Q: How do you envision China's diplomatic work in the year 2000? Any major steps that China is going to take in the new year in its external relations?


A: In the coming year, China will continue to follow Mr. Deng Xiaoping's thinking on diplomacy by unswervingly pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace, firmly safeguarding state sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity, and steadfastly pressing ahead with the great cause of the reunification of the motherland. We are ready to increase, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, friendly relations and cooperation with countries in the world. In international affairs, we will continue to uphold justice, oppose hegemonism and power politics, maintain world peace and stability and promote common development of mankind.


We will effectively strengthen the solidarity and cooperation with developing nations and continue to consolidate the good-neighborly relations and friendship with surrounding countries. We will work hard to maintain the relatively stable framework of relations among major powers and to improve and develop our relations will Europe and other developed nations. An international and surrounding environment of long-term peace and stability will be secured for China's reform, opening up and modernization drive.


We will take an active part in multilateral diplomatic activities and by holding firm the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and universally recognized norms governing international relations, contribute our share, together with all peace-loving countries and people in the world, to the establishment of a fair and reasonable new international political and economic order and to building a peaceful, secure, prosperous, and stable new world.