China's Diplomacy: For Strong Nation and Harmonious World

Remarks by Ambassador Luo Linquan

Piraeus University, 11 December, 2009

Professor Niko Kotzia,

Young Ladies and Gentlemen,

Kalimera. Thank you for having me here.

I appreciate the strong interest you show for China. Professor Kotzias has invited Captain Zhang to share his thoughts about shipping, which is an important connection between China and Greece. As you are near our biggest cooperation project, Piraeus Container Terminal, I hope you feel closer to China than your fellow learners in central Athens.

I am glad to know you have a good China study faculty. I am happy to tell you, a Confucius Institute was founded in Athens on October 8, and His Excellency President Papoulias attended the opening. In China, there are two centers of Greek Studies, one in Peking University, the other in Shanghai University of Foreign Studies. The latter is alma mater of my colleague Ms. Xu, who speaks good Greek and is with us today. This is proof that we have a lot of cultural bonds with each other, as both nations are ancient civilizations.

In China, we hold deep respect for teachers, dear feelings for students. So when I received order from Professor Kotzias, I gladly accepted. However, talking about China's diplomacy is an enormous task. In short, our foreign policy is charged with the mission to build a strong nation, and a harmonious world. I will try to draw you a big picture of it.

--The primary task of China's diplomacy is to promote development, at home and abroad, together with the rest of the world.

China's development has paved way for a confident and cooperative diplomacy. During last 60 years, China has covered the road of industrialization that took the forerunners two centuries. Last year, China's foreign trade volume reached 2561 billion US dollars. Chinese economy contributed to 20% of the world growth. We benefited from globalization and cope with its challenges. We work for it to benefit all countries and all peoples. We work for bilateral, regional and international arrangements in favor of sustainable development, of China and of other countries. We support the Doha round of WTO negotiations. We are against trade and investment protectionism.

For example, we played a positive role in international response to the financial crisis. China's participation in Washington, London and Pittsburg Financial Summits helped promote G20 become a major platform of global economic governance. Three missions to buy from Europe helped boost market confidence.

Trade with Southeast Asia, for another example. Last year, we imported from ASEAN countries agricultural products worth 9.2 billion dollars, and exported 4.6 billion dollars. From January 1^st next year, China-ASEAN Free Trade Zone will be launched, and 90% of the goods will be free of tariff.

A new thinking on development, the Scientific Concept of Development, has an important bearing on diplomacy. Our challenge is not only a low per capita GDP, one-tenth of Greece. We realize that development should be comprehensive, coordinated, sustainable and people-centered. That is development of the people, by the people and for the people. We have to combine economic and social, urban and rural development. We have to improve the living conditions for 700 million rural population. Create jobs for 5.32 million university graduates each year. Reemploy 20 million laid-off migrant workers amidst the financial crisis. We have to transform the way of economic growth to make it sustainable, innovative, and energy-efficient.

The environment awareness is also transforming the way of our development and diplomacy. More people will know that China is one of the ten countries most affected by climate change. We support the Copenhagen Conference to move forward, in the direction set by the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and Bali Roadmap.

In short, sustainable development is a mission for Chinese diplomats, and a major source of contemporary Chinese foreign policy.

--Secondly, as a responsible power, China plays an important role for regional and world peace.

We pursue an independent foreign policy for peace. We adhere to the norms and principles enshrined by the United Nations. We make friends with all countries on the basis of mutual respect and equality. We never draw lines according to ideology, nor form any military alliance. We work towards a fair, rational international order, more democratic ways of international relations. We stand for respect, reconciliation and mutual understanding among diverse civilizations.

We are a major force in maintaining world peace, an important player in regional structures and international system. China is a good neighbor and a partner for peace. We adhere to a defensive defense policy. We have disarmed 1.7 million troops in the last two decades, and maintained a low percentage of military spending in the world. We safeguard stability, promote prosperity through our presence in the APEC, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, China-ASEAN partnership, and over 130 international governmental organizations. We work with others in countering terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We played constructive roles in resolving disputes through peaceful dialogue. Such as the Korean Peninsula and Iran nuclear issues, the Middle East peace process.

--Thirdly, our diplomacy is people-centered and global- minded.

Today's world is a multi-polar, globalizing and interdependent one. We should focus on the social and economic welfare of the people, not to worry too much about a major war. We shall seize the opportunities and confront the challenges of globalization. We find ourselves in a world where Chinese people are closely connected with other nations. We cannot succeed without the rest of the world, and vice versa.

Take the relations with the EU and Greece for example. China-EU trade volume amounted to 425.6 billion dollars last year. Mr. Charles Grant, Director of Centre for European Reform wrote, "China's economic rise has been mostly good for the EU countries". According to him, trading with China was "a major source of growth and profits for EU businesses", and "good for consumers". A recent Dutch study concluded that "cheaper Chinese goods have saved the average European household around 300 Euros a year." I am happy to note that China's COSCO has started operating the Container Terminal. With the cooperation of PPA and the Hellenic Government, COSCO will turn the port into a modern, efficient and caring transshipment hub, and establish a Southeast European logistic center, creating more jobs for Greece.

We support the UN Millennium Development Goals. We act on the ground. We committed additional development assistance to our African friends in November. We will build for Africa 100 clean energy projects, 100 joint technological projects. We offer 100 post-doctoral study opportunities, 10 billion dollars of preferential loans, 1 billion dollars of Small and Medium Enterprise credit fund. We will grant tariff-free treatment for 60% of LDC products exporting to China, effective from January next year. We will build 50 more schools. Train 1500 teachers and principals. We will provide training for 20 thousand African talents in next 3 years. By 2012, we will offer African students 5500 governmental scholarships every year.

--Fourthly, China's diplomacy is guided by values and principles.

Traditional values are mental sources of China's international approach. We believe in the philosophy of treating others with goodwill, good faith, courtesy and respect. In pursuit of success, one should enable others to succeed. In seeking benefits, one should benefit others as well. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. And make friends with neighbors. As Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi once said, "our relations with many Asian countries are more than economic mutual benefit, but rather gentlemen's friendship, friendship with moral commitments."

We have a vision of building towards a Harmonious World of lasting peace and common prosperity. Our efforts to promote development, maintain peace, and build partnerships are guided by principles. A) Respect the diversity of the world. We should dialogue and learn from each other, rather than demonize those different. B) Treating one another as equals. C) Create win-win economic relations. D)Set up new Security Concept, consisting of mutual trust, cooperation and common security. After two world wars and one cold war, countries shall not pursue absolute security at the cost of others, nor should international disputes be resolved through bullying or imposing wars on the weaker. These principles are fundamentals for Such a world is the ultimate vision of Chinese diplomacy.

--I cannot make a lecture without mentioning the focus of world attention. So allow me to shed light on the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

First of all, we need find it out: why is there today's climate change challenge?

Climate change doesn't happen overnight. It was caused by the unrestrained greenhouse-gas emissions of the industrial countries for centuries. From 1850 to 2005, one trillion and one hundred twenty-two billion (1.1222 X 10¹²) tons of carbon dioxide was discharged into the atmosphere by the human activities. Of this total, industrialized countries emitted 806.5 billion tons, or 72%, while the European Union accounted for 27%. Of course, the British and Germans were the biggest polluters.

As for recently, in 2006, less than one billion of industrialized population, discharged 12.9 billion tons of CO₂, 46% of the year's total emissions. In comparison, 1.3 billion of Chinese population discharged 5.6 billion tons, less than 20% of the world total.

Who should be responsible for climate change? The industrialized or the developing world? The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has the answer: common but differentiated responsibilities. That means, industrialized countries, as the largest dischargers of GHGs, should do more to mitigate the climate change.

What do the scientists say about emissions cut targets? Industrialized countries should at least cut emissions by 40% in medium term, and provide funds, technologies and capacity building supports to the developing countries.

What obligations do the industrialized countries have, according to Kyoto Protocol? A) Cut emissions by 5.2% on 1990 basis. B) Transfer funds and technologies to developing countries.

How well have these been fulfilled? Most industrialized countries increased their emissions, some even by 30%. For 20 years, no developed country ever transferred climate change fund or technology to developing countries as Kyoto Protocol prescribed.

Secondly, what role does China play in global efforts to slow down climate change?

The Chinese people have woken to the climate and environment threat. We have been embracing cleaner development, backed with policy and action.

--From 1990 to 2005, China has decreased its GDP carbon intensity by 46%, while the industrialized world has only lowered 26%. China has launched a voluntary reduction program for 2006 to 2010 period, including 20% reduction in energy intensity per unit of GDP. To achieve this, we amended the Law on Energy Saving and the Law on Renewable Energy. We've also set up a strict evaluation system for energy efficiency.

--Our industries were required to achieve clean development. Projects with high emission can no longer go ahead and some existing high emitters are being phased out, which means job losses for many who need them. We have cut down average consumption of coal per unit of power by 20%, by demolishing the high-polluting and inefficient power plants. But it led to the loss of 400,000 jobs.

--We have increased the share of cleaner alternative energy sources. Low-carbon and energy conservation have become new growth sectors in China. In the first 9 months of this year, clean energy contributed a third of China's newly added power capacity. China now ranks first in the world for solar heating and photovoltaic generation, as well as installed hydro power capacity. One in 10 families in China already use solar energy. Our medium-term target is, by 2020, the share of non-fossil energy in primary energy consumption will expand to 15%.

--China has planted 2.6 billion trees, more than any other country in the world. That is 2 trees per individual, an incredible number.

--The only means for China to achieve its voluntary reduction targets is through science and technology. This is why China is investing heavily in research and development. The country has become a giant laboratory for testing all kinds of clean energy technologies. In the latest stimulus package worth 400 billion euros, 15% was invested in addressing climate change.

At the UN climate change summit in September, President Hu Jintao stated that China would take even further steps to counter climate change. The Chinese government has announced its targets for 2020 based on 2005 levels. Theese include: bringing down CO2 per unit of GDP by 40-45%; increasing the ratio of non-fossil energy to 15%; expanding forest coverage by 40 million hectares, almost three times the size of Greece.

According to the International Energy Agency, if China fulfils its target for 2020, it will have reduced its emissions of CO2 by 1 billion tons.

I hope you will appreciate the demanding nature of this task. We have already closed down many of the old factories, and the easier part is done. Particularly, we are a developing countries where 135 million people are living off less than one dollar a day. For many Chinese, development is not about rethinking the modern wasteful way of life. Rather, it is a matter of "to be or not to be". We are still in the process to provide electricity to all villages. We have a long way to go to build up a basic medical care system for all citizens. We have to fulfill the task of Millennium Development Goals. We have to enable more people to get out of subsistence. We will try to do so in an environment-friendly way, and of course, at affordable costs.

Before I nag you to sleep, I draw your attention to a few numbers. An average Chinese person's CO₂ emission is 4.6 tons. A Briton emits 8.7 tons. An American 20 tons. Yet a French climate analyst is accusing China of emitting way too much, even if China undertakes to cut its carbon intensity by 40 to 45 percent by 2020. It's hard to understand what these people are asking for. A fat guy asks a starving man to go on diet?

 For Copenhagen to be successful, it would be no use for certain rich countries to find developing countries as scapegoats. All parties must move forward, in the direction set out by the UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol, the Bali Roadmap, and adhere to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities".

Thank you all.