investment, provide human resources and technological support for African countries in such areas as agriculture, health, education and disaster preparedness and reduction, and intensify personnel training tailored to African needs. Fourthly, China will continue to participate in and promote regional monetary and financial cooperation, maintain financial and economic stability and promote financial cooperation and trade in the region. Let us join hands, share the development opportunities, rise above the challenges and make an unremitting effort towards building a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.