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An Annual Policy Presentation At The Jordan Royal National Defense College By Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong
2012-03-14 18:25

 

The Honorable Brigadier General Taha Mufady Al-Mawajdeh,
Classmates and officers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
       Saleem Alaikom.
       First of all, I would like to thank you, Brigadier General Al-Mawajdeh, for kindly inviting me to visit your wonderful college and attend this excellent class with so many most talented officers and friends around. The Royal National Defense College has earned by your long-time efforts a well-established reputation as the cradle of modern senior defense strategy officials for Jordan Armed Forces and brother countries. I am proud and honored to extend greetings here to the whole faculty and all the friends present, with best wishes for the development of your college, for the continuous strengthening of friendly exchanges and cooperation between your college and your Chinese partner, the PLA National Defense University, and for the further expansion of bilateral military ties between China and Jordan.
 
       I would take this opportunity to share with you my views regarding Sino-Jordanian relationship, China's domestic and foreign policies.
      The Sino-Jordan friendly relationship is strong and promising. Over the past 35 years since the establishment of our diplomatic relations on 7th April, 1977, owing to the great and wise guidance by leaders of both sides, a solid foundation has been laid for our relations and an ever growing momentum maintained. Dialogues between our top leaders and multi-level exchanges are well kept, close communication and coordination on the international and regional arena strengthened. The mutual political trust has hence been enhanced and cooperation in many fields bore encouraging fruits. With joint efforts, our bilateral trade has increased by seven times during 2001-2010. In 2011, Sino-Jordanian trade reached $2.78 billion in total, with a rise of 35.2% comparing to that of 2010. China has become the second largest trading partner and import source of Jordan after Saudi Arabia. Business communities of the two countries have been actively promoting two-way investment and cooperation. The large-scale Chinese exhibition is held in Amman every year with big success. China has also been providing more training programs than ever to empower Jordanian talents. Based on South-to-South cooperation as developing countries, the Chinese government has been increasing assistance to Jordan with projects such as hospital, water supply system, low-income family housing and sports stadium. They are all widely welcomed and appreciated by local people.
       Our cooperation in cultural, educational and many other fields has been expanded dynamically. As requested by Jordanian side, China in cooperating with Jordanian institutes and universities has increased support for Chinese language teaching in Jordan through establishment of Confucius Centers and sending to Jordan our best Chinese language professors. We have offered more than ever opportunities for Jordanian young people to study in China, a growing number of Chinese students also come here to learn splendid Arab culture and language. Sino-Jordanian cultural exchanges have been enhanced smoothly. And above all our bilateral exchanges and cooperation in military field has witnessed rapid expansion with a jump of exchanging visits, training programs and cooperation. It is our belief that assistance and help between our two sides, both as developing countries, is always mutual. We would feel happy to see that our assistance and support, never with any preconditions attached, to Jordan helped Jordan's development and improved people's livelihood. By so doing we are holding our hands together to learn from each other in a bid to achieve common progress. We highly appreciate government and people of Jordan and Arab countries as a whole for unwaveringly supporting us in questions regarding China's core national interests such as that of Taiwan or those regarding our local autonomous regions of Tibet and Xinjiang. At the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Jordan, I am fully confident that by working together, Sino-Jordanian friendship will see further growth, our all-round mutual beneficial cooperation greater expansion. There may be differences here or there between China and Jordan as a result of our different culture, history, political system, geography or population. Yet why could our friendship, cooperation and Sino-Arab relationship have been able to keep growing? The reason is simple: we always treat each other on the basis of equality, mutual respect for sovereignty, non-interference into each other's internal affairs and firmly abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and basic norms of international law in dealing with common challenges we meet. All these strengthen our friendship and enhance our mutual trust.
 
       Ladies and Gentlemen
       Let me here give some words for China's domestic and foreign policies. Over the past 30 and more years of reform and opening-up, the most significant achievement for China is the successful obtaining of the fast stable economic development and social advancement. Our people feel happy. They support our central government's policy and national development path. The size of China's economy in 2010 was 16 times that of 1978, and the share of China's economy in the world's total increased from 1.8% to 9.3% over the same period, thus emerging as the world's second largest economy. In 2011, China's GDP reached RMB47.2 trillion, or $7 trillion, up by 9.2% annually. From 2001 when China joined the WTO to 2010, China imported an average of $750 billion worth of goods per year, creating a great many jobs and investment opportunities for its trading partners. During the same period, foreign-invested companies in China sent out $261.7 billion in profits, with an average annual growth of 30%. The Arab states are now China's seventh largest trading partner. In the recent ten years, our bilateral trade has grown at over 30% per annum. In 2011, Sino-Arab trade kept its growth momentum and the trade volume reached $91.56 billion during the first six months. Meanwhile, China's direct outbound investment grew by over 40% every year, reaching $68.8 billion and ranking fifth in the world in 2010. In 2011, China's export grew by 20.3% and import by 24.9%. It utilized $116 billion of foreign direct investment. Even the disturbance in Arab countries since 2010 didn't quite hinder China's enthusiasm to invest in the region, and the accumulated China's investment here reached $15 billion by 2011. Chinese companies have completed contracting projects of $100 billion in Arab world, which has become one of China's fastest increasing contracting projects regions. Among 26 plans in overseas exhibitions to be held by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade in 2012, 11 will be held in Arab countries. All these speak for themselves loud and clear that China cares for the stability and development of the region, and our cooperation is a very potential one with a bright future in store.
       China has indeed made remarkable achievements over the past 30 years. However, as the largest developing country in the world, China still faces daunting and complex challenges. For example, with a population of 1.3 billion, China's per capita GDP reached only $4400 in 2010, ranking as low as around the 100th place in the world. There are still 150 million Chinese peoples living under the poverty line in accordance with the UN living standard of $1.25 every person per day. Unbalanced development still exists between the urban and rural areas and among different regions, economic growth is increasingly constrained by resource shortage and environmental problems, and the structural hindrance remains acute. The urgent need are called for to constantly enhance capacity for independent innovation, improve the living standard of Chinese people and social security system, and promote social harmony and progress. All those require Chinese people's constant struggle and long-time efforts.
       Looking ahead, we are filled with confidence. We will firmly continue with China's independent development path and ready to expand cooperation with friends and partners around the world and learn from best of their experience for development and social progress. This year is the first year in our full implementation of China's 12th Five-Year Plan. Last week Premier Wen Jiabao has outlined our development task in his Report on the Work of the Government. According to Premier, China's economy is to enjoy further growth in 2012 by around 7.5%, create at least nine million new jobs, push further the economic restructuring, stimulate domestic demand, foster innovation capability, improve energy saving and environmental quality and increase input in service and social programs. These major targets certainly will provide many new opportunities for Sino-Arab cooperation.
 
       Ladies and Gentlemen,
       The world today is undergoing dizzyingly huge changes. Looking it as a whole, peace and development still represent the main trend of the time. As multi-polarization keeps evolving, economic globalization and information society is gathering momentum with interdependence among countries deepening. However, various threats for world peace and security still exist and sometimes are really getting big and serious. Since the financial crisis in 2008, world economic recovery is beset by rising instability and uncertainty, and regional hotspots keep flaring up. Only by working together among all nations to actively seize opportunities to overcome challenges, can we create better environment for lasting peace and common prosperity.
       China's standing in our foreign policy is consistent and steady. We have been firmly engaged in pursing noble cause of world peace, economic development, social progress and mutual beneficial cooperation. China is determined to follow what we call the Path of Peace Development and uphold a cooperative spirit in maintaining peace, promoting development or settling disputes. We attaches great importance in promoting friendly relations and expanding cooperation with all other nations on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference into each other's countries' internal affairs, equality, and mutual benefit as well as peaceful co-existence to meet various challenges through coordination and cooperation. We would hold it very dearly to enhance unity, friendship and coordination with developing countries. Together we would strive for the UN Millennium Development Goals and uphold our legitimate rights and common interests. It should be pointed out that developing countries as a most important emerging force in international system are still in a relative weaker position by and large in the current global governess structure. They are most keen on getting opportunities of independent development, mutual assistance with international community and establishment of a fair, equitable international order. They are also constantly trying hard preventing foreign interference against their own will. As a member of the developing countries, we fully understand the situation and always try our best to support efforts of developing countries for unity and cooperation. All that serves as an essential part of China's Peaceful Development Path, and is the real manifestation of China's pursuit for an independent foreign policy of peace with mutual benefit. China is ready to join with peoples across the world to make real efforts in building a harmonious world of long-lasting peace and common prosperity. A prosperous, strong and stable China will never be a threat to anyone but will add as a positive force to the world peace and development.
 
       Ladies and Gentlemen,
       China has territory of 9.6 million square kilometers with a land boundary extending for 22,800 km and a coastline much longer. China in fact has the longest land borders and is adjacent to neighboring countries more than any other in the world. As you can well see what a heavy demand China faces in safeguarding our national security. Indeed we in China have always pursued a national defense policy defensive in nature. The armed forces of China are fully committed to resisting foreign aggression, defending the motherland, and safeguarding social stability and achievements of our people obtained in their hard-working efforts in peace. We must build a strong national defense. 
      The goals and tasks of China's national defense are defined as follows:
      ●Safeguarding national sovereignty, security and interests of national development. As the pillar for national security and stability, China's national defense is tasked to guard against and resist foreign aggression, opposed to and contain separatist forces for "Taiwan independence", stop separatist forces for "East Turkistan independence" and "Tibet independence", and defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. National defense is part and parcel of the country's development and security strategies. All efforts will be tapped to seize current strategic opportunity for our national development.
       ●Maintaining social harmony and stability. The Chinese armed forces serve the people wholeheartedly and actively participate in and support national economic and social development. They readily stand by and organize for non-warfare military operations (MOOTW), and enhance capabilities in counter-terrorism and stability maintenance, emergency rescue and the protection of security. They resolutely undertake to emergency rescue and disaster relief, thereby securing lives and property of the people. The Chinese armed forces resolutely subdue any subversive and sabotage activity by hostile forces or other violent and terrorist activity, and maintain national security and social stability.
      ●Accelerating modernization of national defense and the armed forces. Bearing in mind the primary goal of accomplishing mechanization and attaining major progress in information technology by 2020, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) would make extensive use of information technology, and step up the composite and integrated development of mechanization and digitization. Reform and endeavors will be vigorously pursued in promoting the scientific development of the national defense and armed forces.
      ●Greater participation in maintaining world peace and stability. China consistently advocates the new security concepts of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination, conducts military exchanges with other countries, develops cooperative military relations that are non-aligned, non-confrontational and not directed against any third party, and promotes the establishment of just and effective collective security mechanisms and military confidence-building mechanisms. China adheres to the concepts of openness, pragmatism and cooperation, expands its participation in international security cooperation, enhances military exchanges and cooperation with developing countries, and takes part in UN peace-keeping operations, maritime escort, international counter-terrorism cooperation, and disaster relief operations. In line with the principles of being just, reasonable, comprehensive and balanced, China stands for effective disarmament and arms control, and endeavors to maintain global strategic stability.
       Strengthening national defense is the essence for maintaining our national security and development and promoting reunification across the Taiwan Straits. China will never seek hegemony, nor will it pursue any external military expansion. The share of China's annual defense expenditure in its GDP has remained 1.4 percent growth in recent years. And in contrast, the annual defense expenditure of world's major powers has all amounted to 2-4 percent of their GDP. China has fulfilled all its international obligations and made positive contributions to world peace and stability. At present, the PLA has 1,955 men and women in uniform serving in nine UN missions. China has dispatched more peacekeeping personnel than any other permanent member of the UN Security Council. Our navy has dispatched 25 ship deployments in 10 sorties to conduct escort operations in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia, and provided protection for more than 4,500 ships sailing under Chinese or foreign flags. Since 2002, the PLA has carried out 28 urgent international humanitarian aid missions, and provided 22 disaster-stricken countries with relief materials, with the total value exceeding RMB1 billion. China is playing an important and constructive role in safeguarding world peace and stability.
 
       Ladies and Gentlemen,
       Friendly relationship between China and Arab states has a long, long history. A deep friendship is forged among our peoples. Centuries ago our forefathers founded the Silk Road and were courageously engaged ever since in trade and cultural exchanges with western Asia leaving to us many touching, legendary stories. In modern times, China and Arab states have always shown mutual understanding, mutual respect, mutual support and mutual help not only in our struggle for independence and national dignity but also in out long endeavor for a fair and equitable new international political and economic order. We have become trustworthy friends, partners and brothers.
       The western Asia and northern Africa region today is undergoing important transformation with deep historic significance, bringing major challenges and impact as well as new opportunities to all the countries. As real friends of the Arab people as well as the Syrian people, we in China earnestly hope that all regional countries would overcome current challenges through united efforts to enable Arab countries and people realize their aspiration for better development and social progress. Recently a leading official of Chinese foreign ministry made a 6-point statement of China's position for the political solution of the Syrian crisis. The core of the statement lies on urging all parties to enhance cooperation, immediately stop violence, achieve political settlement and provide necessary humanitarian assistance while giving full respect for sovereignty and safeguarding the basic norms governing international relations. China's position on Syrian issue is in conformity with our principle in handling with all other international and regional issues. We sincerely hope that with joint efforts by relevant parties, Arab people could overcome challenges and hardship at the moment to achieve regional peace and stability. Chinese government and people will always firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian and Arab people to restore their legitimate national rights. We are ready to further strengthen Sino-Arab friendship and cooperation, make contributions to regional stability and prosperity, and actively hold hands with you to overcome current difficulties. It is our belief that the Arab people, through united efforts and constant struggle, will surely be able to run their own affairs well and achieve their dream for a stronger and more prosperous future.
      Thank you! Now I am ready for your questions.
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