China denounces unilaterism, external interference in its internal affairs

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

China denounces unilaterism, external interference in its internal affairs

Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxin said Saturday China favors multilateralism in international affairs, while slamming external interference in its internal affairs, including those of Hong Kong and Taiwan.

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Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxin said Saturday China favors multilateralism in international affairs, while slamming external interference in its internal affairs, including those of Hong Kong and Taiwan.

"China supports multilateralism and is committed to multilateral cooperation... as it is an effective way to deal with common challenges facing humanity," said Li said at a press conference during the annual session of China's national legislature.

Noting that multilateralism is consistent with the spirit and purposes of the United Nations Charter, he said "the reason the United Nations was founded and UN Charter was written is that the future matters in the world cannot be dictated by one single country or a group of countries."

Li said multilateralism is a crucial 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," he added.

The foreign minister stressed the importance of continuity of China's long-term diplomatic principle that seeks a low profile in international arena.

On the issue of Taiwan, he said, it is China's internal affairs and should be resolved by the Chinese people on their own, and China will never allow any external force to meddle in the process of China's peaceful reunification.

"The Chinese government and people will never allow anybody to split Taiwan from China by any means, while striving for peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and greatest efforts." he said.

Li accused some Hong Kong individuals of their attempts to invite foreign forces to meddle in China's internal affairs regarding Hong Kong.

The minister made the remarks when asked to comment on Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Legislative Council member Martin Lee and two others giving evidence to a US Senate hearing on the issue of democracy in Hong Kong.

"Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong and China has the resolve, capability and wisdom to maintain stability and prosperity in Hong Kong."

A peacefully rise of China will not pose any threat but an opportunity to other countries of the world, he said, as China upholds a new conception of security, which highlights mutual trust, mutual benefit and consultation on equal footing.

"The most outstanding feature of China's development is peace. We develop ourselves neither by colonialism nor by bullying others, but in peace," he said.

Some Western scholars have pointed out that a peacefully rise of China will not be a threat but an opportunity to neighboring nations or other countries of the world, Li said.

On China's diplomatic achievements in the past year, Li said China has won more understanding, trust, respect and support from the international community, and enjoys higher status and greater influence in the international arena than ever before.

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, Li said at a press conference during the on-going session of the national legislature..

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

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