People's Republic of China, 2008

For

China, this has been a special year. We experienced

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two major events. One was the devastating earthquake

in Wenchuan, which caused grave loss of life and

property. In the face of the disaster, the Chinese people

showed great strength, courage, solidarity and

resilience. By now, the people affected by the

earthquake have been properly relocated and recovery

and reconstruction work is well under way. The other

event was the successful hosting of the Beijing

Olympic Games. That grand sporting event provided a

good opportunity for athletes from around the world to

show true sportsmanship. It also enabled the world to

learn more about China and for China to learn more

about the world.

In our fight against the earthquake disaster and

our efforts to host the Games, we received

understanding, support and assistance from the

international community. I wish to take this

opportunity to express sincere gratitude on behalf of

the Chinese Government and people.

Now the whole world wants to know in what

direction China is heading, both politically and

economically, after the Beijing Olympic Games. Let

me tell you in unequivocal terms that China will

remain committed to the path of peaceful development,

unswervingly pursue reform and opening-up, and

continue to adhere to an independent foreign policy of

peace. This is in the fundamental interests of the

Chinese people and the people of all other countries. It

is also in keeping with the trend of the world.

The Olympic Games that just concluded were

held in China, the largest developing country in the

world. The international community has highly

commended the efforts made by the Chinese

Government and people for the Games, and their

success has greatly inspired the Chinese people and

given them even more confidence and strength to

achieve modernization of the country.

At the same time, however, we are soberly aware

that China is a country with 1.3 billion people.

Although its total GDP is one of the highest in the

world, it trails behind more than 100 countries in terms

of per capita income. Development between urban and

rural areas and among different regions in China is

unbalanced. The rural areas, particularly in western

China, are underdeveloped. Tens of millions of Chinese

lack adequate food and clothing.

China is still a developing country, where

productivity remains low and further development is

constrained by the shortage of resources and energy

and by environmental consequences. Our socialist

market economic system, democracy and the rule of

law need to be further improved, and certain

outstanding social issues are yet to be resolved. To

achieve China’s modernization is a daunting task, and

we still have a long way to go. Both the opportunities

and challenges that we face are unprecedented. We will

seize the opportunities, rise up to challenges, dedicate

ourselves to nation-building and focus on development.

That is what the Chinese Government and people have

been thinking and doing.

People may ask how China is achieving its

development. The answer is through reform and

opening up. This year marks the thirtieth anniversary

of China’s reform and opening-up policy, a policy that

fundamentally changed the closed, backward and

ossified situation that had existed in China for years. It

is a policy that freed people’s minds and aroused their

initiative, liberated the productive forces, generated

great economic and social progress and instilled vigour

and vitality into the country. Without that policy, there

would not have been such change in China in the last

30 years.

To achieve the goal of modernization and build a

strong, prosperous, democratic, culturally advanced

and harmonious country, we will pursue the reform and

opening-up policy. It is of vital importance to the

development of China today. It is also a strategy that

will shape China’s future. We are firm in carrying this

policy forward.

The Chinese nation has all along cherished the

fine tradition and benefited from the wisdom of being

open to new ideas and drawing on the strengths of

others. The Chinese people have learned from 30 years

of reform and opening up that only continued

economic and political restructuring and reform in

other fields can lead to sustained economic growth and

social progress. And only continued opening up in an

all-round way can lead the country to greater national

strength and prosperity. This is the conclusion we have

drawn both from our practice and exploration and from

historical experiences.

The world needs peace, for only with peace can

there be development. China earnestly hopes to have a

peaceful international environment in order to achieve

its development goals. The Chinese Government is

committed to an independent foreign policy of peace

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and stands ready to work with other countries to

advance the noble cause of the peace and progress of

mankind.

Respect for sovereignty and non-interference in

the internal affairs of other countries is the prerequisite

for sound State-to-State relations. The Chinese people

have learned from their modern history of humiliation

that when a country loses its sovereignty, its people

lose dignity and status. China is firm in upholding its

hard-won sovereignty and territorial integrity and will

never tolerate any external interference. Following the

principle of treating each other as equals, China also

respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of

other countries, as well as the independent choices of

their people for their own social systems and

development paths.

China is ready to develop friendly relations with

all countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit

rather than on ideology or on a political system. In

handling international affairs, we make our own

judgement on the merit of each case and take our

position in light of our national interests and the well-

being of the world’s people. We will neither blindly

follow the position of others nor give way to the

pressure of any forces. In international relations, China

does not seek to build alliances or become a leader and

will never do so in the future.

Peaceful settlement of international disputes is a

founding purpose of the United Nations and a basic

principle of international law. China is committed to

addressing historical issues and current differences

with other countries through dialogue and negotiation.

As a permanent member of the Security Council, China

will continue to play an active and constructive role in

promoting the peaceful settlement of international

hotspot issues and regional conflicts.

China’s development is peaceful in nature. It will

not harm anyone or pose a threat to anyone. China does

not seek hegemony now, nor will it do so in the future.

China keeps and develops an appropriate level of

military capability solely for the purpose of

safeguarding China’s sovereignty and territorial

integrity.

The confidence and pride of the Chinese nation

today are based on China’s economic development,

social justice, the civility of its people and moral

strength. China will, through its own development,

contribute to the peace and development of the world.

In the long history of humankind, the destinies of

countries have never been so closely linked as they are

today. Given the global nature of issues threatening the

survival and development of mankind, such as global

warming, environmental degradation, resource

constraints, frequent outbreaks of diseases and natural

disasters and the spread of terrorism, and in the face of

the intertwining challenges related to finance, energy

and food, no country can expect to avoid difficulties or

to handle the problems alone.

Ongoing financial volatility, in particular, has

affected many countries, and its impact is likely to

become more serious. To tackle the challenge, we must

all make concerted efforts. So long as people of all

countries, including their leaders, can do away with

hostility, exclusion and prejudice, treat each other with

sincerity and an open mind and forge ahead hand in

hand, humankind will overcome all difficulties and

embrace a brighter and better future.

China, as a responsible major developing country,

is ready to work with other members of the

international community to strengthen cooperation,

share opportunities, meet challenges and contribute to

the harmonious and sustainable development of the

world.