Dear Brigadier General T.Moyo, Commandant of Zimbabwe Staff College,

Dear officers present here from the Joint Command and Staff Course No. ___,

Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades and Friends,

I am honored to be invited here to give a brief introduction on China’s foreign and defense policy. My presentation will be divided into four parts: 1. General introduction of China’s foreign policy; 2. China’s African policy; 3.China’s position on hotspot issues; 4. China’s defense policy. Since my presentation can’t cover all aspects you are concerned about, I would be delighted to answer your questions afterwards.

I. The first part I would like to talk is China’s foreign policy.

China will always stand for peace, development and cooperation, pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, and stick to its diplomatic vision of upholding world peace and promoting common development.

-- We are committed to following the path of peaceful development. The Chinese people love peace. Our endeavor to rejuvenate the Chinese nation is not a threat to the world. Rather, it represents an opportunity and our contribution to the world. We maintain that all countries, big and small, strong and weak, rich and poor, are equal. We respect the right of people of all countries to independently choose their own development path. We seek peaceful settlement of international disputes and hotspot issues and greater international and regional security cooperation. China's development is peaceful in nature, and it will not harm or threaten anyone. China does not seek hegemony now, nor will it do so in the future.

-- We are committed to pursuing a win-win strategy of opening-up. China will continue to push forward regional and global development through its own development. We will work to broaden converging interests with other countries and, while pursuing our own development, we will accommodate the legitimate concerns of others, especially those of developing countries. We will continue to engage in international economic cooperation and trade in accordance with the international trading rules. We support the international community in channeling more assistance to developing countries and helping them improve people's well-being and enhance capacity for self-development. We support efforts to improve the international trade and financial systems and resolve frictions and differences through consultation and collaboration. China will never seek to advance its interests at the expense of others.

-- We are committed to building a harmonious world. Enduring peace and common prosperity are the defining features of a harmonious world. To build such a world, all countries should uphold the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, abide by international law and universally recognized norms governing international relations, and embrace a spirit of democracy, harmony, collaboration and win-win progress in international relations. Politically, we should respect each other and conduct consultations on an equal footing. Economically, we should cooperate with each other and draw on each other's strengths. Culturally, we should learn from each other and seek common ground while shelving differences. On the security front, we should trust each other and bolster cooperation. And on the environmental front, we should help each other and make joint endeavors to protect the planet Earth, our common home.

--We have taken an active part in the international efforts to address global issues. China has been actively involved in the international cooperation on tackling the financial crisis. We call on all countries to intensify coordination on macroeconomic policies, advance the reform of the international financial system, and pay greater attention to the issue of development and scale up input in development. China attaches great importance to and has actively participated in the international cooperation on addressing climate change. We believe that the international community should uphold the basic framework of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol, adhere to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities", and jointly tackle climate change in the broader context of sustainable development. China has played an active role in the international food cooperation and provided assistance to other countries to the best of its ability. China holds that the international community should foster and follow a new concept of energy security featuring diversified forms of development and common energy security through coordination, and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in energy development and utilization. China supports the World Health Organization (WHO) in promoting global public health programs, and will continue to work with the WHO and its member states to enhance cooperation in this regard. China actively supports international arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation. We have always stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons and firmly opposed the proliferation of WMD and their means of delivery. We are ready to work with other countries for the early realization of a nuclear-weapon-free world.

-- We have worked vigorously for the proper settlement of hotspot issues. China is committed to upholding the international nonproliferation regime, and safeguarding peace and development on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. We maintain that the Iranian nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully through diplomatic negotiations and that efforts should be made to pursue a long-term solution to the issue. China supports parallel progress in both the political process of the Darfur issue and the deployment of the peacekeeping operation. We urge the various factions in Darfur to come to the negotiating table and conclude a peace agreement at an early date. We strongly support and actively participate in all international efforts that are conducive to peace in the Middle East. We hope that the parties concerned will seize the opportunity and take concrete steps to move the situation in that part of the world toward relaxation and stability.

II.Now, let’s move on to China’s African Policy.

In the 1950s and 1960s, people of China and Africa fought shoulder-to-shoulder against the colonial rule in order to achieve national liberation on the African continent. This was followed by our cooperation in various forms on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. Now in this new century, we are working together to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and bring about development and rejuvenation of China and Africa. China-Africa friendship has travelled a glorious path in the past half century and more. Similar historical experiences and shared goals have tied our destinies together and enabled our relationship to withstand the test of time and changes in the international situation. Chinese people have always cherished the traditional friendship with Africa and we will continue to do so in the future. We will always view African people as our all-weather friends whom we can fully trust and count on. We will forever remain good brothers and good partners of the African people.

At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2006, leaders of China and African countries agreed to develop a new type of strategic partnership featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchanges. It marked a new page in the annals of China-Africa relations. In the past two years and more, thanks to our joint efforts, China and Africa have further increased political exchanges and enhanced strategic mutual trust. We have given each other understanding and support on major issues of our respective concern. Our cooperation in the economic, trade and other fields continues to deepen. A large number of important cooperation projects have been launched or completed. For the very first time, our two-way trade exceeded 100 billion US dollars last year. Our cultural and people-to-people exchanges are flourishing, as we have increasingly frequent cultural, educational, youth, tourist and non-governmental interactions.

Also at the Beijing Summit, Chinese Government announced eight policy measures to strengthen practical cooperation with Africa and support African countries’ development. It is heartening to see that the implementation of these measures is well under way. China has substantially increased its assistance to Africa, exempted tariffs on some African exports to China and basically completed the debt cancellation plan. The China-Africa Development Fund is up and running. China has begun the construction of the conference center for the African Union (AU), and has made good progress in building hospitals, malaria prevention and treatment centers, agricultural technology demonstration centers and rural schools in Africa. Youth volunteers and senior agricultural experts from China have arrived and started their work in Africa. Progress in all these areas has brought tangible benefits to the people of Africa and offered an even brighter prospect for China-Africa cooperation.

Both China and African countries belong to the developing world. We see each other as important strategic partners. China fully appreciates the wishes and aspirations of African countries and supports Africa’s efforts to secure peace and stability and meet the MDGs at an early date. During times of adversity, it is all the more important for China and Africa to support each other, work in concert and tide over the difficulties together. We need work together and focus our efforts on the following key areas:

First, strengthen solidarity and mutual assistance to jointly meet the challenge of the international financial crisis. Second, enhance mutual trust and cement the political foundation for traditional friendship. Third, raise the level of practical economic cooperation and trade on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit. Fourth, expand people-to-people exchanges and deepen cultural cooperation. Fifth, work closely together and strengthen coordination in international affairs. Sixth, enhance coordination and jointly promote the further development of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

III. China’s position on hotspot issues

China has actively participated in the settlement of global issues and has played a constructive role in the international affairs. Today I’m very glad to introduce China’s position on some hotspot issues to you.

(1) Reform of the UN Security Council

China firmly supports necessary and reasonable reform of the Security Council．One of the core objectives of Security Council reform is to increase the representation of the Council, thus making its composition reflects the tremendous changes that have taken place in the number and structure of UN membership．The reform should give top priority to increasing the representation of developing countries, those in Africa in particular. It must reflect the trend of democratization in international relations, and give medium-sized and small countries greater access to the decision making process of the Security Council．

The five clusters of issues involving Security Council reform are inter-related, and therefore should not be addressed in a "step-by-step" or "piecemeal" approach. Only an integrated approach and a package solution can accommodate the interests and concerns of Member States on different issues.

Security Council reform is a complicated and delicate engineering project, involving the interests of 192 Member States. To achieve the objectives of the reform, there should not only be the resolve to strive for progress, but also a flexible and pragmatic approach that accommodates the interests of all parties and stresses democratic consultation. Only in this way can a solution be found that bridges the differences of all parties, and serves the common and long-term interests of all Member States. And only in this way can the outcome of the reform be sustainable and full of vigor and vitality.

(2) Climate change

China has always taken the issue of climate change very seriously and has unswervingly followed the path of sustainable development. Based on its national conditions and reality, China has introduced the National Climate Change Program. We have actively implemented policy measures to restructure the economy, upgrade industries, improve the energy mix, save energy and raise energy efficiency, and increased input in climate-related scientific and technological research and development. We have worked hard to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, increase forest carbon sink and strengthen adaptation capacities. Our measures have produced positive results.

China believes the Copenhagen Conference, held in December of last year is an important opportunity for international cooperation on tackling climate change. Premier Wen Jiabao attended the high-level session of the conference. This fully shows that the Chinese government has a strong sense of responsibility to the Chinese people, people of the world and the future of mankind. During the conference, China, in the spirit of mutual respect, equal consultations, seeking common ground while reserving differences and pragmatic cooperation, has conducted close communication and coordination with all parties in an open, transparent and highly-efficient manner. China has played an important and constructive role in promoting the current results of the conference. It has shown the greatest sincerity and made the best efforts.

China firmly supports the Copenhagen Accord, issued at the Copenhagen conference. The document sticks to the dual-track system of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol, makes clearer the obligations of and actions to be taken by developed and developing countries respectively according to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" and reflects the consensus reached by the international community on such issues as long-term targets, fund, technology and transparency of actions. These are widely recognized and hard-won results achieved through joint efforts of all parties and deserve to be cherished.

China is willing to work with other countries to take the Copenhagen conference as a new beginning, fulfill commitments, strengthen cooperation, complete the "Bali Roadmap" negotiations at an early date, seek new progress for the international cooperation on climate change and make due contributions to human efforts of dealing with climate change.

(3) China-African cooperation

The policies of China to Africa are distorted by some Western media as “new colonialism”, “plunder in a Chinese way”. Actually, it will be proved by history or by today’s facts that it is absurd and futile to label China with colonialism.

600 years ago, the GDP of China at that time accounted for 50% - 70% of the world and China was the only super power. At that time, the giant Chinese fleet reached east Africa for four times. What they sent to Africa was trade, friendliness and kindness. They didn’t take any gun or cannon to Africa, nor did they have the slave trade. All these reflect the deep-rooted essence in our traditional culture.

Nowadays China’s import of Africa’s natural resources and mineral products is the normal trade in the world economic system in an era of globalization. The West should not politicize it. The contemporary world economy is interconnected and the Chinese economy is integrated with the world economy. China is now the main power driving the growth of the world economy, and the world needs China, the sustained stable and fast development of its economy, to overcome the economic crisis. To develop its economy, China has to conduct economic cooperation globally, including cooperation in the field of resources with Africa. China’s development and use of Africa’s resources contributes to the revival and development of the entire world economy which includes that of the West.

China’s economic relations with African countries have many aspects. Resources and minerals are a part, but not all of it. China has cooperated with African countries not only in natural resources, primary products and mineral resources, it has also cooperated with African countries in agriculture, medicine, education, infrastructure construction, human resources development, investment and trade.

China sees many opportunities in Africa, not only opportunities of resources, but also wide-ranging investment opportunities. Currently, China attaches great attention to Africa’s resources, but in the long run, it would attach more attention to expanding investment and seeking more investment opportunities in Africa. Africa is still economically backward and need to create environment and conditions for attracting investment, resource development and attracting investment in Africa should be combined. That is why China has been joining forces with African countries to establish a batch of industrial zones, economic cooperation zones and investment manufacturing zones, in the hope of using investment to upgrade Sino-African cooperation. For example, China is not only developing copper resources in Zambia, it has also established an economic cooperation zone. Up to now, about a dozen enterprises with a combined contractual value of more than USD 800 million have settled in the zone. Copper metallurgical and manufacturing factories have been set up in the cooperation zone.

In one word, today’s China-Africa cooperation is part of south-south cooperation as well as win-win cooperation. I believe that in the cooperation between China and Africa, we can see nothing of the so called “new colonialism”.