Source: Xinhuanet
06-29-2006 15:47
China has provided assistance to more than 110 countries and regional organizations for over 2,000 projects, said a white paper titled "China's Peaceful Development Road" and released by the Information Office of the State Council in Beijing on Thursday.
The white paper said for many years, China has provided assistance within its capacity for other developing countries to help them build the capacity for self-development as well as engage in common development.
China has reduced or canceled 198 debts totaling 16.6 billion RMB yuan owed to it by 44 developing countries. In May 2005, the International Poverty-Reduction Center in China was formally set up in Beijing, according to the white paper.
In September 2005, at the High-Level Meeting on Financing for Development, on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the United Nations, President Hu Jintao announced the new measures China would adopt to increase assistance to other developing countries.
According to these new measures, China will give zero tariff treatment for certain products from all the 39 Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) having diplomatic relations with China, covering most commodities exported by these countries to China; further expand aid to Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) and LDCs; through bilateral channels, exempt or cancel in other ways within the next two years all the outstanding interest-free and low-interest government loans due as of the end of 2004 owed by all the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) having diplomatic relations with China; within the next three years, provide 10 billion U.S. dollars in preferential loans and preferential export buyer's credit to developing countries to help them strengthen the construction of infrastructure, promote enterprises of both sides to carry out joint venture cooperation; within the next three years, increase aid to developing countries, particularly aid to African countries in related areas, provide to them medicines including effective drugs to prevent malaria, help them build and improve medical facilities and train medical personnel; and train 30,000 persons of various professions from the developing countries within the next three years, and help relevant countries expedite the training of talented people, according to the white paper.
The white paper said China plays a constructive role in resolving weighty international and regional issues for common security.
With respect to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, China has worked tirelessly with the other relevant parties, and succeeded in convening and hosting first the Three-Party Talks (China, North Korea and the United States) and then the Six-Party Talks (China, North Korea, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan).
China was instrumental in getting the participants to issue a joint statement, thus mitigating tension on the peninsula, and contributing constructively to peace and stability in Northeast Asia.
Regarding the Middle East issue, China encourages the parties involved to resume talks and start a new peace process based on relevant UN resolutions and the principle of "Land for Peace."
As for the Iraq issue, China advocates seeking a political solution within the UN framework, and is making great efforts in this regard. On the Iran nuclear issue, China has tried several approaches to persuade the parties involved to engage in dialogue and find a proper and peaceful settlement within the IAEA framework.
Moreover, China is expanding its participation in UN peacekeeping efforts, having sent military personnel, police and civil officers on 14 UN peacekeeping missions, to the number of 3,000.
Editor:Chen Minji
