Ambassador Wang Shijie's Speech

 

 

Bahrain, 4 December 2005

 

Mr. President,

Fellow Colleagues,

 

It’s my great pleasure to take part in the Second Session of the Gulf Dialogue Meeting. Today, when the international situation, especially the regional situation is undergoing profound changes, this meeting provides an important platform for all the relevant parties to discuss regional security issues of common concern. I appreciate the efforts of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in convening this meeting and wish to express my gratitude to the government of Bahrainfor its considerate arrangements.

 

Over a long period of time, the Gulf region, with its rich oil and gas resources and unique geographic location, has played a special role in global politics, economy and culture. The stability of this region has a great deal to do with world stability and development.

 

Over the past few years, the Gulf countries have been actively searching for development paths that best suit their national conditions. At home, they have been dedicated to developing their national economy and improving the living conditions of their peoples, and have made great achievements in national construction and social development. In external relations, they have been working hard for regional security and have successfully strengthened their unity, promoted regional cooperation and realised common development. We are gratified to see their achievements.

 

At the same time, we should also be aware of the challenges to the security in the region. Hot-spot issues such as the Middle East question and Iraq are far from being resolved while new problems crop up one after another. There are both historical disputes and on-going contradictions. Moreover, terrorism, extremism and other non-traditional security threats pose new challenges. Regional stability and development still call for concerted efforts of countries in this region and the international community at large.

 

Before the end of last century, Chinese leaders, seeing the new elements in global security, put forward a new security concept advocating ‘the promotion of mutual trust through dialogue, and seeking security through cooperation’. This is China’s basic proposition in resolving global security issues. Its core elements are mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and collaboration. Mutual trust means surmounting differences in ideology and social system and harbouring no suspicion or hostility against each other. Mutual benefit refers to respecting each other’s security interest and realising common security. Equality means all countries, big or small, strong or weak, should respect each other and treat each other as equals. Collaboration means settling conflicts through peaceful negotiations and preventing war and conflict.

 

Mr. President,

Fellow Colleagues,

 

Chinaattaches great importance to the security and stability of the Gulf region. On the basis of the security concept mentioned above and new situation and challenges in the region, and for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting regional security and stability I propose strengthening international cooperation to meet our common challenges in the following aspects:

 

First, actively promote the settlement of regional hot-spot issues. The Middle Eastand the Gulf region have long been troubled by hot-spot issues, resulting in turbulence and tension, and huge losses and suffering to the people in the region. We believe that when addressing these hot-spot issues, we should focus on building lasting and just peace in the region to the benefit of the people and conducive to the development of countries in the region. Regional hot-spot issues should be resolved by political and diplomatic means through extensive negotiations among relevant parties. The international community should play a more vigorous role in promoting peace, so as to solve the hot-spot issues properly and satisfactorily.

 

Second, enhance counter-terrorism cooperation. Terrorism has a deep root cause and background. Combating terrorism is a long and complicated task. We should seek both temporary and permanent solutions to the problems, and more importantly, we should remove the fertile soil of terrorism and enhance global cooperation. Chinaresolutely opposes terrorism in all forms. We also oppose linking terrorism with certain nationalities, religions or regions, or applying double standards on this question. The Chinese Government is in favor of concluding a just and effective international convention, in order to enhance international counter-terrorism cooperation. At the same time, we hold that international counter-terrorism cooperation should adhere to the principle of respecting sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. Chinaappreciates the efforts made by regional countries in removing terrorism. We are ready to further enhance cooperation in this regard with regional countries and the international community at large.

 

Third, promote dialogue among different civilisations. ‘Harmony amidst diversity’ is a great idea put forward by ancient Chinese thinkers. During the long development process of the human society, different types of civilisations have emerged. Though clashes did happen, however, emulation, communication and integration have been the main features of the relations among different civilisations and the driving force behind their development. Chinahas all along advocated dialogue and communication among different civilisations. As long as we enhance cooperation on the basis of mutual trust and treating each other as equals, expand communications, draw on the experiences of each other, learn from others' strong points to compensate for one's own weakness, replace exclusion, confrontation and conflict with tolerance, dialogue and coexistence, we will be able to enhance trust and jointly uplift human civilisation to a higher level.

 

Fourth, strive for common development. Development is the basis for ensuring lasting peace. Development needs one’s own tireless efforts as well as a sound global environment and extensive international cooperation. The maintenance of peace is a necessary condition for development. The Gulf countries have their own unique tradition and culture. We support the Gulf countries in selecting development paths which suit their own conditions, and are consistent with their tradition, culture and level of development. The international community should try to understand and respect the historic, ethnic, religious and cultural tradition of the Gulf countries, and on such a basis conduct equal, pragmatic, mutually beneficial cooperation with them to promote regional prosperity and peace.

 

Mr. President,

Fellow Colleagues,

 

Chinahas all along attached importance to its friendly relations and cooperation with Arab countries including those in the Gulf region. Over a long period of time, Chinaand Arab countries, based on mutual respect and understanding, have conducted mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields. As a friendly country, Chinasincerely hopes that the Gulf region will enjoy lasting stability and development. Chinastands ready to join with relevant parties in our continuous efforts to maintain stability and promote the development of the Gulf region.