Consolidating Good-neighborly Friendship Enhancing Mutual Trust and Promoting Pragmatic Cooperation
—— Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei talks about Vice President Xi Jinping’s visit to four Asian countries

From December 14 to 22, 2009, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, at invitation, paid an official visit to Japan, South Korea, Myanmar and Cambodia. On the way back to China, Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei who accompanied Xi during the tour introduced the main results of the visit to the accompanying journalists.

Xi paid the visit against the background that the People’s Republic of China celebrates its 60th anniversary, the international situation continues undergoing profound changes and China relations with the four countries generally maintain a sound momentum of development. It is a major action of China to further develop its friendly and cooperative relations with the four countries and strengthen its good-neighborly diplomacy. The four governments paid great attention to Xi’s visit and gave him high-level courteous, warmly and friendly receptions. During his visit, Xi held talks and meetings with the heads of state and government of the four countries; contacted extensively their political parties, parliaments, local communities and people from all walks of life; attended and delivered important speeches to the large welcome receptions hosted by the economic community, friendship organizations and overseas Chinese in Japan and South Korea respectively; participated in the launching ceremonies of the Chinese Culture Center in Tokyo and the Cambodian Confucius Institute; visited the energy-saving and environmentally friendly eco-industrial park and new and high-tech businesses of Kyushu, Japan and South Korean “green growth” exhibition hall. Helping consolidate the good-neighborly friendship, enhance mutual trust and promote pragmatic cooperation, the visit has achieved the desired objectives and made a full success.

I. Consolidate Good-Neighborly Friendship and Enhance Political Mutual Trust

Vice President Xi Jinping is the first Chinese national leader visiting Japan since the establishment of Hatoyama's Cabinet. Xi comprehensively elaborated China’s foreign policy under the new situation to the Japanese side and stressed that the Chinese government attaches great importance to China-Japan relationship and consistently pursues the policy of China-Japan friendship. The two sides should continue to promote the in-depth development of bilateral strategic reciprocal relations, seek peaceful coexistence, pass friendship from generation to generation, conduct mutually beneficial cooperation and achieve common development. He expounded to South Korean leaders China’s position of promoting China-South Korea relations and emphasized that the two countries should stand at a new historical starting point to push forward the bilateral strategic partnership. When meeting with leaders of Myanmar and Cambodia, he stressed that to develop the friendly and cooperative relations with Myanmar and Cambodia is an established policy of the Chinese government and this policy will remain unchanged no matter how the international situation fluctuates.

Leaders of the four countries all noted they attach great importance to the relationship and value the traditional friendship with China and agreed with the proposition and proposals expressed by Xi on developing the bilateral ties. Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama reviewed with satisfaction his meetings with Chinese leaders since he became prime minister. He said that Japan-China relationship is critical to Japan and his country expects to make concerted efforts with China to constantly enrich the connotation of the strategic reciprocal relationship. Leaders of Japanese parliament and political parties all expressed willingness to promote the bilateral relations. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak especially arranged a meeting with Xi on the morning before he left for Copenhagen to attend the conference on climate change. The two leaders exchanged straight and in-depth opinions on China-South Korea relations and climate change which is an issue of common concern. The South Korean side spoke highly of the rapid development of bilateral ties since the establishment of diplomatic relationship between the two countries and stressed that both sides should further reinforce the high-level contacts and mutually beneficial cooperation. Myanmar's State Peace and Development Council Vice-Chairman Maung Aye told Xi that two countries should take the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic relationship next year to step up their high-level exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation, increase Paukphaw friendship and pass the bilateral friendship from generation to generation. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdach Hun Sen said that Cambodia and China should deepen cooperation in the fields of politics, economy and trade, culture, tourism and security, enhance the exchanges between political parties, parliaments, non-governmental organizations, provinces and municipalities and youth of both countries and lift the bilateral relations to new levels.

II. Tap Cooperation Potential and Achieve Mutual Benefit and Win-win Outcomes

It is the theme running throughout Xi’s visit to boost China’s pragmatic cooperation with the four countries and intensify exchanges in the fields of low carbon and green economy, new and high-tech and circular economy. Although the schedule was very tight, Xi traveled a long-distance to visit Kitakyushu city of Japan which is well-known for turning from an “environmental pollution” negative model to a “model city” of environmental protection and braved cold weather to visit the South Korean “green growth” exhibition hall. He raised targeted proposition and proposals to the leaders and businessmen of the four countries on enhancing bilateral trade, expanding cooperation and seeking mutual benefit and win-win outcomes in the post-financial crisis era which were widely recognized and responded to.

In Japan, Xi pointed out that China and Japan should continue with their cooperation on fighting the international financial crisis, deepen collaboration in the areas of new energy, new materials, information and communication and lift the level of bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Japan has accumulated rich experiences of environmental and ecological protection and development of new and high-tech, while China is committed to building a resource-saving and environmentally friendly society with sustainable development. The two countries enjoy great potential and promising prospects of cooperation in this regard. In South Korea, Xi proposed to the local business community four directions for the bilateral joint efforts: stabilizing bilateral trade and promoting mutual investment; making use of complementary advantages and achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes; expanding cooperation and strengthening international cooperation; advancing cooperation on low carbon economy and tapping cooperation potential in the fields of new and high-tech, energy conservation, environmental protection and development of circular economy. In Myanmar and Cambodia, Xi explained views on how to step up the cooperation with the two countries in various fields in the new ear and said that the Chinese side encourages domestic businesses to invest in the two countries and will continue to provide Myanmar and Cambodia with help and support in its power.

Leaders and businessmen of the four countries agreed that China’s rapid development creates opportunities and impetus for their economic recovery and they hope to work with China to grasp the initiative of development in the post-financial crisis age. The Japanese economic community indicated that China is changing from a “world factory” to a “world market” and Japan sincerely hopes the Chinese economy maintains a sound momentum of development since its economic recovery needs China. The South Korean economic community noted that the two sides have established the mutually beneficial and win-win relations and South Korea is willing to deepen cooperation with China which has become a huge emerging market of South Korea. Leaders of Myanmar and Cambodia extended heartfelt thanks to the Chinese government for its sincere assistance to their economic construction and expressed hope to further increase the mutually beneficial cooperation with China.

III. Elaborate Domestic and Foreign Policy and Demonstrate China’s Image as a Responsible Country

Xi’s talks with leaders of the four countries covered both focused and wide-ranging topics. He introduced realistically the huge achievements of New China since its establishment 60 years ago and the difficulties of economic and social development China faces. He stressed that China will follow the guidance of scientific concept of development and strive for sustainable growth. He vividly described China’s measures of coping with the international financial crisis and the effect achieved up to date and emphasized that China is willing to join the international community to tide over the difficulties. He expounded China’s foreign policy of being a good neighbor and a good partner of surrounding countries and noted that China pursues the road of peaceful development and its development brings opportunities instead of threats to other countries. He also indicated that China will continue with its efforts of building a harmonious society internally and be committed to building a harmonious Asia and world at large externally.

Xi’s visit coincided with the Copenhagen conference. Based on China’s national conditions, he listed specific numbers to elaborate the four major measures announced by President Hu Jintao at the UN climate change summit and the targets of greenhouse gas emission control established by the Chinese government thereafter, stressing that it is a great contribution of the Chinese government to the international efforts of handling climate change. Leaders of the four countries all made highly positive remarks on the measures taken and targets set by the Chinese government. The Japanese and South Korean leaders expressed willingness of strengthening cooperation with China on energy efficiency and environmental protection, green and low carbon economy and related technologies.

IV. Promote Cultural Exchanges and Tamp the Foundation of Friendship

To boost the exchanges and mutual learning among different cultures is a major feature of Xi’s visit. The first activity during his tour was attending the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese Culture Center in Tokyo, kicking off his visit with a cultural exchange event. Prior to concluding the visit, he participated in the launching ceremony of the first Confucius Institute in Cambodia. It can be said that his visit both started and ended with cultural exchange events. Highlighting the importance of cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries, he also visited the historical sites reflecting the long and glorious history and culture of the four countries. He also promoted widely Shanghai World Expo to the four countries during the visit and pointed out that China is willing to take the opportunity of the Expo to reinforce cultural exchanges and deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the people. Echoing warmly, the four countries all agreed to support China in hosting a remarkable and memorable World Expo. When meeting with national leaders of the four countries, Xi talked about the importance of cultural exchanges and proposed new suggestions on boosting the non-governmental, youth, cultural and media exchanges.

As the interview approached the end, Wu said that the features of Vice President Xi’s four-Asian-country tour might be summarized as tight schedule, rich content, fruitful results and far-reaching influence.