Associate Director Mr. P. D. Kaushik,

Ex-Ambassador Mr. TCA Rangachari,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great honor to be here, invited by this renowned institute of India, to interact with you, outstanding people who have made important contributions to this great nation.

As I understand, Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies is an important think tank of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, enjoying a wide influence on decision-making and policy-shaping of this country. At the same time, this organization is engaged in developing non-governmental friendly exchanges with foreign countries and has over years maintained good cooperation with the Chinese side. I would like to express my appreciation to the Institute for its efforts in this regard.

Today I want to share with you my views on China's foreign policy, China-India relations, as well as some major on-going events in China.

I. China's foreign policy

China is of the view that the world today is undergoing tremendous changes and adjustments. Peace and development remain the main theme of the present era, and pursuit of peace, development and cooperation has become an irresistible trend of the times. The progress toward a multi-polar world is irreversible and economic globalization is developing in depth. Regional and global cooperation is in full swing and countries are becoming increasingly interdependent.

China, as a developing country, is engaged itself in the national economic development, with an objective to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the year 2020. To achieve the grand objective, China requires a favorable international environment.

To this end, China has pursued and will continue to pursue a foreign policy with following characteristics:

First, China will constantly follow the path of peaceful development. This is a strategic choice the Chinese government and people have made in light of the development trend of the time and their fundamental interests. China is always a staunch force safeguarding world peace and committed to combining the interests of the Chinese people with the common interests of the people of other countries. We maintain that all countries, big and small, strong and weak, rich and poor, are all equal. We respect the right of the people of all countries to independently choose their own development path. We will never interfere in the internal affairs of other countries or impose our own will on them. China works for peaceful settlement of international disputes and hotspot issues, promotes international and regional security cooperation.

Second, China will unswervingly follow a win-win strategy of opening up. We will continue to contribute to regional and global development through our own development, and expand areas where our interests meet with those of various sides. While securing our own development, we will accommodate the legitimate concerns of other countries, especially other developing countries. China supports international efforts to help developing countries enhance their capacity for independent development and improve the lives of their people, so as to narrow the North-South gap, and supports efforts to improve international trade and financial system, advance the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment. China will never seek benefits for itself at the expense of other countries or shift its troubles onto others.

Third, China is committed to developing friendship and cooperation with all other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Co-initiated by China and India half a century ago, the five principles are still relevant to today's world in our efforts to maintain peace and advancing development. Based on these principles China will endeavor to enhance friendship and cooperation with all other countries. For developed countries, we will continue to strengthen strategic dialogue, increase mutual trust, deepen cooperation and properly manage differences to promote long-term, stable and sound development of bilateral relations. For our neighboring countries, we will continue to strengthen good-neighborly relations and practical cooperation with them, and energetically engage in regional cooperation in order to jointly create a peaceful, stable regional environment featuring equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation. For other developing countries, we will continue to increase solidarity and cooperation with them, expand practical cooperation, and uphold their legitimate demands and common interests.

Fourth, China will work together with all countries to promote the building of a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity. To this end China will work with all countries to uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and other international laws and practices, promoting harmony, collaboration and win-win solutions in international relations. All countries should politically respect each other and promote democracy in international relations, economically cooperate with each other to achieve shared progress, culturally learn from each other, respect the diversities and make joint efforts to the progress of human civilization.

In short, it is China's view that China cannot develop in isolation from the rest of the world, nor can the world enjoy prosperity without China. The Chinese Government and people will continue to work tirelessly with all countries to bring about a better future for humanity.

II. China-India relations

As two largest developing countries linked by rivers and mountains, China and India, have enjoyed a long traditional friendship tracing back to over 2,000 years ago, sharing many similarities in the economic, cultural, and other fields. This gives us ample reason today to join hands and work together for the betterment of our people and for peace and prosperity of Asia and the world as a whole.

At present, the ever-changing international situation and the respective domestic conditions present an even greater opportunity for China and India to develop bilateral relations in an extensive and profound way.

Against such backdrop, the visit to China by Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh last January indeed is another milestone and provided a strong impetus to the development of bilateral relations between China and India.

While in Beijing, Prime Minister Singh held a series of important talks and meetings with top Chinese leaders. They discussed issues of mutual interest in an extensive manner and reached broad consensus.

During the visit, A Shared Vision for the 21st Century of China and India was signed by two prime ministers. It is another significant document for the development of our friendly cooperative relations in the 21st century. Two countries pledged to promote the building of a harmonious world of durable peace and common prosperity through further advancing China-India Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity.

During the visit, the two sides also outlined the future developments of bilateral relations. In the political field, both will maintain the momentum for high-level exchanges to deepen political mutual trust. Foreign ministers of two countries will exchange visits this year. Both sides agreed to hold the fourth round of strategic dialogue. In the economic field, the two sides upgraded the target for trade volume from US$40 billion to US$60 billion by 2010 and will work to expand mutual investment and initiate negotiations on RTA at an appropriate time. The two countries also reached agreements on enhancing cooperation in the fields of energy, science and technology, environmental protection, expanding personnel exchanges, establishing China-India Exchange Foundation, further organizing 100-member youth delegations to visit each other's country, and starting the preparation on "Indian Festival" and "Chinese Festival" in 2010. The two sides will also promote military exchange and defence dialogue, hold the second joint anti-terrorism training and intensify cooperation on international and regional issues in combating traditional and non-traditional security threats.

It is my view that China-India relations have entered into a fast track of development. On the part of the Chinese government, it is a set policy to develop such relations. We hold that the relationship between China and India has gone well beyond the bilateral context and acquired global and strategic dimension in importance. The two countries have more consensus than differences, and we are partners instead of rivals in development. China and India, combined, will make the world a better place to live in.

I am confident that so long as we keep increasing our political mutual trust, expanding mutually beneficial economic cooperation and properly handling existing differences, our bilateral relations will continue developing to a new height.

III. Now I would like to say a few words about China's Opening up and Reform Policy, the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games and the Taiwan Issue.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of China's adoption of reform and opening up policy. The last 30 years has witnessed China developing from a relatively small economy with a GDP merely US$216.5 billion to US$3.4 trillion in 2007, with 15 times increase. China's import and export volume has gone up from US$20.6 billion to US$2.17 trillion in the same period. Its accumulative foreign exchange reserve has totaled up to US$1.53 trillion. China's booming economy is not only improving the livelihood of the Chinese people, but also conducive to the global economy. Facts have proved that the reform and opening-up policy is very successful and fruitful.

In his report to the 11th National People's Congress of China, Premier Wen Jiabao reaffirmed that China will firmly adhere to the policy of reform and opening up.

As you all know, Beijing will host the 2008 Olympic Games 147 days later. Chinese people are ready to welcome athletes and guests from around the world. All facilities and preparation have been in place. The flame of Beijing Olympic will be lit ten days later in Ancient Olympia. It will be relayed to New Delhi next month. With the support and participation of the people from India and all over the world, we believe the Beijing Olympic Games will be a most successful and unforgettable Games in the history. We hope, as the theme of the Games "one world, one dream" goes, the Games will uphold the spirit of Olympic Games, and help promote the understanding and friendship among all people.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. It concerns the core interests of Chinese government and people. The Chen Shui-bian authorities' stubborn push for the so-called referendum on joining the United Nations  under the name Taiwan is a major step in their attempt to change the reality that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to the one and same China and move toward "de jure independence".  It is a "referendum on Taiwan Independence" in a disguised form and a deliberate provocation against peace across the Taiwan Straits. Should they succeed in this attempt, it will seriously affect cross-strait relations, seriously undermine the fundamental interests of the entire Chinese people, including our Taiwan compatriots, and seriously endanger peace in the Taiwan Straits and the Asia Pacific region. 

Taiwan is part of the Chinese territory. It has never been a country in history. Taiwan's legal status is already clearly established in both domestic and international laws. Any matter that concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be decided by all the 1.3 billion Chinese people, including our Taiwan compatriots. The Chinese Government has no room for compromise on issues concerning the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the csountry. We value peace and have so far exercised maximum restraint.  But we will never swallow the bitter fruit of 'Taiwan independence"' nor will we allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China under any name or by any means.  We are following closely the development of the situation regarding the "referendum".  Should the Chen Shui-bian authorities insist on having their own way and take reckless moves, they will have to pay a heavy price.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As the Chinese ambassador to India, I feel it a great opportunity for me to come and work here at this most exciting period of time, to witness the miraculous economic progress of India, and to make my due contributions to the advancement of China-India relations. Let us join hands and work for a better future for the relations between our two countries and for the benefits of our 2.4 billion people!

Thank you!