• China lends Nigeria Dollars 2bn in exchange for oil talks. • Ft com site : China oils Nigeria talks with loan

Investment and Trade Agreement to lay a basis for the comprehensive establishment of China-ASEAN free trade zones. Financial cooperation under the ASEAN plus China-Japan-ROK (10+3) project has made substantial progress. The China-Japan-ROK leaders' meeting achieved positive results. China has taken an active part in nontraditional security cooperation under the ASEAN Regional Forum framework. As an observer, China for the first time attended the 14th Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, and its relations with the association have entered a new development stage. China successfully hosted a China-Russia-India foreign ministers' meeting in Harbin, enabling trilateral cooperation to achieve important results.
3. Strengthening Pragmatic Cooperation with Developing Countries
Focusing on the implementation of the results of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum's Beijing Summit, a new type strategic partnership between China and Africa has proceeded pragmatically. President Hu Jintao and other state leaders as well as the foreign minister have visited Africa seven times. Sixteen foreign ministers and leaders at higher levels of African countries have visited China in various forms. Both sides' foreign ministers conducted the first political consultations during a UN General Assembly session this year and officially initiated the China-Africa regular political dialogue mechanism under the framework of the forum. China-Africa pragmatic economic cooperation has developed vigorously. At the Beijing Summit, President Hu Jintao declared that China's eight policies and measures towards Africa had been smoothly implemented, and remarkable results had been achieved in this respect. China has steadily increased its aid for Africa. The measures on exempting debts and tariffs for Africa have basically completed. The foundation for the African Union Convention Centre, which is being built under China's aid, has been completed. The China-Africa Development Fund has officially started and the construction of an economic and trade cooperation zone in Africa has proceeded positively. China hosted the annual conference of the African Development Bank in Shanghai; launched the first telecommunication satellite for Nigeria; and reached cooperation agreements with Angola and Congo (Brazzaville) on resources, loans, and construction projects. Besides, China's aid for Africa in the fields of agriculture, education, medical service, healthcare, and human resources development is being actively implemented. Both sides' cooperation level has improved.
The relations between China and Latin American countries have developed steadily in an omnidirectional manner at a wide range of fields. Both sides' political mutual trust has increased and their economic cooperation has developed swiftly. Latin America has become the fastest growing region for China's export. Cooperation between China and Middle East countries has developed to a new level, and both sides have concluded a number of major cooperation projects.
Taking the dialogue between G8 and developing countries' leaders (G8+5) as a platform, China has further strengthened coordination and cooperation with India, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico and other newly emerging developing countries. China and Brazil conducted the first strategic dialogue.
4. Actively Conducting Multilateral Diplomacy
President Hu Jintao attended the G8+5 dialogue and the meeting of five developing countries' leaders to comprehensively expound China's stand and proposals on climate change and other issues. China has designated special representatives to the talks on climate change to take an active part in international negotiations on climate change. China was deeply involved in the establishment of regulations and the formulation of systems of the UN Human Rights Council. It initiated in an all-round way the preparations for the Seventh Eurasia Summit and took an active part in the formulation of international rules.
China has made efforts to participate in the process of resolving international and regional hot issues and has played a responsible and constructive role.
On the DPRK nuclear issue, China has successfully hosted three plenary sessions of the six-party talks; helped the approval of two important documents - Initial Action on Implementation of the Common Statement and Second-Phase Action on Implementation of the Common Statement; and determined the goals for the DPRK to complete the disablement of its nuclear facilities and submission of a complete declaration on its nuclear programmes. The peninsula denuclearization process has achieved substantial progress.
On the Iran nuclear issue, China is actively involved in the relevant work of the six countries' mechanism of China, the United States, Russia, Britain, France, and Germany; in seeking political solutions to the Iran nuclear issue; and in maintaining the international nuclear nonproliferation mechanism as well as the peace and stability in the Middle East and Gulf regions.
On the Sudan's Darfur issue, China has actively engaged in mediation and played a key role in helping the UN Security Council to pass Resolution 1769 on deploying "hybrid peacekeepers" in the Sudan. China has established the Chinese Government Special Representatives on African Affairs and sent a peacekeeping engineering corps to the Darfur area to provide humanitarian aid.
China participated in an international conference on the Middle East issue held in the United States. It raised five proposals on comprehensively pushing forward the Middle East peace process. It attended two international conferences on the Iraq issue. It made contributions to promoting stability in the relevant region.
5. Resolutely Safeguarding National Sovereignty and Security
China has conducted extensive persuasion in the international community on opposing the Taiwan authorities' "de jure Taiwan independence," "referendum on UN entry," and attempt to join the United Nations and World Health Organization in the name of "Taiwan." This has won the support of most countries and international organizations. It foiled Taiwan's 15th attempt to "join" the United Nations and 11th attempt to "join" the World Health Organization; restored China's legitimate rights in the World Animal Health Organization; established diplomatic relations with Costa Rica; and resolutely defended the one-China principle. With regard to the wrong practice of some countries' leaders meeting the Dalai, China conducted combat on just grounds, to its advantage, and with restraint.
It has strongly assisted and supported the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions in conducting diplomacy with foreign countries. It coordinated with the relevant parties in handling the issue related to Macau's Banco Delta Asia, thus preserving Macao's financial and social stability.
6. Strongly Assisting Foreign-Related Economic Cooperation
China has actively promoted the talks on free trade zones and regional cooperation. It was deeply involved in international talks on economic and trade issues, appropriately dealt with the outside world's exaggeration of China's product quality, and safeguarded its development interests as well as its rights and interests in international economic affairs. It has promoted its economic and trade cooperation with various countries and regions and achieved new progress in this respect.
7. Earnestly Safeguarding the Legitimate Rights and Interests of Chinese Nationals and Legal Persons Abroad
China promptly and appropriately handled a series of major contingencies, including the China Petrochemical Corporation's construction project group personnel in Ethiopia being attacked; engineers of the China Petroleum Corporation and Sichuan Telecommunication Construction Company in Nigeria being kidnapped; casualties among Chinese nationals in the ROK floods; and the killing of Chinese nationals in Pakistan. China has established the Foreign Ministry Consular Protection Centre and promoted the legislation of consular protection.
8. Cultivating a Good International Environment for Building a Well-Off Society in an All-Round Way
We have actively explained to the international community the 17th CCP National Congress spirit, particularly China's scientific development concept, harmonious development, peaceful development, as well as other concepts and practices about mutual benefit and win-win results. The Regulations on China-Based Foreign Reporters' Coverage in the Course of the Beijing Olympic Games and During Their Preparations will be implemented in an all-round way to provide a better environment for foreign reporters' coverage of the games. This has won universal praise. China has actively explained to the international community its economic, political, social, and cultural development situations as well as its domestic and foreign policies; and demonstrated its efforts to persist in a peaceful development road, resolutely pursue an open strategy of mutual benefit and win-win results, work with various countries to build a lasting peace, common prosperity, and a harmonious world. This has increased mutual understanding and friendship between China and various countries.
By the end of 2007, China already established diplomatic relations with 170 countries, joined more than 100 inter-governmental international organizations, and signed some 300 international treaties.
In 2008, the world famous Olympic Games will be held in Beijing and the Seventh Eurasia Summit will convene in Beijing. China's diplomacy will write a new and brilliant chapter in expanding exchanges and cooperation between China and the world.
Source: Wen Wei Po website, Hong Kong, in Chinese 9 Jan 08
a78c0b7e
Document BBCAPP0020080111e41b001e7

Chinese foreign minister comments on diplomatic work in 2007
2,548 words

2 January 2008

06:27 AM

BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific

BBCAPP

English

(c) 2008 The British Broadcasting Corporation. All Rights Reserved. No material may be reproduced except with the express permission of The British Broadcasting Corporation.
Text of report by Chinese magazine Qiushi website on 1 January
[Article by Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi: "The International Situation and China's Diplomatic Work in 2007"]
In 2007, the international situation has continued to maintain stability in general. In the meantime, stimulated by economic globalization, global multipolarization, and the in-depth development of scientific and technological revolution, international relations have experienced profound changes and the world has undergone major reforms and major adjustments. The main characteristics are as follows:
- There have been new adjustments in international relations. India, Pakistan, and some other newly emerging countries are on the rise and have become important forces promoting world economic growth. Their influence on world affairs has increased and carried forward adjustments in the international pattern. Russia's rejuvenation momentum has continued to remain strong, and Russia has made efforts to protect its geopolitical and security interests. The United States and Europe have strengthened their dialogue and coordination. A mechanism has taken shape for G8 and developing countries' leaders (G8+5) dialogue. Explorations on the changes in the international system are warming up.
- Adjustments and reforms have become an international trend. To deal with the challenges of economic globalization, great countries have adjusted their domestic and foreign policies one after another and conducted structural and mechanism reforms to try to be the first in seizing favourable opportunities in the new round of competition for comprehensive national strengths. The United States has conducted a new round of policy debate in an attempt to gain control over opportunities in this era. The European Union has forged ahead in foreign relations, strengthened reforms internally, and devoted efforts to maintaining sustainable economic and social development as well as international competitiveness. Japan has also pursued to play a greater role in international affairs. To deal with the impacts of globalization on economic and social development, various countries have increased their investments to enhance their capabilities of innovations.
- Global issues have received more attention from various circles. Climate change and energy security have aroused concern in various countries. Since the beginning of this year, the issue of climate change has drastically warmed up, and various countries have put forth their initiatives or proposals. International oil prices are skyrocketing. International energy competition has aggravated and is intertwined with geopolitical competition.
- World economic and financial risks have increased. The basic feature of the world economy is good, but uncertain factors have increased. However, its increase rate is slowing down. The US subprime loan crisis has an impact around the world. Global excess liquidity has led to an accumulation of risks resulting from asset bubbles, thereby threatening global economic and financial security. Economic nationalism and trade protectionism have developed and politicization of economic issues has tended upward.
- The construction of soft power has drawn the attention of various countries. Major countries in the world have paid more attention to the cultivation and application of "soft power." By strengthening external publicity and humanistic exchanges, they have made efforts to establish their international images, enhance their international status and reputation, increase their rights to speak on international affairs, capture a morality commanding height on global issues, and solicit more international support. In face of the complicated international situation, we have persisted in Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thinking of the "Three representations," profoundly implemented the scientific development concept, earnestly made overall arrangements to deal with the international and domestic situations, focused on development, which is a task of primary importance for the ruling party, held high the banner of peace, development, and cooperation, conducted independent diplomacy of peace in an omnidirectional manner, and created a sound international environment for China's reform, opening up, and socialist modernization.
1. Actively making arrangements for relations with great countries. First, China-US relations have remained relatively stable and achieved new progress. President Hu Jintao and President Bush conducted successful meetings during the G8+5 dialogue and APEC leaders' informal conference. China-US second and third strategic economic dialogues as well as fourth strategic dialogue were successfully held. The two countries conducted effective communication and cooperation on major international and regional issues, appropriately handled economic and trade frictions, and promoted bilateral pragmatic cooperation.
Second, China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership has healthily developed at a high level. President Hu Jintao and President Putin have held five meetings and decided the principles and goal for the second 20 years of development in China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership. The China-Russia "National Year" activities have successfully ended after being held for two years. The social basis of China-Russia relations has been further enriched.
Third, the impetus of improvement in China-Japan relations has been consolidated. The visits to Japan by Premier Wen Jiabao and other leaders have established and promoted China-Japan strategic reciprocal relations. The two countries have restored high-level military contacts after 10 years of suspension and conducted vigorous cooperation in the fields of energy, environmental protection, and personnel exchanges.
Fourth, China has strengthened communication and dialogue with the EU. China has actively established connections with British and French new leaders and maintained the continuity of bilateral relations. China and the EU has officially started the talks on a partnership and cooperation agreement. Various levels of political consultation mechanisms have kept improving.
Fifth, China and India have maintained the momentum of high-level contacts, and their strategic mutual trust has further increased. The two countries' leaders and foreign ministers have conducted several meetings and initiated the defence and security consultations. Bilateral trade has grown strongly. Both sides have maintained communication and coordination in major international affairs, including multilateral trade and climate change.
2. Safeguarding a peaceful and stable peripheral environment. President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao respectively attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization [SCO] meeting of heads of state and the SCO prime ministers' meeting. These activities promoted the SCO's pragmatic cooperation and helped the SCO members to sign a long-term, good-neighbourly, and friendly cooperation treaty. For the first time, the joint antiterror military exercise participated by all SCO member countries was successfully conducted. President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao respectively attended the APEC leaders' informal meeting and the East Asian leaders' serial conference, during which they raised China's systematic proposals on APEC and East Asian cooperation and development. We have persisted in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, actively conducted mediation for peace talks, successfully chaired three plenary meetings of the six-party talks, helped pass two important documents - the Initial Action on Implementation of the Common Statement and the Second-Phase Action on Implementation of the Common Statement. Thus the peninsula denuclearization process has achieved substantial progress. We have maintained communication with the relevant parties on establishing a Korean Peninsula peace mechanism and an East Asian security mechanism. We have appropriately dealt with the changes in some surrounding countries' situations, steadily handled the disputes over peripheral territorial and maritime rights and interests, and promoted joint exploitation and cooperation in the South Sea. A certain consensus has been reached in China-Japan consultations on the East Sea issue and in the special representatives' meeting on China-Indian border issues. We have deepened our cooperation with the surrounding countries in the economic and trade field and infrastructural construction.
3. Widening and deepening relations with developing countries. President Hu Jintao, NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo, and CPPCC Chairman Jia Qinglin visited Africa one other another. Premier Wen Jiabao attended the African Development Bank's annual conference in Shanghai and comprehensively promoted the implementation of the results of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum Beijing Summit, particularly the eight policies and measures. Foreign ministers of China and African countries held political consultations for the first time during a UN General Assembly session and officially initiated the China-Africa foreign ministers' regular dialogue mechanism. In face of the opportunities and challenges in China-Africa relations under the new situation, both sides have further strengthened political mutual trust, economic and trade cooperation, and coordination in international affairs. They have achieved good results in this respect. China has strengthened bilateral friendly cooperation with West Asian and North African countries, and their economic and trade cooperation has developed to a new level. The second entrepreneurs' conference of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum was successfully held. China's cooperation with Latin America is steadily moving towards wider areas in an omni-directional manner. Political mutual trust between China and Latin American countries has strengthened; economic and trade cooperation has developed; and cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science, and technology has also achieved new results. Taking advantage of the G8+5 dialogue platform, China has strengthened coordination and cooperation with India, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, and other newly emerging developing countries.
4. Actively conducting multilateral diplomacy. President Hu Jintao attended the G8+5 dialogue and the conference of developing countries' leaders, during which he comprehensively and profoundly expounded China's stand and proposals on climate change and other relevant issues. China established special representatives to the talks on climate change, took an active part in international talks on climate change, and comprehensively and profoundly got involved in the legislation of the Human Rights Council regulations. It comprehensively initiated the preparations for the Seventh Eurasia Summit. It took an in-depth part in the UN outer space exploration projects to push forward the peaceful use of outer space by the international community. It actively got involved in the adjustments of international rules, helped establish the China-foreign judicial cooperation network, and protected national political and economic security.
5. Working hard for mediation in hot issues. China has made positive efforts to deal with hot issues, demonstrating the good image of a responsible great country. On the Iran nuclear issue, China has persisted in the direction of political solutions and taken an active part in diplomatic mediation. On the Darfur issue, China has established special representatives on the Darfur issue, sent peacekeeping engineering troops to the Darfur region, and provided humanitarian aid. This has been well received by the international community. On the Middle East issue, the Chinese foreign minister attended the Middle East peace conference in the United States. This has played a positive role in pushing forward the Middle East process. China also took an active part in the relevant international conferences on the Iraq issue. China strongly repulsed some foreign hostile forces' agitations to boycott the Beijing Olympic Games on the pretext of the human rights and Darfur issues. China has appropriately handled the product quality and food safety issues, thereby protecting the country's image and interests.
6. Resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and security. We have made efforts to seek international support in opposing the Chen Shui-bian [Chen Shuibian] authorities' pursuit of the "referendum on UN entry." We have consecutively defeated Taiwan's attempts to "accede" to the World Health Organization for 11 times and to "accede" to the United Nations for 15 times. We have successfully restored China's legitimate rights and interests at the World Animal Health Organization, established diplomatic relations with Costa Rica, and dealt severe blows at the arrogance of "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. China has presented stern representations on US arms sales to Taiwan and granting a US Congress Gold Medal to the Dalai as well as some countries' leaders meeting the Dalai.
7. Pushing forward economic and technological cooperation and exchanges with foreign countries. China has actively promoted the talks on free trade zones and regional cooperation. China has actively joined international negotiations on economic and trade issues, protected its development interests, and its rights and interests in international economic affairs. It has achieved a series of new progress in carrying out energy cooperation with foreign countries. We have strengthened our work on foreign