Chinese President in Interview with CBS Anchor (Detailed)

Chinese President in Interview with CBS Anchor (Detailed)

President Jiang Zemin said recently that as the new century approaches, it is imperative to "build towards a constructive strategic partnership" between China and the United States.

Jiang made the remark in an interview with Mike Wallace, 82-year-old anchor of the "60 Minutes" program of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), in the seaside resort of Beidaihe, about 300 kilometers east of Beijing, on August 15.

"I believe whoever becomes the President of the United States, he will try to improve Sino-U.S. relations, for this is in the strategic interest of the whole world," Jiang said.

During the interview, President Jiang answered questions on Sino-U.S. relations and China's domestic matters, and expounded on China's stance and policies concerning these issues.

Sino-U.S. Relations

In the interview, President Jiang said that as the new century approaches, it is imperative to "build towards a constructive strategic partnership" between China and the United States.

"I believe whoever becomes the President of the United States, he will try to improve Sino-U.S. relations, for this is in the strategic interest of the whole world," said Jiang in an interview with Mike Wallace, 82-year-old anchor of the "60 Minutes" program of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), in the seaside resort of Beidaihe on August 15.

Jiang said that when he met U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1993, he pointed out that "We should look at the world from a long-term perspective and on a higher plank and should work together to bring into the new century a world of peace, stability and prosperity."

Sino-U.S. relationship has been good on the whole, he said, adding that such a relationship has undoubtedly experienced the wind, the rain and sometimes clouds or even dark clouds. However, sometimes it clears up.

There are some people in the U.S. who are not happy to see China and the U.S. become friends, and there are always some people who would make noises, he said.

He said that maybe it is because of the economic power and leading edge in science and technology that the U.S. enjoys that more often than not it tends to overestimate itself and its position in the world, adding that there may be a touch of hegemonism and power politics in the leadership of the United States.

China is a country with a 5,000-year history and culture and more than 1.2 billion people, Jiang said, noting that "We have accumulated a significant economic foundation and national strength in the past 20 years of reform and opening-up. So I am afraid that the U.S. simply can not afford to look down on China."

Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

President Jiang Zemin said that China is building socialism with Chinese characteristics and the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people are unequivocal about this question which bears on the direction of China's development.

Jiang said that the policy of reform and opening-up initiated by Deng Xiaoping has been a great success, adding that the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, as advocated by Deng Xiaoping, does encourage some people and certain areas to become prosperous before others, and the ultimate objective is to achieve common prosperity for all.

"To get rich is glorious" is not capitalism, he said. Socialism is to make all the people rich and prosperous, and to make their country strong and prosperous.

China has all along attached great importance to spiritual civilization and moral integrity, he said, adding that "I think the last thing the leaders in the world would wish to see is the scenario where you have material wealth on the one hand, but moral decline on the other."

"We want to learn from the West everything advanced and progressive including science and technology and its experience in managing the economy. Of course, This must be combined with China's specific conditions," he said.

It is exactly because China has been following these principles that the country has scored great achievements in the past few decades, he said.

But people in the West always hope that China can become a capitalist country, Jiang said, adding that "If capitalism prevails throughout the world, won't the world be a very dull place? I still believe the world should be a diverse and colorful one."

Anti-Corruption

President Jiang said that China has been resolutely combating corruption and is still doing that today.

The purposes and principles of the Chinese Communist Party are to serve the people, Jiang said. He added that in this process "we win the trust and confidence of our people".

The Chinese President said that he thinks "corruption is a historical phenomenon in that it has happened in all countries, both past and present."

"In order to gradually eradicate corruption, we need to depend on our legal system, on our media and also on education," Jiang said.

NMD,TMD

Jiang said that the National Missile Defense (NMD) and the Theater Missile Defense (TMD) programs the United States is bent on developing are not in the interest of world peace.

He said "Because that will create an atmosphere in the world in which not all people are committed to the common cause of peace and development. And naturally it may be perceived by peace-loving people as a threat."

He said that China is a state with nuclear weapons, and has always kept the amount of its nuclear weapons at the minimum level, adding that China has declared that it will not be the first to use nuclear weapons.

"We are opposed to the NMD and TMD programs, and we are unambiguous about this," Jiang said, adding that China's national security interests should not be impaired in any way, and it is just normal for China to build up its capabilities for national defense.

Human Rights

"I often ask myself how to ensure a happy life and constantly improve the living standards for the 1.2 billion Chinese people," said President Jiang said in the interview.

"First I joined the student movement fighting against Japanese imperialism," Jiang recalled. "After World War II, we fought against the reactionary regime of the Kuomintang, because at that time there was no democracy, no freedom in the country."

"But ever since the People's Republic of China was founded, we've always been working to promote people's democracy in our country," the Chinese President said.

However, Jiang said, "we could not possibly allow those people with ulterior motives to overthrow the government under the pretext of democracy and freedom."

Under China's Constitution and law, people have the freedom of religious belief, Jiang noted. But Falungong is a cult, he stressed, adding that it is totally different from religion.

"I think China and the United States differ greatly in terms of our values," Jiang told the American reporter.

Everyday, 52,000 babies are born in our country and this will add up to 20 million a year, Jiang said. So, it is indeed a very tough job to upgrade the living standards of the Chinese people, Jiang noted.

Press Freedom

Jiang said that "We do have freedom of the press in China."

He told the American newsman that China carries out the policy of "allowing one hundred different flowers to blossom and one hundred different schools of thoughts to contend".

But freedom of the press "should be subordinate to and serve and defend the interests of the nation and the public," Jiang stressed. "I suppose it is the same case in the West."

"I think all countries and parties must have their own publications to publicize their ideas and propositions", he said.

"The only thing I want to say is that in such a big country with a population of over 1.2 billion, the media indeed plays a very important role in shaping public opinion," Jiang said.

"I think for both the Chinese media and Western media, one thing is very important, that is, they should never distort facts though they are free to have their own opinions," the Chinese President said.

People in China pay great attention to the media, especially the People's Daily, Jiang noted, and if there is a factual error, people would take it for truth.

He told the American reporter that "it is not like in your country where some people may sometimes make up stories at will. They don't care even if their report does not reflect the whole truth."

He said that we hope people will learn a lot of useful things and useful information from the Internet.

However, he pointed out, sometimes there is also unhealthy stuff, and especially pornography on the Internet, which does a great harm to our youngsters.

"We need to be selective, as is in the United States," Jiang said. "For instance, as far as I know, there is little U.S. coverage of news in China."

"One thing I have to admit is that the level of the U.S. technology in this field is much higher than ours. I am not talking about advanced equipment, but rather the requirement of the U.S. media in selection of the news," the Chinese President said.

Political System

President Jiang said the election systems in China and the United States can not possibly be exactly the same, because the historical traditions, level of education, cultural and economic development and social systems of our two countries differ.

"Each country should institute a system of election in the light of its own conditions," Jiang said in the interview.

China pursues the National People's Congress system and the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Jiang said, adding that the CPC is the ruling party, and the eight non-Communist parties have a role in state affairs.

"Some American congressmen ask me which is the opposition party. And I replied 'Why do you think that there must be opposition parties?" he said.

"You are trying to apply the American values to the whole world, and you always use your own logic in making judgments about the political situation of other countries, thinking that everywhere in the world the American political system may prevail. But that is not very wise," he said.