Editorials

Peaceful development

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-03-08 08:02

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi's remarks that the country does not want to see anyone making something out of nothing is fully justified. Dismissing a journalist's concerns over the domestic situation at a press conference on Monday, Yang said he did not see any signs of tension at home.

Yang's observations that the Chinese are enjoying life and focusing on domestic development mirror the real situation in China today. While the country continues to reap a rich social and economic harvest, it is also confident of overcoming the difficulties on the road ahead.

Those who harbor concerns about China's capability to maintain social stability and pursue a peaceful road of development are either deluded or ill intentioned.

China's timely and effective evacuation of some 36,000 nationals from turbulent Libya is ready proof to the fact that the country enjoys national solidarity and has a strong leadership.

Elaboration on the country's foreign diplomacy from China's top diplomat yesterday should also shore up the country's image as an important force for peace and a responsible player in the international arena.

China will continue to adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the norms of international relations in handling state-to-state relations, including cooperation and competition.

Adherence to this policy has helped cultivate a favorable environment for domestic development and shaped the country's role as a principled and trustworthy partner in the international arena. Under the guidance of these principles, China is cultivating friendly ties and conducting fruitful cooperation with other countries. It is accentuating good neighborly relations with Asia and always favors peaceful solutions to solving conflicts and crisis.

At a time when the world is encountering a lot of challenges and competition among nations is intensifying, China is committed to the principle of advancing its interests through win-win cooperation with other countries. Viewing competition with an open and inclusive mind, it holds up the banner that competition should be conducted on equal and fair terms.

In the same vein, Yang explained that the BRICS nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - are committed to cooperation and should not be viewed as posing confrontation with the developed countries.

As the country's international influence grows, there have been increasing demands for China to shoulder more responsibilities in the international arena. In fact, China is achieving positive results in fulfilling more international obligations. Within its capabilities the country is willing to do more in this regard.

A developing country, with about 150 million Chinese still living under the poverty line according to United Nations' standards, China still faces a formidable task in improving the well-being of its own people. But each step China takes in nation building also contributes to world peace and development.

(China Daily 03/08/2011 page9)