Zhou Guangzhao, head of the China's Parliamentary Delegation to the
ongoing annual meeting of the
Association of Asian Parliaments
for Peace (AAPP), Wednesday put forward a four-point proposal
on peace and development in Asia.
Zhou, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, announced the
proposals at the first Plenary Session of the Third annual meeting
of the association.
The proposals are as follows:
--
We must cherish and safeguard the hard won peace and stability in
Asia. History and reality both demonstrate that a peaceful and
stable regional surrounding environment is vital to the
development, prosperity and security of the countries in the
region. Therefore, countries should all proceed from long-term and
strategic interests and make further efforts to preserve the
current situation.
--
All countries in the region should respect each other and treat
each other as equals on the basis of Five Principles of Peaceful
Coexistence. We should respect the fact that Asia is diversified
and give full play to the advantage of diversity and seek
diversified development so as to create a new Asia in which various
kinds of culture and civilization coexist and make common
development.
--
To further deepen the multi-facet economic cooperation of various
forms in Asia. In the spirit of mutual benefit and common
development, countries should learn from each other while competing
with each other, draw upon each other's advantages and make up for
deficiencies. Thus, the economic power of countries and Asia as a
whole will be increased and the ability to deal with the challenge
of economic globalization enhanced.
--
We should actively advocate the new security concept with mutual
confidence, mutual benefit and equitable cooperation as the core.
All bilateral dispute and disagreement should be resolved through
consultation and negotiation. We should strengthen security by
increasing cooperation and expanding common interests.
We
should enhance the cooperation in non-traditional security fields
and fight collectively against terrorism, smuggling,
drug-trafficking, piracy and illegal immigration and other
transnational criminal activities.
Zhou said China has long-time good neighborly friendship and
cooperation with other Asian countries, citing efforts China have
been made to develop friendly relations and cooperation of good
neighborliness and good partnership with surrounding Asian
countries.
Mutual understanding and trust has been deepened as a result, he
said.
At
present, China has established a framework for cross-century
good-neighborly and friendly relations and cooperation with most
Asian countries, he said. "The cooperation in economic, trade,
scientific and technological and cultural fields continued to
deepen."
"China has, along with Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and
Uzbekistan, established the 'Shanghai Cooperation'," Zhou said.
China also took an active part in the ASEAN Regional Forum,
promoted the dialogue in the Korean peninsula, supported relevant
countries in the Middle East and south Asia in their efforts to
peacefully resolve disputes and supported the rebuilding of
Afghanistan, said Zhou.
"All these fully demonstrate our good wishes to safeguard regional
and world peace and development," he said.
He
also talked about the country's three major tasks for the new
century, including the goal of doubling the country's gross
domestic product (GDP) of 2000 in the 2010, gradually accomplishing
common prosperity in the country, striving for the peaceful
reunification of the country, and safeguarding world peace and
promoting common development.
Zhou stressed that the development in China cannot be separated
from the support of people in Asian countries, and a stable,
developed and prosperous China will not pose any threats to any
countries at any times.
"On the contrary, China will make greater contribution to the peace
and development in Asia and the world," he said.
"China opposes hegemonism and won't seek hegemony itself," he
declared.
He
said parliaments should further enhance cooperation and exchanges
and assume more responsibilities in regional and international
affairs.
The vice chairman called on the meeting to join hands in the effort
for peace and stability in Asia and world, as well as the common
development of countries and regions.
The AAPP was formally launched in September 1999 in Dacca, capital
of Bangladesh, and now has 36 member countries.
(Xinhua News
Agency April 18, 2002)