People's Daily Calls for National Unity and StabilityPeople's Daily published a commentary May 8th, calling on the entire nation to ensure unity and stability for the rejuvenation of China.The article coincides with the first anniversary of the U.S.-led NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia on May 8, 1999, resulting in heavy casualties and serious damage of the embassy building. "The same day one year ago, the U.S.-led NATO raided the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia with missiles during its aggressive war against Kosovo," it says, adding the bombing "shocked the whole world." The Chinese government lodged a statement to severely condemn the atrocity and demanded the U.S.-led NATO be held fully accountable. Meanwhile, the Chinese people nationwide also staged protest activities. All peace-loving and just governments, organization and people worldwide also condemned the brutal act and expressed their support, it says. In face of the arrogance and hegemonist behavior, the Chinese people "were not frightened or crashed," the article says. On the contrary, the brutal acts "triggered an outburst of patriotism, determined the iron will of the Chinese people, and rejuvenated their high zeal for construction." While calling for justice, development and powerfulness, students firmly supported the solemn stance of the government, the article says. "We can never be bullied," the Chinese people say. Workers, farmers, cadres, intellectuals and people from all walks of life all determined to unify more closer around the CPC with Jiang Zemin at the core, adhere to the basic theory and guideline of the Party, unswervingly push forward the reform and opening-up, and make efforts to ensure the social stability, it says. Officers and soldiers from the People's Liberation Army and the armed police all expressed their willingness to accelerate the modernization drive of army and safeguard the state sovereignty, dignity and security at any time even at the price of their blood and lives. The article highly commended such unity amidst severe challenges and ordeal, saying that all these demonstrated "the great patriotism and cohesiveness of the Chinese nation and their willingness to safeguard world peace and oppose hegemonism." "In this contest between justice and evil and between truth and power politics, we launched a firm struggle and won a major victory," it says, describing it as the "victory of the Chinese people and all just and peaceloving forces worldwide." Hegemonism makes trouble in the world so it must be opposed in order to safeguard peace, the article notes. This has been proven once and again during the struggle of the Chinese people in the past one and a half centuries and this was proved again in this struggle against U.S.-led NATO, the article says. "Peace and development constitute the mainstream of the contemporary world," it points out, adding that "if hegemonism continues for one more day, the whole world will not be in peace." The Chinese people will firmly oppose hegemonism and fight for the establishment of a just and fair international new economic and political order and the peace and development for mankind. Everything is determined by strength, and hegemonism ventures to grossly interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and even launch wars and destroy peace because it has powerful economies and military forces, the article points out. "Why we can achieve triumph in opposing the hegemonic acts by the U.S.-led NATO lies in the fact that the Chinese people has stood up. The Chinese nation has become stronger and more prosperous," the commentary says, adding that the struggle has enabled the Chinese people to be more determined to focus on economic developments. Facing competitions in the economic, technological and national defense areas worldwide, it is imperative for China to concentrate on developing advanced science and technology and strengthening its economy and national defense, it says. Only in this way, can China never be defeated, it adds. International hostile forces continue to put pressure on China, and engage in "westernizing China" and "separating China", it points out, adding that it is imperative for China to maintain unity and stability to deal with this. "As long as we maintain social stability under the firm leadership of the Communist Party of China, China will be stronger day by day, and no forces can do anything harmful to us," it says. "There should be unity and stability in China," it adds. Reform and opening-up is the way toward building a strong and prosperous country, it notes, adding that in today's world, multi-polarity is moving forward, and peace and development are the will of the people. "We should make full use of favorable opportunities, and promote exchanges and cooperation with other countries, and firmly pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, and develop friendship and cooperation with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence," it says. Moreover, China firmly opposes hegemonism, and will never make any concession on the matters relating to national sovereignty, dignity and security while pursuing cooperation with other countries, including western countries, in all areas based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, it says. Nothing can stop the Chinese people from rejuvenating their nation no matter how difficult the road ahead is, the commentary says, urging the entire Chinese people to work harder to build a strong, prosperous, democratic and culturally advanced socialist country under the leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee with President Jiang Zemin at the core. |
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