United Press International,
BEIJING: Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao outlined specific reasons why his country's growing strength does not represent a threat to other nations at a press conference Tuesday.
The premier's remarks, made after the final session of the National People's Congress, is part of the Chinese government's attempt to downplay mounting concerns expressed in Washington and other capitals that China's rise is coming at their expense.
This is a key time for Beijing to get its point across, with President Hu Jintao scheduled to make his first state visit to the United States in mid-April where he is sure to encounter complaints about widespread intellectual property violations, an undervalued currency and China's expanding thirst for oil — all of which fuel anti-China sentiment in Congress.
There are also security concerns over Chinese policy towards Taiwan, Japan, its resistance to U.N. involvement in the Sudan, as well as efforts on the North Korea and Iranian nuclear crises.
Government-run China Radio International was given the opportunity to ask Wen about efforts to convince the global community that its development was not a threat, and what role China played as a responsible participant in the international system.
“China's commitment to peaceful development is determined by its traditional cultural heritage, development needs and national interest. China is already a responsible big country,” Wen began. He then listed ten items to prove his point.
“First, through China's reform and development, we have successfully resolved the problem of feeding 1.3 billion people in the world and successfully lifted over 200 million people out of poverty,” the premier said.
Wen stated China's development and stability “in itself constitutes its biggest contribution to peace and prosperity in the world.”
His second point was “through its own development and practice, we have successfully explored a role toward scientific development… we will focus on the conservation of resources and the protection of the natural environment.
“In this sense, China's development will have no adverse impact on the world,” Wen claimed.
Wen said China “pursues an independent foreign policy of peace,” adding that “ideology is not used as a criterion to define friends or foes. We will not enter into an alliance with any country or regional blocs.”
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