The Chinese Foreign Ministry will review China's diplomatic work
in 2003 in a yearbook, said sources with the ministry in Beijing
Friday.
A summary of the yearbook points out that the overall
international situation remained stable, but turmoils increased in
some areas, and China's diplomatic work centered around
safeguarding peace and promoting development in the past year.
The summary says China properly dealt with international hot
issues and major emergencies and carried out diplomatic work in an
all-round way.
On the Iraqi issue, in line with the purpose and principles of
the United Nations Charter and basic norms governing international
relations, China, along with other countries, opposed unilateral
actions bypassing the UN Security Council. China actively took part
in the post-war reconstruction in Iraq, and played a constructive
role in the process of the passing of Resolution 1511 by the
Security Council.
On the Korean nuclear issue, China persisted in solving the
problem through dialogue and promoting Beijing three-party and
six-party talks. China played an active role in maintaining peace
and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the northeastern
Asia.
On the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic, China
took a series of resolute and responsible measures and carried out
international cooperation to fight against the disease. At a
China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) leaders
special meeting on SARS, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao offered a
series of suggestions on enhancing regional cooperation with an
attitude of frankness, trust and cooperation.
In 2003, China made remarkable achievements in promoting
friendly cooperation with neighboring countries and persisted in
building a good-neighborly relationship and partnership with
them.
In the past year, China made efforts to enhance cooperation with
other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and to
develop cooperative mechanism with ASEAN and ASEAN plus China,
Japan and Korea (10+3). China also continued to develop and deepen
relations with India, Pakistan, the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea, Republic of Korea and Mongolia.
According to the summary, China's relationships with major large
countries were stable and developed in 2003. Sino-US relations,
overall, remained stable and recorded important progress,
Sino-Russian strategic partnership continued to deepen, and
Sino-Japanese relations generally made progress. Leaders of China
and the European Union agreed to make concerted efforts to develop
a comprehensive strategic partnership.
China's diplomatic policy was based on the unity and cooperation
with developing countries. Chinese President Hu Jintao attended the
informal South-North leaders dialogue meeting and Premier Wen
Jiabao attended the conference of the China-Africa Cooperation
Forum, putting forward China's new ideas on developing mutually
beneficial cooperating with developing countries.
In 2003, China actively participated in international
cooperation in such fields as counter-terrorism, arms control,
peace-keeping, development, human rights and environment, and China
supported the authority and role of the United Nations.
With its diplomatic efforts China safeguarded the Chinese
citizens' rights and interests overseas, promoted international
economic cooperation and provided service for China's social
development.
The summary reviews China's efforts for national reunification,
upholding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity
and resolutely opposing Taiwan separatists' activities in the past
year in line with basic principle of "peaceful reunification and
'one country, two systems'".
The yearbook was compiled by the Foreign Ministry Department of
Policy Planning with a purpose to make clear the Chinese
Government's foreign policy, its views on the international
situation, so as to help Chinese and foreign readers understand
China's foreign affairs.
The Chinese version of the yearbook will be published in
mid-March and the English version will be published in early
April.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2004)