The Hindu : We will never seek hegemony: Wen Jiabao

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 22, 2003

International

International - India & World

We will never seek hegemony: Wen Jiabao

By P. S. Suryanarayana

BEIJING June 21. Maintaining that India is China's "important neighbour" and seeking a "fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution" to the Sino-Indian border dispute, the Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, has expounded a "new security concept" that "embodies China's independent foreign policy of peace".

The following are excerpts from the interview with Mr. Wen by The Hindu and PTI in Beijing, ahead of the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to China. Mr. Wen answered only a few questions from out of those submitted.

Question: (On China's intention to roll out the red carpet for Vajpayee): Atal Behari Vajpayee will be the first Indian Premier to visit China in over 10 years. Kindly comment on the significance of Mr. Vajpayee's visit and its (likely) impact on bilateral ties as well as regional stability.

Wen Jiabao: The Chinese Government is very pleased to have Prime Minister Vajpayee here in China (from Sunday). I look forward to an in-depth exchange of views with him on bilateral relations and on international and regional issues of mutual interest.

India is our important neighbour. Developing friendly and good neighbourly relations and cooperation with India, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, is a key part of our diplomacy with countries in our surrounding areas. China-India relations have maintained a momentum of steady growth in recent years. I am glad to see the positive development of the relationship and (I) have great confidence in the broad prospects of the bilateral cooperation.

China and India are the two largest developing countries with a combined population accounting for one-third of the world's total. Maintaining stability and development in China-India relations is not only in the fundamental interest of the two peoples but also conducive to peace and development in the region and the world at large. I am convinced that Prime Minister Vajpayee's visit will have a positive impact on bilateral relations and regional peace and stability.

(On China's world view): Beijing has often emphasised that it wants peace and tranquillity on China's borders for being able to focus attention on rapid economic development at home. How will you assure the world that this policy can be sustained even after China becomes a developed country? This question has strategic resonance for China's huge neighbourhood that stretches from Japan to India and Pakistan.

To accelerate modernisation drive, accomplish national reunification and promote world peace and common development (of all countries) are China's three major tasks of this century. Given this, China needs a peaceful international environment of long-term stability, particularly a sound environment in its surrounding areas. We are ready to work vigorously to this end. Being a basic state policy of China, it will not change under any circumstances.

"Maintaining stability and development in the China-India relations is not only in the fundamental interest of the two peoples but also conducive to peace and development in the region."

The Chinese nation was once subjected to protracted aggression and humiliation, and (China) thus has developed a particular yearning for peace and tranquillity. China is still a developing country, but even when it becomes developed, it will not seek hegemony. Never will it do. Rather than posing a threat to any country, China's development will only contribute to the common development of this region.

(On the boundary issue between India and China): The two sides have not exchanged maps of the western and eastern sectors yet. I would like to know if the new Chinese Government has any new policy or principles to hasten the settlement of this colonial legacy.

The China-India boundary issue is a historical burden on our two countries left over by the colonialists. The Chinese side stands for a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the issue, a solution that can be found through bilateral talks in accordance with the principles of consultation on an equal footing, mutual understanding, mutual accommodation and mutual adjustment. Pending a solution, the two sides should do their very best to keep the border areas peaceful and tranquil.

To clarify and confirm the alignment of the Line of Actual Control in the China-India border areas is provided for under (the) relevant bilateral agreement. The Chinese side has always held a positive attitude towards this. We are ready to join the Indian side in advancing this process.

(On Beijing's posture as a strategic ally and perceived patron of Pakistan): ...What is China's diplomatic stand and legal perspective on Kashmir?

The Kashmir question is a legacy from the past between India and Pakistan, and it involves conflicting territorial claims, religion, ethnicity and other complex factors. More than 50 years of India-Pakistan conflict has shown that use of force can get them nowhere.

As a neighbour and friend to both India and Pakistan, China has always urged the two countries to seek an effective solution to the Kashmir problem through peaceful dialogue.

(On China's ringside view of the India-Pakistan fray): Your comments on the recent India-Pakistan bilateral initiatives to ease tensions.

Not long ago, Prime Minister Vajpayee extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan, (a development) which helped turn the tense relationship around. Later on, the two sides took a series of steps to improve their ties and created a favourable atmosphere for ending the stalemate and resuming dialogue. The Chinese side welcomes and supports this (sequence of events).

We sincerely hope that the two countries will seize the opportunity before them, set aside their past misgivings and live with each other in harmony, resolve their differences properly through dialogue and work together for the region's stability and development.

(On China's economic diplomacy): What is your view on the scope of China-India bilateral economic ties as well as (on) the role the two countries could play in championing the cause of developing countries, especially as a new round of multilateral trade negotiations is in the offing?

(China-India) bilateral trade and economic cooperation have grown rather rapidly in recent years - expanding from pure import and export of commodities to multi-faceted and multi-dimensional cooperation including engineering contracting, technology trade and two-way investment. India is China's largest trading partner in South Asia, and the two-way trade reached $4.946 billion in 2002, up by 37 per cent from the previous year.

China and India have many strong points of their own. They are quite complementary economically. And they both have broad domestic markets. However, the scope of their economic cooperation remains far from being commensurate with their full economic strengths. The governments and enterprises of the two countries should step up exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and promote mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Chinese Government encourages well-placed Chinese enterprises to work with their Indian counterparts and also welcomes investment and business ventures in China by Indian firms. China's World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership has created a favourable condition for expanded trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, as the WTO has become yet another platform for their multilateral cooperation. The Chinese side is of the view that the new round of multilateral trade negotiations should be conducive to a new international economic order that is fair, just and rational, should strike a balance between the interests of the developed and developing members, and should take into full consideration the development level of the developing countries. Both China and India are important developing members of the WTO. We are ready to join India in closer communication and coordination throughout the new round of WTO negotiations so as to ensure a result that is more beneficial to the developing members.

(On China's global profile): China has proved its strategic autonomy by joining hands with Russia under a treaty at the present juncture and by espousing a "new security concept". What is the rationale of this concept? Is this an alternative to the U.S.-led global "war on terror" in a world where Washington is able to act at will as in Iraq (at this time)?

China stands for a new security concept which features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination. By mutual trust, we mean that countries should trust each other, rise above their differences in ideology or social system and go for regular dialogue and consultation with respect to their own security and defence policies.

By mutual benefit, we mean that a country, while pursuing its own security interests, should respect those of others. By equality, we mean that all countries should treat each other as equals and there should be more democracy in international relations.

By coordination, we mean that all countries should endeavour to eliminate hidden dangers of war through cooperation and to resolve disputes through peaceful dialogue.

In short, the purpose of the new security concept is to increase trust through dialogue and (to) promote security through cooperation. This concept is based on the common interests of all nations, conforms with the trend of human progress and embodies China's independent foreign policy of peace.

China has called for a new security concept for international affairs since a long time ago. China-Russia cooperation is aimed at enhancing their good neighbourly and friendly ties and (at) jointly promoting peace and development for mankind, rather than being directed against any third country.

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