China: A close neighbor is better than a distant relative

China's vice foreign minister over the weekend maintained its commitment to "peaceful development and win-win cooperation" in what he termed a rather "chaotic" world.

 

Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun asserted the claim Friday at the Foreign Affairs Ministry's forum in Beijing, according to a report on China's government portal.

"As we Chinese say, 'A close neighbor is better than a distant relative,'" he said.  

But he also maintained that on the issue of the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), China's position and proposition is "consistent and clear-cut."

 

He referred to the "sovereignty of some islands and reefs in the Nansha (Spratly) Islands and the delineation of some waters in the South China Sea."

 

"China believes that the disputes should be resolved by countries directly concerned through dialogue and consultation," he said, adding that all parties need to endeavor to maintain stability in the South China Sea, pending a solution.

 

"What China upholds is its own legitimate rights and interests," he added, saying China has no intention to grab from others.

 

The Philippines and China have remained locked in a dispute over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which China refers to as Huangyan Island.

 

Last April, Philippine forces spotted Chinese fishermen gathering marine species from the area but were blocked by Chinese ships when they tried to make arrests.

 

Also, the Philippines and China are among six claimants to the Spratly Islands, the other claimants being Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia.

 

Good neighborliness

 

Zhang said China will strengthen its good-neighborliness and friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and make sure the country's neighbors will benefit more from its development.

 

He said it is not contradictory for China to stay committed to the path of peaceful development while upholding its sovereignty, security and development interests.

 

"In a somewhat chaotic world, Asian countries...need to cherish all the more the sound environment of peace and stability and the momentum of sustained and fast development, and should not allow any factor to disrupt, delay or destroy our development and cooperation," he added.

 

He also said China believes the proposal put forward by the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping of "shelving differences and conducting joint development may still well be a practical approach to tackle the tricky issue."

 

Territorial sovereignty

 

Zhang said while China is resolved to follow the path of peaceful development, it is equally firm in the nation's resolve to uphold its territorial sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests.

 

"We remain committed to working with neighboring countries to properly address disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and uphold the overall good relations with our neighbors," he said.

 

At the forum, Zhang said "China's overall foreign policy will not change," adding China will adhere "to the independent foreign policy of peace and the path of peaceful development, to the win-win strategy of opening up and friendship and cooperation with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and to the construction of a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity."

 

He was elaborating on China's foreign policy after the conclusion of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last month.

 

The forum was attended by foreign diplomats, representatives of international organizations, businesspeople and scholars of international relations.

 

'A bit chaotic'

 

In his remarks, Zhang said the world is "a bit chaotic" due to uncertainties in the international economic landscape, the rise of power politics to some extent and wars raging in some countries.

 

He added China's foreign policy has safeguarded the country's sovereignty, security and development interests and has contributed to world peace and stability.

 

"There is no reason for a right policy to be changed or abandoned ... Even if it were to change, it would only improve," he said.

 

Global development partnership

 

Zhang highlighted China's advocacy of a "new type of global development partnership."

 

"Countries need to raise awareness about human beings sharing a community of common destiny," he said, adding a country needs to accommodate the legitimate concerns of others while pursuing its own interests.

 

"No country, not even the most powerful country in the world, could ensure its security without respecting and accommodating other countries' security interests," he said.

 

US interests

 

Zhang also said China respects the legitimate interests of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region and welcomes its "constructive" role in the region.

 

"The Asia-Pacific is a region where China and the United States have more closely intertwined interests and more frequent interactions than elsewhere," he said.

 

He added China and the United States need to work to ensure dialogue and cooperation outweigh frictions and differences in the region.

 

Zhang also said China and the United States, as the world's two largest economies, should deepen communication, expand pragmatic cooperation and respect each other's core interests to address the "strategic distrust" between them.

 

"As far as the differences and frictions between countries in the region are concerned, we hope the United States will take an objective and impartial position instead of siding with one party or doing things that are of disservice to settling the issue," he said.

 

"The Asia-Pacific region should not be an arena for China-U.S. competition. Instead, it should be a grand stage for China-U.S. cooperation," he added.

 

Diaoyu islands

 

As for the Diaoyu Islands, Zhang said China will neither create nor fear any troubles concerning the Diaoyu Islands.

 

China and Japan are locked in a row over the Diaoyu Islands.

 

"We hope for a stable and peaceful surrounding environment, we will not create troubles, but we definitely do not fear any trouble," Zhang said.

 

He added China believes the two sides should manage the issue through talks and consultations to avoid an escalation of the situation.

 

"We hope the Japanese side can face history and reality and make correct decisions in order to properly handle the issue," he said, adding that stable and healthy bilateral relations are in the interests of the two countries and the region.

 

Zhang added that China has recognized that some officials in Japan's newly established cabinet have shown willingness to boost bilateral ties.

 

He said China hopes Japan's new government can improve ties and properly handle differences.  — ELR, GMA News