FM slams unilateralism, favors multilateralism

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, March 07, 2004

FM slams unilateralism, favors multilateralism

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Saturday multilateralism is an effective way to deal with common challenges for humanity, while unilateralism proves to be not popular.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Saturday multilateralism is an effective way to deal with common challenges for humanity, while unilateralism proves to be not popular.

"China supports multilateralism and is committed to multilateral cooperation," Li told a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the national legislature. .

Multilateralism is consistent with the spirit and purposes of the United Nations Charter.

"The reason the United Nations was founded and UN Charter was written is that the future matters in the world can not be dictated by one single country or a group of countries," he said.

The matters should be discussed by countries across the world, particularly by members of the United Nations, to find a solution, which is what the United Nations is all about, he added.

Li said multilateralism is an important means to resolve international disputes, and it is forceful promotion and guarantee for the benign development of globalization.

"It is also the best way to promote a democratic and law-based international relationship."

In the area of peace, China, India, Myanmar and other Asian countries put forward the Five-Principle of Peaceful Co-existence in their bids to promote peace in 1950s, which Li described as an outstanding contribution by Asian countries and Asian culture to the development of international relations in the right direction.

In the area of development, he said, China is the first country to formulate a country action plan on sustainable.

Sino-Russia summit this year

Li announced Saturday that Chinese and Russian presidents will hold asummit in Beijing in the latter half of this year.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Premier Wen Jiabao will also pay official visits to Russia this year, Li told a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the national legislature.

China's Premier Wen Jiabao has sent a message to congratulate Mikhail Fradkov on his nomination as Russia's new prime minister.

During a meeting of the two presidents, the year 2004 was made the Year of Friendship between Young Peoples of Two Countries, Li said, adding that it will breathe new vitality into Sino-Russian relations.

The minister said it is a correct choice for the two nations todevelop good relations from generation to generation and never become enemies to each other. He spoke highly of China's strategicpartnership of cooperation with Russia.

China and Russia are the largest neighbors in the world and share a 4,300 kilometer-long border. Over the past few years, the two countries have signed a series of agreements to strengthen thefriendly relations.

Confidence expressed in diplomacy

On Premier Wen Jiabao's confidence expressed in his government work report in China's diplomacy, the foreign minister said Wen's confidence is well grounded.

"We have won more understanding, trust, respect and support from the international community, and we enjoy higher status and greater influence in the international arena than ever before," Li quoted Wen as reporting to the lawmakers Friday.

Li said the China's diplomatic work is for all Chinese people and wins the support of the whole people.

With China's peaceful development, the Chinese people have become increasingly rich, which represents the greatest contribution to human progress, Li said.

Being engaged in diplomatic work is to provide services, Li said, adding that the services are targeted first at the China's lofty goal of building a well-off society in an all-round way and striving to create a good international and regional environment for China's economic construction.

"Another purpose is to make friends. The more the better," Li said.

Last year, China received 18 heads of state, 22 heads of government and 31 foreign ministers, and top Chinese leaders including President Hu Jintao and Premiere Wen Jiabao visited 22 nations, covering with a total of distance of 166,000 kilometers, Li said.

China's friendship with neighboring countries was brought into a new height and China's relations with big countries and developing countries was further expanded in the past year.

He said China has joined 135 international inter-governmental agencies and Chinese diplomats have been active in the international affairs, including the Iraq issue and the Korean nuclear issue.

He also said China value continuity greatly in its diplomacy work.

In response to a question on whether China will change its long-term diplomatic principle of keeping a low profile and awaiting for the opportune moment to accomplish something big by giving up the principle of keeping a low profile to stress, instead, accomplishing something big.

Li said he believed that one important thing in diplomacy is to seek truth from facts and keep up with the times. "Only by so doing, can we correctly size up the situation and take effective measures to secure what is good to our country and people," he said, adding that it is our consistent tradition to fix our stand based on what is right and what is wrong.

Peace and development remains the main theme of our era, the foreign minister said. But the world is not tranquil, often challenged by unexpected non-traditional threats. We have to learn to take up these challenges," he said.

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