China is dedicated to strengthening its friendly relations and cooperation with all the countries in the world while firmly pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence: Mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

 China’s foreign policy was restated and reaffirmed in the review of government work presented by Premier Zhu Rongji to the 10th National People’s Congress on March 5,2003: 

China will unswervingly pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, continue to consolidate and strengthen its solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries, continue to cultivate friendly ties with its neighbors, increase regional cooperation and bring its exchanges and cooperation with neighboring countries to a new high. China will continue to improve and develop its relations with developed countries and, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, broaden the area of common interests and appropriately iron out differences. China will continue to take an active part in multilateral diplomacy and promote democracy in international relations and diversity in development models.

“We remain opposed to all forms of hegemonism and power politics and stand against terrorism in all its manifestations,” Zhu said.

In-coming Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao reiterated those principles on March 24, 2003 as he called for an end to the war against Iraq as soon as possible and a return to the right path of a political solution to the Iraq issue within the framework of the United Nations. Premier Wen made his remarks when meeting Pakistani Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, the first head of government to be received by the new Chinese leaders elected at the 10th National People’s Congress.

 Basic to China’s establishment of relations with any country is the acknowledgement that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan Province is an integral part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China which strives to implement the basic principle of “peaceful reunification, and one country, two systems” and the eight-point proposal for the settlement of the Taiwan question; and which looks for an early resumption of dialogue and negotiation between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits on the basis of the one-China principle. With the inauguration of the PRC on October 1, 1949, the Chinese government solemnly declared: “This government is the sole legal government representing the people of the People’s Republic of China. It is ready to establish diplomatic relations with all foreign governments willing to observe the principles of equality, mutual benefit and respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.” By the end of 2002, China had established diplomatic relations with 165 countries, and China’s diplomacy and foreign policy in 2002 had received recognition internationally as contributing to efforts to maintain world peace and promote common development.