MUNICH, Germany - The rise of Asia represents greater
balance in the international power structure,
China's Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun said here on
Saturday.
Zhang made the remarks during a panel discussion on "America,
Europe and the Rise of Asia" at the Munich Security Conference.
Development of the East and the West is not a zero-sum game, Zhang
said in his speech titled "Working Together for Peace, Stability
and Development of Asia."
The rise of Asia has picked up speed since the beginning of the
21st century and Asia remains a bright spot and a big plus for the
world against a backdrop of sluggish recovery of the world economy
and frequent regional turbulence, he said.
The modernization of billions of people in Asia will create a
bigger market and more job opportunities for the world, Zhang said,
adding that it renewed vitality to the efforts to fight global
challenges and improve global governance.
Asia has always been an open and inclusive region and China
welcomes the participation of the United States, Europe and others
from outside the region in Asia's development and their
constructive contribution to Asia-Pacific affairs.
But in the meantime, he noted, countries outside Asia should fully
respect the will of the Asian people and follow the development
trend in Asia.
It is the shared aspiration of the people of Asia to seek economic
development, better living standards and stability, according to
the vice foreign minister.
He pointed out that any move to deliberately highlight
the military and security agenda, create tension and strengthen
military presence or military alliance runs counter to the trend of
our times and people's will in Asia.
He called on countries outside Asia to respect the
characteristics of Asia and the Asian people's way of action,
stressing that Asia does not export development models or
ideologies, nor does it want to see others impose their will on
Asia.
With regard to the Euro-Asian ties, Zhang pointed out there were
immense scope and potentials for Asia-Europe cooperation lying
ahead. China has been supporting the European Union's efforts to
address its debt problems and hopes the two sides can further
enhance mutual understanding and trust and deepen
mutually-beneficial cooperation, he said.
With its constant policy of building friendship and partnership
with its Asian neighbors, China has enjoyed over 30 years of peace
with its neighbors and their economies have become much more
integrated, Zhang said.
Although there may still exist some differences and frictions
between China and some of its neighbors, efforts are being made to
solve them and they do not affect the overall relations between
China and its neighbors.
China sees the future of its development in the common development
of Asia, Zhang said.
China does not seek a sphere of influence, he said. The country
does not intend to build an exclusive regional order and is not
capable of doing so, he added.
China is firmly committed to peaceful development and will take its
due responsibilities in safeguarding world peace and development
while handling affairs concerning its 1.3 billion people well, he
said. That is China's long-term strategy and solemn promise to the
world, he added.
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Australian
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng
Hen, US Senator John McCain and former French Foreign Minister
Michel Barnier also participated in the panel discussion.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-02/05/content_14538485.htm
