China continues its policy of expanding common interests with
the world's major countries, and resolving differences in a proper
way, based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
Sino-US Relations
In 2005, through meetings, letters and phone calls, Chinese
President Hu Jintao and US President George W. Bush furthered their
exchanges and mutual trust, expanded common understanding and
cooperation, and promoted a constructive and cooperative bilateral
relationship in an all-round way. In September, President Hu Jintao
held talks with President Bush during the United Nations Summit in
New York. In November, President Bush paid the first visit to China
since beginning his second term and held talks with President Hu
Jintao in Beijing. Apart from meetings at presidential level,
Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan visited the US in July; US
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld paid his first visit to China
since assuming office in 2001. The US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, the Commerce Secretary, the Treasury Secretary,
the chairperson of the Federal Reserve Board, and the chairperson
of the Securities and Exchange Commission also visited China,
illustrating the remarkable increase in bilateral dialogue and
contacts at all levels and in all fields. China strengthened
cooperation with the US in tackling issues such as the DPRK nuclear
program, anti-terrorism, RMB exchange rate and textile exports,
setting a positive note and creating a good atmosphere for the
establishment of constructive and cooperative bilateral relations.
The first strategic dialogue was held in Beijing in August and the
second in Washington in December. In economic and trade relations,
the US has become China's largest export market and the second
largest trade partner whilst China is the third largest trade
partner and the fastest growing export market of the US.
Sino-Russian Relations
The year 2005 saw substantial progress in Sino-Russian
cooperation in many fields, including energy, finance, and electric
power, establishment of a strategic security negotiation mechanism,
and a deepening partnership of the strategic cooperation. In June,
China's and Russia's foreign ministers exchanged the Instrument of
Ratification for the Supplementary Agreement on the Eastern Section
of the China-Russia Boundary Line, which put an end to the
Sino-Russian boundary dispute. President Hu Jintao attended the
60th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in May. Between
late June and early July he made a state visit to Russia and signed
a joint statement on the world order in the 21st century with
Russian President Vladimir Putin; this set out the opinions of the
Chinese and Russian governments on the present international
situation and their stand on key international and regional issues.
In August, China and Russia conducted joint military exercises,
dubbed Peace Mission 2005, in Vladivostok, Russia, and China's
Shandong Peninsula and surrounding waters. In November, the two
prime ministers reached an agreement at their 10th regular meeting
that the two countries would strengthen their energy cooperation
and deepen their long-term cooperative relations in spaceflight.
The Year of Russia was formally launched in China on January 1,
2006.
China-EU Relations
In 2005, the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations between China and the European Union, the two sides
further consolidated and enriched their all-round strategic
partnership. There were frequent top-level visits between China and
the EU and steady progress in exchange and cooperation in economy
and trade, science and technology, culture, education, and justice
administration. ò2005 D the EU's Year of Chinaó became a buzzword
at EU headquarters.
In July, the newly inaugurated President of the EU Commission,
Jos? Manuel Barroso, visited China. On September 5, during the UK's
EU Council Presidency, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Jos?
Manuel Barroso, and Javier Solana, EU Council Secretary-General and
High Representative for the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy,
attended the Eighth China-EU Summit in Beijing. The two sides
issued the Joint Statement of the Eighth China-EU Summit and the
Joint Declaration on Climate Change between China and EU; they
signed documents on cooperation in transportation, environmental
protection, space development and construction of Beijing Capital
International Airport, raising China-EU relations to a new height;
they decided that 2006 was to be òChina-EU Science and Technology
Yearó and agreed to begin negotiations on a new China-EU framework
agreement as soon as possible.
In December, China's Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui held the
first round of China-EU strategic dialogue with EU senior
officials, including Ian Pearson, Britain's Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, thus formally establishing the
second channel for China-EU high-level dialogue. In November,
President Hu Jintao paid a state visit to the UK, Germany and
Spain, injecting fresh vigor into bilateral relations with these
countries. China and Spain published their first joint communiqu?
since establishing diplomatic ties and decided to set up an
all-round strategic partnership. In December, Premier Wen Jiabao
paid official visits to France, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and
Portugal, further enhancing overall China-EU relations.
Sino-Japanese Relations
In 2005, China and Japan made progress in economic and trade
cooperation, strategic dialogue, and people-to-people contacts. In
April, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Japanese Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi at the Asia-Africa Summit and put forward a
five-point proposal for improving Sino-Japanese relations. Chinese
Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and Japanese Foreign Ministry
Undersecretary Shotaro Taniuchi held three rounds of Sino-Japanese
strategic dialogue in 2005. The two sides exchanged views on
bilateral relations, and on regional and international issues of
common concern, agreeing to keep the dialogue process moving
forward.?
In adherence to its principles, the Chinese government firmly
struggles against Japan's right-wing forces, which cling to their
wrong stand on history and other key problems in Sino-Japanese
relations. China advocates that disputes over oil rights in the
East China Sea, sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands and historical
problems should be settled through dialogue and negotiation, and
expanding cooperation in all fields to the mutual benefit of both
nations.
