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China's Policy on Asia: Hu Jintao
Visiting Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao said Monday that the Chinese government will stick to its policy in maintaining the good neighborly and friendly relations with its surrounding countries.
"China cannot achieve development in isolation of Asia, and Asia cannot realize prosperity without China. It is a consistent policy of the Chinese government to strengthen the good neighborly and friendly relations with its surrounding countries," he said.
Citing that as early as 1950s, China and some Asian countries jointly initiated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Hu said: "It is on that basis that China has established friendly and cooperative relations with all Asian countries successively," Hu said.
Speaking before the Indonesian Council on World Affairs, Hu also said that as for the differences left over from history between China and its neighboring countries, the Chinese government has always proceeded from the overall interest of all parties concerned an stood for a peaceful solution of these differences through consultations on an equal footing.
"Working in this spirit, China has settled the question of boundary demarcation with most of its Asian neighbors," Hu added.
He also said that China has put forward the proposal of " shelving disputes and going for joint development" in relation to the Nansha question and has been actively participating in the making of code of conduct for preserving peace and stability in the South China Sea.
"Facts have proven that China is an important driving force for Asia's development as well as an important force for safeguarding stability in Asia. China's development will pose no threat to any country. Instead, it will only contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and the world at large. We sincerely hope that all the mountains and rivers in Asia will become bridges or bonds of friendship connecting Asian nations," Hu said.
In addition, Hu also viewed that a united and prosperous ASEAN is an important force for peace and development in Asia.
"As a friendly neighbor and a trustworthy cooperation partner of ASEAN, China always attaches importance to ASEAN's positive role in regional affairs, respect their efforts in building a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality and support their economic integration process," Hu said.
China hopes to expand multi-level exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN in trade, economic, scientific and technological, social and other fields, Hu said, adding that China and ASEAN are highly complementary to each other in term of agriculture, mechanical and electrical equipment manufacturing, medicine, transportation and other fields, where the both sides can have extensive cooperation.
Hu is also optimistic that Asia will beam with greater vigor and vitality in the new century "as long as the peoples of all Asian countries unite together and work hand in hand."
"An Asia of fast economic growth and all-round social progress will not only be a blessing for the Asian people, but will also add new splendor to the world civilization. Let us join hands and work together to build an Asia of peace, stability, development and prosperity in the new century," Hu said.
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