Source:

03-08-2006 14:24

"Harmonious society" is a popular catch phrase in China today. The country is striving to bring more harmony into society by tackling such issues as unbalanced growth, and the gap between the rich and the poor. It has also introduced the notion of harmony in dealing with international relations. As Bao Ying reports, China is adapting a more responsible and cooperative approach in its foreign policy.

September the 15th, 2005 at the UN Summit commemorating the 60 anniversary of the world body, Chinese President Hu Jintao made a keynote address. He said: "Diversity of civilizations is a basic feature of humanity and an important driving force behind human progress. We should endeavor to preserve the diversity of civilizations in the spirit of equality and openness, make international relations more democratic and jointly head towards a harmonious world where all civilizations coexist and accommodate each other."

To achieve the goal of creating a "harmonious society", China has been increasingly interacting with the outside world. And the word "strategic" has been integral to the country's diplomacy.

Last year, China opened strategic dialogues with India, held three strategic talks with Japan, two with the US and one with the EU.

Frequent exchanges of visits and dialogues by Chinese leaders and their counterparts have consolidated bilateral links and promoted economic ties.

Meanwhile, China's relations with major powers and its neighboring countries have remained stable.

Following a policy of good neighbors and good partners, China is playing an important role in promoting cooperation and dealing with regional conflicts.

In August, the fourth round of Six-Party talks, advocated by China, made progress toward a peaceful resolution of the Korean peninsula nuclear issue.

On October the 26th, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization met in Moscow. The gathering ended with a joint communique on improving the trade and investment climate within the group.

During 2005, China also participated in the first East-Asia Summit. And it supports ASEAN in playing a leading role in East Asian cooperation.

President of Chin Foreign Affairs University Wu Jianmin said: "China is an energetic promoter, and an active participant in regional cooperation. It has helped promote regional economic cooperation. As an active participant in the ASEAN plus 1 and ASEAN plus 3 mechanisms, it has done a lot in these two frameworks. What's more, it's shown responsibility in regional cooperation."

China is also concerned about regional and global security, plus the wellbeing of its own citizens and others.

China confronted frequent natural disasters in 2005. But China has also been reaching out to victims of natural disasters in other countries. It offered assistance after the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, the earthquake in South Asia, and Hurricane Katrina in the United States.

Analysts say China's diplomacy has entered a new era of maturity. The country has become more positive and flexible in dealing with other countries, and the complex global situation.

 

Editor:Wang Ping