On December 20, People's Daily reported on its interview with Li Zhaoxing, in which the foreign minister reviewed the achievements of China's diplomacy this year and discussed its diplomatic blueprint for the 11th Five-Year Guideline period (2006-10).

Despite the threat of terrorism and occurrences of tsunami, hurricane, earthquake and bird flu, overall international tension eased off this year, Li said, and cooperation, peace and development have become a common understanding between more and more countries.

The world is moving toward multipolarity, he said, leading to keener global competition. Meanwhile, deepening globalization has enhanced the interdependence among different economies.

In general, the world economy is accelerating, he said, though accompanied by increasing risks and challenges. How to maintain stable, balanced and sustainable growth is an issue of great importance facing the whole world at present, and much should be done to tackle the problems brought about by globalization to developing countries particularly.

Concerning China's diplomacy, Li said friendly relations with surrounding nations this year have been further strengthened as reflected in substantive cooperation with ASEAN and other Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries.

Also, the 13th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit decided last month to accord China observer status. In the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue China continued to play a constructive role and in September the negotiations made a breakthrough with the adoption of a common statement in Beijing.

According to Li, this year President Hu Jintao and US President George W. Bush have met on many occasions and agreed to promote exchanges and cooperation and build a constructive relationship.

China and Russia launched a national security consultation mechanism in February. During Hu's July visit to Moscow, he and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the Joint Statement on the International Order of the 21st Century. One month later, the two armed forces successfully carried out a large-scale maneuver, Li said, pushing the strategic partnership of coordination to a new high.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. The visits by EU foreign ministers in May and EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso in July have given impetus to the development of an all-round strategic partnership, Li said.

In relations with developing countries, China continues to push forward cooperation with African and Arabian nations under the frameworks of Sino-African Cooperation Forum and Sino-Arabian Cooperation Forum, he said, while trying to strengthen ties with Latin American regional organizations. When attending the Asia-Africa Summit as well as the 50th anniversary of the Bandung Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia in April, Hu proposed to establish a new type of Asian-African strategic partnership.

This year, China conducted an active multilateral diplomacy on a global scale through cooperation and dialogue, Li said. Its heads of state attended a series of significant international activities such as the celebration ceremony of the 60th anniversary of the victory of Russia's Great Patriotic War, the informal leaders' dialogue between the G8 and developing countries, the UN's 60th anniversary summit, the 13th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, the 2nd World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments and the 7th summit meeting of ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea (10+3).

In economy, China has made efforts to mitigate frictions with its major trading partners and for the first time hosted the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in October, Li said. More and more countries have begun to recognize China's full market economy status.

This year saw China safeguarding sovereignty and national security. Li said China thwarted Taiwan's 13th consecutive attempt to apply for membership of the UN and 9th attempt to participate in the World Health Assembly.

He said the Anti-Secession Law ratified by the National People's Congress (NPC) in March has won wide understanding and support in the world, and Grenada and Senegal resumed diplomatic relations with China in January and October respectively.

Throughout the year, China also handled more than 20,000 cases related to abduction, robbery and unfair treatment of overseas Chinese, Li said.

Peace, development and cooperation are the main principles of China's peaceful rise, Li said. While realizing its own development, China will as always work for world peace.

In October the 5th Plenary Session of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) examined and approved proposals for formulating the 11th Five-Year Guideline for National Economy and Social Development. During the 11th Five-Year Guideline period, diplomatic work will focus on creating a peaceful and favorable environment for China's modernization, Li said.

In the spirit of mutual benefit and "win-win" cooperation, China will make greater contributions to the establishment of a new international order of lasting peace and common prosperity, he said.

(China.org.cn by Shao Da, December 22, 2005)