Afro Asian Business Chronicle

Ambassador of China to India H.E. Zhang Yan on Indo-China relations  " The rapid and comprehensive development of China-India relation is one of the best examples of China's commitment to the policy of peaceful development. The rapid and comprehensive development of China-India relation is one of the best examples of China's commitment to the policy of peaceful development. "

China Promotes Peaceful coexistence

All the countries in the world, whether big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community and should receive due respect of the international community.

1) Peaceful development is determined by China's basic national conditions

China has a large population yet a weak economic base. It has to feed close to 20% of the world's population with 7.9% of the world's farmland and 6.5% of the world's fresh water. China's per capita GDP in 2010 was about $4,400, ranking around the 100th place in the world. Unbalanced development still exists between the urban and rural areas and among different regions; the structural problems in economic and social development remain acute; and economic growth, which excessively depends on resource input, is increasingly constrained by resource shortages and environmental problems.

All this has made the shifting of the growth model a daunting task. The living standard of Chinese people is not high, and China's social security system is inadequate, lagging far behind those of the developed countries. China's modernisation involves one fifth of the world's population and will be a long-term process. The scale and magnitude of the difficulties and problems involved are unprecedented in the present world and rare in human history. China will remain a developing country for a long time, which means that China must dedicate itself to advancing its modernisation drive, promoting development and improving its people's livelihood. This calls for maintaining a peaceful and stable international environment and conducting international exchanges and cooperation.

China could become strong in the future. Yet peace will remain critical for its development, and China has no reason to deviate from the path of peaceful development. China's basic conditions, its cultural traditions, its fundamental national interests and its long-term interests - all these factors have created the innate force driving China's peaceful development.

2) China has six core interests in peaceful development

The Chinese people adhere to the social system and path of development chosen by themselves and will never allow any external forces to interfere in China's internal affairs.

China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace. China promotes friendly and cooperative relations with all the other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. While developing itself, China fully accommodates other countries' legitimate concerns and interests and never makes gains at others' expense or shifts its own troubles onto other. China does not form alliance with any other country or group of countries, nor does it use social system or ideology as a yardstick to determine what kind of relations it should have with other countries. China respects the right of the people of other countries to independently choose their own social system and path of development, and does not interfere in other countries' internal affairs. China is opposed to the practices of "the big bullying the small and the strong oppressing the weak," and to hegemonism and power politics. China calls for settling disputes and conflicts through talks and consultation and by seeking common ground while putting aside differences. It does not impose its own will upon others and acts in the fundamental  interests of the Chinese people and the common interests of all peoples throughout the world. China bases its decision on a particular issue according to its merits.

China is firm in upholding its core interests which include the following: state sovereignty, national security, territorial integrity and national reunification, China's political system established by the Constitution and overall social stability, and the basic safeguards for ensuring sustainable economic and social development. China maintains independence, focuses on domestic development, acts in keeping with its national conditions, carries out reform and innovation for economic and social development through its own efforts.

3) China advocates new thinking on security

As a member of the international community, China has great hope for the future world and adopts the thinking on international relations and foreign policies that conform to peaceful development. The thinking includes promoting the building of a harmonious world, pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace, promoting new thinking on security featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination, actively living up to international responsibility and promoting regional cooperation and good-neighborly relations.

Regarding common security, all countries share a common stake in the era of economic globalisation. The international community should heighten awareness of common security. Countries should safeguard their own security while respecting others' security concerns. They should abandon the Cold War mentality and confrontation between different alliances, uphold common security through multilateral cooperation and work together to prevent conflicts and wars.

With regards to cooperative security, war and confrontation will only lead to a vicious cycle of violence begetting violence, while dialogue and negotiation are the only effective and reliable way to settle disputes. Countries should seek peace, safeguard security, settle disputes and promote harmony through cooperation, and oppose the use or threat of use of military force against one another.

For China, the most populous developing country, to run itself well is the most important fulfillment of its international responsibility. China actively enhances friendly cooperation with its neighbours and works with them to promote a harmonious Asia. China calls on countries in the region to respect each other, increase mutual trust, seek common ground while putting aside differences, safeguard regional peace and stability, and settle disputes including those over territorial claims and maritime rights and interests through dialogue and friendly negotiation.

4) China's defense policy is “defensive in nature

China is committed to pursuing a defense policy which is defensive in nature. China faces multiple traditional and non-traditionalsecurity challenges and the threat of separatists and terrorism. The fundamental purpose of modernising the Chinese armed forces is to safeguard China's sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and interests of national development. China will not engage in arms race with any other country, and it does not pose a military threat to any other country.

China follows the principle of not attacking others unless it is attacked, and it is committed to solving international disputes and hotspot issues with peaceful means. China cannot develop itself in isolation from the rest of the world, and global prosperity and stability cannot be maintained without China. China's achievements are inseparable from its friendly cooperation with the outside world; in pursuing development, it needs further understanding and support from the rest of the world.

5) China never seeks hegemony

The Chinese nation loves peace. From their bitter sufferings from war and poverty in modern times, the Chinese people have learned the value of peace and the pressing need for development. China never engages in aggression or expansion, and never seeks hegemony. Viewed in the broader, global and historical context, the path of peaceful development may be defined as follows: China should develop itself through upholding world peace and contribute to world peace through its own development. China should seek mutual benefit and common development with other countries in keeping with the trend of economic globalisation, and it should work together with other countries to build a harmonious world of durable peace and common prosperity.

All the countries in the world, whether big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community and should receive due respect of the international community.

The internal affairs of a country should be decided by its own people, international affairs should be decided by all countries through consultation on an equal footing, and every country's right to equally participate in international affairs should be respected and upheld. Looking back at the past and looking ahead to the future, we are convinced that a prosperous and developing China, a democratic, harmonious and stable country under the rule of law, will make great contribution to the world.

Cultural & People-to-People Exchanges between China and India on the rise

Concomitant with development of comprehensive China-India relations, cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have also boomed in recent years.

The year of 2011 was declared as the "Year of China-India Exchange" during Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India last December. The leaders of the two countries encouraged greater exchanges between the civil society organisations, youth, media, scholars, think-tanks, artists and cultural personalities. Memoranda of Understanding on Media Exchanges as well as the Programme of Cultural Exchanges between the Governments of China and India for the year 2010-2012, were also signed. Many mega events have been held to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. To name a few, "Treasures of Ancient China" Exhibition was held in New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata in reciprocity with "Treasures of Ancient India" held in China. In April, 2011, "Experience China-Sichuan Week in India" showcased the unique features of Sichuan Province including the world renowned Sichuan cuisine and wine, colourful exhibition and beautiful and unique cultural performances.

Besides, the Economic and Trade Promotion Seminar and Tourism Promotion event were also held during the Sichuan Week, providing a platform for business people from both sides to interact with each other and look for partners to cooperate. Excellent performance by Yunnan Acrobatic Troupe charmed Delhi, Chandigarh and Jaipur this September. And a 500-member Indian youth delegation has set out to China for a 10-day visit. These and other people-to-people exchanges undoubtedly provided fresh impetus to the furtherance of friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.

Last year, China and India celebrated the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The Festival of China in India and the Festival of India in China were successfully held.

Besides, cooperation between China and India in tourism is also gaining momentum. China and India both have abundant historical, cultural heritages and charming landscapes which are attractive to people of both countries. In the year of 2010, over 5.73 lakh (573,000) Indians visited mainland China, realising a major breakthrough in tourism exchange between the two countries. China and India have both become fast-growing tourism markets for each other.

However, comparing with the huge populations and vibrant economy of China and India, the current level of the cooperation on cultural and people-to-people exchanges is far from satisfactory. Joint efforts in this area should be made by the governments of the two countries to further promote mutual understanding and friendship.  Read Full Text