China Stands for Democracy in International Relations, Envoy Says

China stands for democracy in international relations, under which all countries are equal members of the international community, the senior Chinese diplomat told the Society for International Development (SID) center Thursday in Ottawa.

In a presentation about China's foreign policy, Chinese Ambassador to Canada Mei Ping stressed the need to establish "a just and rational new international political and economic order."

National affairs of a country should be decided by its own people while international affairs should be handled by all countries through peaceful consultations on a basis of equality and mutual respect, he said.

The Chinese ambassador lashed out at hegemony and power politics in the form of "the neo-interventionism," which he said is threatening sovereignty and interests of many medium-sized and small countries.

"China maintains that the new order should be established on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference with each other 's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit," he noted.

In terms of the Sino-U.S. relations, the ambassador said to maintain friendly relations and cooperation between China and the United States is in the fundamental interests of the two countries.

But he also pointed out that "there exists a powerful anti- China lobby in the United States."

"Holding onto the Cold War mentality, they use every occasion to demonize China," he said.

The ambassador reiterated that China is a developing country, and its primary objective is to develop its economy which requires a lasting peaceful international environment.

"But China will never give in to outside pressure or yield to hegemonic practices in international affairs. That is the bottom line in our relations with the United States," he stated.

Mei Ping also spoke about China's plan for sustainable development and human rights issues at the SID center, where dozens of Canadian foreign affairs officials, SID members and members of local non-government organizations gathered for the presentation.

SID is an international forum, where thinkers and actors in the international development arena are often invited to share their views at a seminar or a conference.






People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/