Maintaining world security, promoting common development and consolidating good-neighborly friendship

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi talks about President Hu Jintao's attendance of the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit, the fourth BRICS summit and state visit to Cambodia

From March 25 to April 2, 2012, Chinese President Hu Jintao, at invitation, attended the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the fourth BRICS summit in New Delhi, India and paid a state visit to Cambodia. As the trip approached the end, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi introduced the main activities and outcomes of the trip to the accompanying journalists. He said that Hu's visit, as the first major diplomatic activity of the Chinese head of state this year, has drawn high attention. With rich activities and fruitful results, the visit met the desired objectives and achieved full success.

Gathering consensus and promoting international cooperation on nuclear security

Yang said that countries have made progress in nuclear security and widely increased awareness of the importance of nuclear security since the Washington nuclear security summit 2010. However, the nuclear security situation still remains severe, the risks of nuclear material loss and proliferation are on the rise and the threat of nuclear terrorism cannot be ignored. With the theme of strengthening the security of nuclear materials and facilities, the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit mainly discussed reinforcing the national measures and international cooperation on nuclear security. Hu delivered an important speech to the Summit, expounded relevant Chinese policy and raised four proposals: insist on the scientific and rational concept of nuclear security and build up confidence in nuclear energy development; strengthen nuclear security capacity building and take national responsibilities for nuclear security; deepen international cooperation, enhance the global nuclear security level and help developing countries improve nuclear security technologies; take holistic approaches to eradicate the root causes of nuclear proliferation and terrorism. He stressed that universal nuclear security can only be achieved when countries cooperate sincerely. China is willing to step up cooperation with other countries in the world to that end.

China not only indicated its clear position and positive attitude on promoting the international nuclear cooperation but also proposed specific measures and tangible actions to further advance such cooperation. Hu pointed out that China will implement relevant conventions, formulate and improve the related legal system, work hard to build its domestic nuclear security demonstration center into a regional center of technological exchanges, education and training, continue to donate to the nuclear security fund of the International Atomic Energy Agency, help countries in need to transform the highly enriched uranium research reactors and share the experience of maintaining nuclear security during major international events.

China's position and proposals received positive responses and were incorporated in the communiqué issued by the Summit. Participating parties and the international media spoke highly of China's unremitting efforts and outstanding achievements in the fields of nuclear energy and nuclear security and recognized China's important role of promoting international nuclear security cooperation. They said that Hu's speech was very constructive and of great significance to building the international cooperation system of nuclear security.

Making concerted efforts to strengthen cooperation of BRICS countries

Yang said that at present the international situation continues undergoing profound and complex changes, the global economic recovery is faced with uncertainties and emerging markets and developing countries, with rising status and role in international affairs, have become the major forces of tackling the financial crisis, boosting the global economic growth, improving the global economic governance and promoting the democratization of international relations. The theme of the fourth BRICS summit was BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Security and Prosperity. Participating leaders made in-depth discussions on the issues of global governance, sustainable development, BRICS cooperation and other major international and regional affairs.

Hu stressed during the joint media interview prior to the Summit that China always takes the cooperation with emerging markets and developing countries, including BRICS countries, as the priority of its diplomatic policy and firmly supports and takes an active part in BRICS cooperation in order to make greater contributions to the lofty undertaking of promoting peace and development of mankind. During the Summit, Hu made an important speech, reviewing the history of BRICS cooperation and putting forward four proposals: be committed to common development and promote common prosperity; be committed to consultation on an equal footing and deepen political trust; be committed to pragmatic cooperation and cement the basis for cooperation; be committed to international cooperation and promote the development of the whole world. He also elaborated China's stance and propositions on global governance, sustainable development, energy and food security as well as major international and regional hotspot issues, which received wide responses. Participating leaders reiterated support for the G20 to play an active role of strengthening coordination of international macroeconomic policies and boosting world economic recovery and growth. They appealed to reform the international currency and financial system, speed up the share reform of the IMF and increase the voice and representation of emerging markets and developing countries. They pledged to promote the implementation of the UN Millennium Development Goals, boost the Doha Round negotiations, maintain energy and food security and explore the establishment of a new development bank. They all expressed commitment to the international laws and multilateralism and to solving international disputes peacefully through diplomatic means.

After the Summit the Delhi Declaration and action plan were issued. The Summit sent out the positive signal of solidarity and win-win cooperation of BRICS countries. The Indian media made highly positive comments on China's major contributions to the success of the Summit and said that President Hu's participation in the Summit paved the way for the BRICS cooperation mechanism to play a bigger role.

Deepening cooperation and pushing foward relations with relevant countries

Yang noted that Hu met with some national leaders during the two summits. They exchanged views and reached important consensus on the bilateral relations and major international and regional issues.

When meeting with US President Obama, Hu stressed that China and the US should stick to the general direction of building partnership, make unremitting efforts to promote the development of the partnership, expand the mutually beneficial pragmatic cooperation in an all-round manner, maintain healthy interactions in Asia Pacific and continue to inject vigor into the China-US partnership. Obama noted that the US attaches great importance to maintaining sound relations with China and expects to strengthen dialogue, coordination and cooperation with China to advance the win-win partnership.

During his meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Hu proposed that the two countries maintain close high-level exchanges, increase mutual political support, push forward cooperation in key areas, hold the tourism year activities successfully and step up coordination in international affairs. Medvedev indicated expectation to make concerted efforts with China to lift the Russia-China all-round strategic partnership to a new level.

Hu also met with the ROK President Lee Myung-bak, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, South African President Jacob Zuma and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. They all agreed to strengthen exchanges, deepen mutual trust and expand cooperation. The heads of state of China and the ROK said that they would take the opportunity of the 20th anniversary of China-ROK diplomatic relations and the year of China-ROK friendly exchanges to push forward the bilateral relations. The Chinese and Indian leaders announced 2012 to be the year of China-India friendly cooperation. Leaders of China and South Africa said that they would join hands to push forward the friendly and cooperative China-South Africa and China-Africa relations. Hu and the Brazilian head of state agreed to deepen China-Brazil strategic partnership and strengthen strategic cooperation in multilateral areas.

Hu also exchanged in-depth opinions with relevant national leaders on the Korean Peninsula situation, Syria, Iran and other major international and regional issues of common concern.

Consolidating friendship and enhancing China-Cambodia all-round strategic partnership

Yang said that China and Cambodia are traditionally friendly neighbors and all-round strategic partners. Holding the presidency of ASEAN this year, Cambodia has played an important role of promoting the China-ASEAN relations and East Asian cooperation. Carrying forward friendship, deepening cooperation and seeking common development are the aspiration of both the Chinese and Cambodian people and will help advance regional peace and development. As the first visit of a Chinese head of state to Cambodia over the past 12 years, Hu's state visit has great significance to promoting the development of China-Cambodia relations and was warmly received by the Cambodian royal family, government and people.

Hu met with King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen respectively. The two sides reviewed the bilateral friendship and discussed cooperation and common development. Hu pointed out that the China-Cambodian friendship jointly built and carefully nurtured by leaders of both countries has withstood the testing of the times and the fluctuating international situation and never fades. China cherishes the traditional friendly relations with Cambodia and is committed to strengthening the all-round bilateral cooperation from a strategic height. He suggested the two sides to keep close contacts and step up strategic communications; expand practical cooperation for win-win results; strengthen cooperation on law enforcement and safeguard common interests; enhance collaboration and increase mutual support in multilateral areas.

The Cambodian leaders highly praised the good-neighborly friendship between the two countries. They said that the Cambodian people expect to carry forward the traditional friendship and be good neighbors, good friends and good partners of China forever. Hu's visit has landmark significance and will effectively boost the development of Cambodia-China all-round strategic partnership. The two countries released a joint statement making 2013 the year of China-Cambodia friendship in order to comprehensively push forward the cultural and youth exchanges, expand cooperation on business, agriculture and infrastructure construction, double the bilateral trade volume by 2017 to US$5 billion, strengthen cooperation in regional affairs and promote the healthy and stable development of China-ASEAN relations and East Asian cooperation.

Yang noted that Angkor is one of the world's Seven Wonders. The Chinese government has been actively involved in the protection project of the Angkor monuments. Hu paid a field inspection to the renovation site, visited the Chinese technical staffs and encouraged them to make greater contributions to protecting the common cultural heritage of mankind and carrying forward the China-Cambodia traditional friendship.

Yang said lastly that Hu's visit has promoted the international cooperation on nuclear security, deepened the BRICS solidarity and collaboration, consolidated China's good-neighborly friendship with relevant countries, strengthened communication and coordination on major international and regional issues and demonstrated China's image as a responsible country. It has exerted great significance and far-reaching influence. China will unswervingly follow the road of peaceful development, pursue the win-win strategy of opening up and remain committed to joining hands with the international community to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.