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FM calls for US, N.Korea flexibility in nuclear talks
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-03-06 10:21 Relations with big countries
China has maintained sound relations with big countries over the past year,
said Li.
Li, who served as Chinese ambassador to the United States in 1998-2001, said
Sino-US relations have being making headway as the two countries share extensive
interests, calling for "a long-term and strategic view" to promote healthy
development of the Sino-US ties.
The view should be, in the first place, used in handling the most sensitive
issue in the Sino-US relations, namely, the Taiwan issue.
"It is essential for the two countries to abide by principles in Sino-US
joint communique," said the foreign minister, urging the two countries to
conduct mutual cooperation in a wide range for the benefits of the two peoples.
According to the minister, it is very likely for President Hu Jintao to
attend the 60th anniversary celebration of the United Nations (UN) as the UN
secretary-general Kofi Annan has warmly invited Hu for many times to visit the
UN headquarters and attend the celebration.
As the world's two important countries, Li said, China and the United States
should take concerted efforts to further build the constructive cooperative
partnership.
However, he said, "a handful of people in the United States still let their
mentality linger in the Cold War era," adding that the theory of China threat is
unfounded and unscientific.
According to Western media, the top diplomat said, the US defense
expenditures reached 455.9 billion US dollars, 3.9 percent of its gross domestic
product (GDP) in 2004, while China spent 211. 7 billion yuan (25.5 billion US
dollars) on national defense, 1.6 percent of its GDP.
In 2003, the US defense expenditures took up 47 percent of the global total,
exceeding the accumulated expenditures of the following 25 biggest defense
spenders, Li said.
"China is a staunch force for peace-making and it's ridiculous to accuse
China of a threat," he said.
The minister also said relations between China and Japan were achieved as a
result of the "long-term and arduous efforts" made by generations of leaders,
governments and peoples of the two nations.
"It is a hard-won result and deserves to be cherished," he said, reconfirming
that sound relations with Japan is a set policy of China and the Sino-Japan
friendship should continue from " generation to generation".
He called for concerted efforts of the two countries to handle historical
issues and the Taiwan issue "properly", and continue to strengthen cooperation
on the basis of the two nations' overall interests.
The minister also stressed China's "indisputable, historical and legal
sovereignty" over the Diaoyu Islands and the adjacent islands. Relevant problems
should be solved through talks on the basis of facts and should not affect the
healthy development of the Sino-Japanese ties, he added.
"We should proceed from the fundamental interests of the peoples of both
countries and follow the principle of 'draw lessons from history and look into
the future'," said Li, calling for "proper conditions and atmosphere" to
facilitate the resumption of the exchange of high-level visits between China and
Japan.
The journalist-savvy minister defined relations between China and Russia as
being "successful and fruitful".
The two sides had completely resolved the boundary issues left over from
history during Russian President Putin's state visit to China last year and the
Sino-Russia border line has become a border of "peace, friendship and
cooperation" since then.
"It is beneficial to the peoples of both countries, and peace and stability
in the region and the world," said Li.
He noted that the Sino-Russia economic, trade, cultural, education and
military ties have been developing steadily.
According to the foreign minister, the two countries are conducting effective
and substantive cooperation in more than 100 inter-state organizations,
including the United Nations, and regional organizations including the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization.
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