中国新闻与报道. Carry Forward Traditional Friendship and Jointly Open up New Chapter of Cooperation

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1 China News and Report 中国新闻与报道 NO. 17 September 1, 2014 Carry Forward Traditional Friendship and Jointly Open up New Chapter of Cooperation Cooperation Between BRICS Countries Moves From Concept to Entity Japan Stole the Diaoyu Islands, and the Potsdam Proclamation Ordered It to Return to China Carry Forward Traditional Friendship and Jointly Open up New Chapter of Cooperation Speech at the National Congress of Brazil Xi Jinping, President of the People s Republic of China Brasilia, July 16, 2014 Boa tarde! Good afternoon! Today, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to gather together with our friends at the National Congress of Brazil. An old Chinese saying says, Though born a thousand miles apart, souls which are one shall meet. Chinese people believe that if there is a bond, you will come to meet even from thousands of miles away. Let me begin by extending, on behalf of the Chinese Government and Chinese people, and on behalf of myself, sincere greetings and best wishes to all the friends present, to the warm and friendly Brazilian people as well as people from Latin America and Caribbean nations. I just had a very good conversation with Brazilian Senate President Renan Calheiros and Chamber of Deputies President Henrique Eduardo Alves on China-Brazil relations and issues of common concern. Tomorrow, I will talk Published by the Editorial Board of Information Office of the State Council, People s Republic of China Printed by Foreign Languages Printing House, Beijing, China

2 with President Dilma Rousseff on the joint development of the two countries. I visited Brasilia five years ago. Upon returning to this modern city of novel design and profound meaning, it reminds me of the famous remarks of the city s founder, late Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveiras that Brasilia embodies the Brazilian national treasures of forging ahead, pioneering, self-confidence, innovation and courage. It was the spirit of this nation that has inspired the Brazilian people to unite together and work hard, helping the nation-building efforts and economic and social development make remarkable achievements. The Brazilian National Anthem goes, Giant by thine own nature, thou art beautiful, thou art strong, an impavid colossus, and thy future mirrors that greatness. Chinese people wish Brazil more beauty, strength and greatness. An ancient Chinese poem reads, A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near a fitting description of the China-Brazil relationship. Though China and Brazil are separated by oceans, even the vast Pacific Ocean couldn t stop the process of the friendly exchanges between the two peoples. Two hundred years ago, the first Chinese tea growers traveled across the distance to Brazil to grow tea and teach their skills. In the Vienna World Expo in 1873, tea grown in Brazil was widely praised. The Chinese and Brazilian peoples have forged a sincere friendship over the years, resembling the hard work of the Chinese tea growers in planting hope, harvesting pleasure and tasting friendship. Zhang Daqian (Chang Dai-chien, ), one of the masters of Chinese painting, lived in Brazil for 17 years. At Ba De (Eight Virtues) Garden where Zhang lived in Brazil, he painted masterpieces including The Great Yangtze River, View of Huangshan Mountain, etc. Since China and Brazil forged diplomatic ties on August 15, 1974, their relationship has ushered in a new epoch. Chinese philosopher Confucius said, One should have no more doubts when he is 40. We are happy to see that the bilateral ties have grown more solid and mature after 40 years. Brazil is the first developing country to establish strategic partnership and the first Latin American country to establish comprehensive strategic partnership with China. The two countries regard each other as an important cooperative partner, and can be considered as a model of South- South cooperation. China has been the largest trading partner of Brazil for five consecutive years, while Brazil is China s largest trading partner in Latin America and an important investment destination. The pragmatic cooperation between the two countries has not only covered the traditional economic and trade fields but also expanded to a wide range of hi-tech areas such as resource satellites, regional aircraft, deepwater oil exploration and development, biotechnology and so on. Our two countries have maintained sound consultations and coordination within a variety of international and multilateral mechanism frameworks on major international affairs such as global governance, sustainable development, climate change and information security, having effectively safeguarded the common interests of developing countries and promoted the peace and development of the whole world. Both China and Brazil are influential major developing countries and promising emerging markets, and China- Brazil relations have become increasingly influential on the world. Both sides should take the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship as a new start to inherit the past, usher in the future and promote the China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level, wider range and larger stage with a longer-term perspective, broader mind and firmer confidence. First, we should stick to the direction of strategic coordination. In the past 40 years, no matter how the international landscape may have evolved, China and Brazil have always insisted on mutual respect and equal treatment. This is the key for the continuous development of the bilateral relationship. Considering safeguarding the fundamental interests of both China and Brazil, the two sides should continuously strengthen strategic mutual trust, understand and support each other on major issues concerning core interests such as sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, supporting each other firmly. I have said, only the people who wear the shoes know whether they are a fit or not. Brazil also has a similar proverb, showing that it is common sense to all. There is no miraculous cure guaranteed to treat all diseases, thus there is never a one-size-fits-all development path or an invariable development mode in the world. We should continue to support each other firmly to take a development path that conforms to its own national conditions. 2 September 1, 2014

3 The exchanges between the leadership of the two countries have played an irreplaceable role in promoting the development of bilateral relations. The two sides should maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, enhancing exchanges between governments, parties, legislatures and regional authorities, deepening strategic dialogue and communication, and carrying out active exchanges on state governance. The legislature plays an important role in a country s social and political life. The direct exchange between members of legislatures is an important part of bilateral relations. Not long ago, President Alves of the Chamber of Deputies told me during his China visit that enhancing friendly cooperation with China is a common consensus reached by all the political parties of Brazil. Likewise, the enthusiasm of various circles in China is also on the rise in strengthening cooperation with Brazil. I hope all Brazilian congress members play to your strengths, contributing each one s part to consolidate the friendship between China and Brazil as well as between Chinese people and Latin American people. Second, we should draw up an effective plan for common development. Both China and Brazil have a vast territory and a large population, and both are at a pivotal threshold in their development. They each face arduous development tasks and a complicated external economic environment. Both countries are exploiting growth momentum through reform, adjustment and innovation, by which their potential for development will be further released. The two sides should seize the opportunity to push practical cooperation to a deeper, broader and better development. Policy planning is the guidance of development. The two sides should give full play to the role of bilateral highlevel coordination and cooperation committee, strengthen coordination on macroeconomic policy, speed up the implementation of the China-Brazil 10-year Cooperation Plan, and expand convergence of the development strategy of both sides. The two sides should promote cooperation on scientific and technological innovation and the commercialization of research findings, and strengthen cooperation in hi-tech fields including information technology and biological technology to enhance the value of the bilateral cooperation. Bilateral trade volume between China and Brazil exceeded $90 billion in The two sides should continue to expand trade scale, increase the proportion of high valueadded products, and properly resolve trade frictions. The two sides should expand mutual investment, promote the role of financial industry as a main engine driving growth, and steadily push ahead strategic cooperation projects in line with the development needs of both sides so as to better benefit the two peoples. Third, we should shoulder international responsibilities. The current world is undergoing profound and complex changes; peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit have already become the trend of the era. World multi-polarization and economic globalization keep moving; cultural diversity and IT application in society continue advancing; new breakthroughs have been achieved in scientific and technological innovation; the overall strength of emerging economies and developing countries are growing increasingly; the global balance of power continues to grow in favor of the maintenance of world peace. In the meantime, the world today is far from peaceful. The international financial crisis continues to have a farreaching effect; world economic growth faces more unstable and uncertain factors; the imbalance of global economic development has been exacerbated; hegemonism, power politics as well as neo-interventionism are on the rise; regional turbulences happen occasionally; global issues such as food security, energy and resource security and cyber security have become more pronounced. Promoting the political multi-polarity of the world as well as the democratization of international relations, achieving a sustainable development of the world economy and maintaining the diversity of the world s civilizations have become major global issues. Fairness and justice are lofty goals that all peoples around the world pursue in the field of international relations. In today s international relations, fairness and justice are still far from being achieved. The designer of the Brazilian National Congress building, Mr. Oscar Niemeyer, said that if one day the world became more just, life would be much simpler. Mankind has only one earth to live on, and countries have only one world to share. History teaches us that the law of the jungle will not lead to peaceful coexistence in human society and that the arbitrary use of force cannot make the world a better place. All countries should September 1,

4 follow the principles of equality and mutual trust, inclusiveness and mutual learning as well as mutually beneficial cooperation, make joint efforts to uphold international fairness and justice, and promote the building of a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity. As major emerging developing countries in the east and west hemispheres respectively, China and Brazil, while realizing their own development, should actively fulfill their international responsibilities, maintain and promote international fairness and justice, and contribute our share to a more just and equitable international order. To safeguard and carry forward international fairness and justice, we must uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We should promote respecting each country s sovereignty and territorial integrity, respecting the diversity of civilizations and diversification of development path of all countries, respecting and safeguarding the rights of all peoples to independently choose their social systems and oppose all forms of hegemonism and power politics. We should advocate the idea of a community of common human destiny. A nation should address other countries rational concerns while protecting its own interests, and it should, while seeking for development for itself, promote common development of all the countries and promote the establishment of a new type of more equal and balanced global development partnership. We should advocate the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, respecting and guaranteeing the security of every country. We should strengthen international and regional cooperation, addressing jointly the increasingly growing non-traditional security threats. We should strengthen cooperation and coordination within international and multilateral mechanisms, such as the UN, WTO, G20 and BRICS, gather the strength of developing countries and actively participate in global governance, so as to win more institutional power and a louder voice for developing countries. To maintain and promote international fairness and justice, we must adhere to the principles of sovereignty equality. Sovereignty is the fundamental symbol of national independence, and it is also the fundamental reflection and reliable guarantee of national interests. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community and they are entitled to equal participation in international affairs. All countries should respect each other s core interests and major concerns. The internal affairs of a country should be managed by its own people, the destiny of the world must be determined by people of all countries, and world affairs should be managed through consultation by governments and peoples of all countries. In today s world, the development of the Internet raises new challenges to the national sovereignty, security and development interests of all countries, and should be handled seriously. Although the Internet is highly globalized, the information sovereignty of all countries should be respected. No matter how developed a country s Internet technology is, it must not violate the information sovereignty of others. There should be no double standard in the information sector and all countries have the right to safeguard their information security. It is unacceptable to have security just for one country or some countries while leaving the rest insecure, and still less should one be allowed to seek the socalled absolute security of itself at the expense of others security. The international community should build a multilateral, democratic and transparent international Internet governance system based on the principle of mutual respect and mutual trust, establish a peaceful, secure, cooperative and open cyberspace through active and effective international cooperation. Latin America and the Caribbean is a piece of colorful and hopeful land. Latin American liberator Simon Bolivar has said that it is the destiny of Latin American people to unite together but not someone s idea to be different. For a long time, the hardworking and talented people of Latin American and Caribbean countries have actively explored a development path suited to their own conditions. They have made great achievements in aspects of maintaining national stability, revitalizing the national economy, improving people s living standards and promoting regional integration and diplomatic diversification. They are playing an increasingly important role in the international arena. The Chinese people feel sincerely happy for this, and sincerely wish the people of Latin America and the Caribbean continue making new and greater achievements. Relations between China and Latin America enjoy a long history. Early in the second half of the 16th century, Chinese ships loaded with silk and porcelain set sail from 4 September 1, 2014

5 ports in southeast China s Fujian Province and Guangdong Province to Latin America, setting an important precedent for China-Latin America friendly exchanges. China-Latin America relations have witnessed a comprehensive and rapid development in the 21st century, and delivered tangible benefits to both peoples. Under the new situation, the people of both sides are looking forward to comprehensively promoting mutually beneficial cooperation. China is willing to work jointly with Brazil and other Latin American and Caribbean countries so as to make the two sides good friends who share the same ideal and good partners who make progress together. Tomorrow afternoon, I will attend the China-Latin American and Caribbean Summit. I hope to exchange views with Latin American leaders on experience in governing a state, China-Latin America relations as well as major international and regional issues of common concern, make important decisions on the construction of a forum between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States as well as the overall cooperation between the two sides, and promote the establishment of China- Latin America comprehensive cooperative partnership of equality, mutual benefit and common development, trying to make great advancements in China-Latin America relations. Presently, the Chinese people are striving for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. China is still the world s largest developing country, and development remains the key to solving all the problems in China. China has formulated its development goals in the next period. That is, China should double its 2010 GDP and per capita income for both urban and rural residents by 2020, complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects to benefit our over 1 billion people, and build a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious by the middle of the century. The Chinese nation has always been a peace-loving nation, and will unswervingly take the road of peaceful development. China stands firmly opposed to all forms of hegemonism and power politics, and is ready to work with other countries to safeguard human conscience and international justice. China cannot develop itself in isolation from the world, and the world also needs China for its development. We will always pursue firmly the open strategy of mutual benefits and win-win results. While committed to the development of our own, we should also stress responsibility and contribution to the world to benefit the Chinese people as well as the people of the world. Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho said that, The world is in the hands of those who have the courage to achieve their dreams with their talents. Unity, collaboration, development and revitalization are the dreams the Latin American people have held from generation to generation. The Chinese Dream and the Latin American Dream are closely linked. Both sides should take the courage to pursue their dreams and jointly make their dreams come true. For friends, what is precious is mutual understanding; for mutual understanding, what is precious is knowing the heart. The friendship between the peoples is the source of power for the development of China-Brazil relations. In the 1980s, Brazilian TV series Isaura the Slave Girl swept across China. The pursuit of Isaura for freedom and love won the hearts of millions of Chinese people. Brazilian music and dance are also becoming more and more popular among Chinese youth. At the same time, Chinese language and culture has become more and more popular in Brazil. Brazil is the country that holds the most Confucius institutes and Confucius classes in Latin America. There are numerous students studying at the seven Confucius institutes and two Confucius classes in Brazil and many more are expecting to study there. Both sides should constantly promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and facilitate exchanges between the young people, thus maintaining the China-Brazil friendship from generation to generation. Brazilian people say friendship is like wine It gets better as it grows older. For a long time, those who have been dedicated to promoting the development of China- Latin America relations have worked quietly to strengthen the friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples. Carlos Tavares, an elderly Brazilian, said he is a Brazilian with a Chinese heart. In the past 40 years, Tavares has been tirelessly observing and studying China. He has written eight books and 500 papers on China and made hundreds of speeches about China. Many Brazilian people were introduced to China and have come closer to China through his work. Many people asked him about his motivation, to which he said, I only want to introduce China September 1,

6 and make more people understand China nothing else. This touching story is only a beautiful wave in the long history of the friendly exchanges between Chinese and Latin American people. It is the hard work of these angels for the China-Latin America friendship from both sides that makes China-Latin America relations move ahead boldly like the Yangtze River and the Amazon River. From shore to shore it is wide at high tide, and before fair wind a sail is lifting. Let us look into the future and join hands to create a better future for China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership, compose a magnificent epic of the China-Latin America comprehensive cooperative partnership and make new and greater contributions to the lofty cause of the peace and development of mankind. Cooperation Between BRICS Countries Moves From Concept to Entity The international community speaks highly of President Xi Jinping s efforts in promoting cooperation between BRICS countries On July 15-16, 2014, President Xi Jinping attended the Sixth BRICS Summit in Brazil. Under President Xi Jinping s personal coordination and promotion, the five countries decided to establish the BRICS Development Bank and the Contingency Reserve Arrangement. This is a multilateral financial institution established independently by developing countries. All of these mark that cooperation among BRICS countries has moved from concept to the shaping of an entity. The international community has paid close attention to and made positive comments on the bank. Chinese and foreign scholars told People s Daily that the BRICS Development Bank will inject more resources into developing countries and emerging economies. China is playing an increasingly important role in the international arena, which will make BRICS more dynamic and influential. A professor of Egypt s Ain Shams University Furqani said that President Xi s participation at the Sixth BRICS Summit was very fruitful. Under President Xi s active promotion, the BRICS Development Bank was officially established. This gives people reason to believe that under the joint efforts of the BRICS countries, a new international financial system will be built. The BRICS Development Bank is a solid step toward the institutionalization of the BRICS, said Riordan Roett, professor and director of the Latin American Studies Program, Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. He said that international financial institutions within the Bretton Woods System are reluctant to give BRICS countries voting rights commensurate with their economic power. The establishment of the BRICS Development Bank is a signal sent to developed countries: A group of influential players have emerged in the international financial system. President Xi and the leaders of other BRICS counties have jointly pushed forward cooperation between the BRICS countries, especially the establishment of the BRICS Development Bank and the Contingency Reserve Arrangement, which makes the cooperation between the BRICS countries more institutionalized, said Christopher Wood, a senior research fellow with South Africa Institute of International Affairs. He said that in the future, the BRICS Development Bank will play an active role in promoting development of the African Continent, where infrastructure is underdeveloped, and it will inject more resources into developing countries and emerging economies. The most notable result of President Xi s participation at the Sixth BRICS Summit is the establishment of the BRICS Development Bank and the signing of the agreement on Contingency Reserve Arrangement, which is a solid step that developing countries have taken to further participate in global governance, said Renato Flores, a spe- 6 September 1, 2014

7 cial assistant to the president of famous Brazilian think tank the Getúlio Vargas Foundation. Fan Yongming, a professor with the Center for BRICS Studies of Fudan University, thought that the BRICS Development Bank will provide new financing channels for large scale infrastructure construction in the BRICS countries and other emerging economies. The Contingency Reserve Arrangement will give the BRICS countries greater ability to avoid financial crisis and promote a stable economic development environment. It is a necessary supplement to existing international financial system, and a strong push for the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to accelerate reform. Emerging market countries represented by the BRICS nations are an important force in international relations, and play an important role in the world political and economic pattern, commented a research fellow with the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. President Xi s visit has opened a new stage for pragmatic cooperation between the BRICS countries. The decision of the BRICS countries to set up the BRICS Development Bank and the Contingency Reserve Arrangement is of great significance. An international relations expert in the Lusiada University of Angola told People s Daily that China is playing a more and more important role in the BRICS and on the international stage. Today, the world is characterized by multi-polarization and economic globalization, and stronger cooperation between the BRICS countries will boost South- South cooperation in the world. Shada Islam, a policy expert with European think tank Friends of Europe, said that the success of the Sixth BRICS summit demonstrates a change in the world power structure and the rising influence of emerging countries in world affairs. The BRICS Development Bank will make a big difference by meeting developing countries financial need. Professor Bide Oman of the Lahore School of Management in Pakistan said that President Xi s visit to the Sixth BRICS Summit has yielded substantial results. This helps BRICS countries tap cooperative potentials, reinforce a spirit of mutual help, and further push forward South-South cooperation. It will also chart a direction for the sustainable development of emerging economies, and steer them away from risks. The BRICS countries will contribute equal initial capital to fund the BRICS Development Bank, which means that they will share equal equity and voting rights, said Huang Wei, deputy director of the Global Governance Research Division of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. She said that this arrangement upholds the principle of equality among BRICS countries, and dispels the China threat theory used by Western media to question cooperation among BRICS nations. It will also boost China s image as a big country with moral appeal. Japan Stole the Diaoyu Islands, And the Potsdam Proclamation Ordered It to Return to China This July 26 marked the 69th anniversary of the Potsdam Proclamation issued by China, the United States and the United Kingdom to urge Japan to surrender. The Potsdam Proclamation, together with the Cairo Declaration issued by the above three countries in 1943 and other international legal documents, consist the legal basis for Japan to return the Diaoyu Islands to China. The Japanese Government accepted in explicit terms the Potsdam Proclamation in the Japanese Instrument of Surrender released in 1945, and in a series of important documents such as the China-Japan Joint Statement issued in Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are an inseparable part of the Chinese territory. The Diaoyu Islands are China s inherent territory in all historical, geographical and legal terms, and China enjoys indisputable sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands. On April 17, 1895, the Qing court was defeated in the September 1,

8 Sino-Japanese War and forced to sign the unequal Treaty of Shimonoseki and cede to Japan the island of Formosa (Taiwan), together with all islands appertaining or belonging to the said island of Formosa. The Diaoyu Islands were ceded to Japan as islands appertaining or belonging to the said island of Formosa. In December 1941, the Chinese Government officially declared war against Japan together with the abrogation of all treaties between China and Japan. In December 1943, on the eve before the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, China, the United States and the United Kingdom concluded the Cairo Declaration, which stated in explicit terms that all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa (Taiwan) and the Pescadores, shall be restored to the Republic of China. Japan will also be expelled from all other territories which she has taken by violence and greed. In July 1945, China, the United States and the United Kingdom issued the Potsdam Proclamation, an ultimatum for Japan. The Potsdam Proclamation stated in Article 8 that The terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out and Japanese sovereignty shall be limited to the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine. On September 2, 1945, the Japanese Government accepted the Potsdam Proclamation in explicit terms with the Japanese Instrument of Surrender and pledged to faithfully fulfill the obligations enshrined in the provisions of the Potsdam Proclamation. On January 29, 1946, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers Instruction No.677 clearly defined Japan s power of administration to include the four main islands of Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku) and the approximately 1,000 smaller adjacent islands, including the Tsushima Islands and the Ryukyu Islands north of the 30th parallel of North Latitude. Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are located in the waters between 25º40-26º00 North Latitude. On October 25, 1945, the ceremony for accepting Japan s surrender in Taiwan Province of the China War Theater was held in Taipei, and the Chinese Government officially recovered Taiwan, including Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands. On September 29, 1972, the Japanese Government committed with all seriousness in the China-Japan Joint Statement that it fully understands and respects this stand of the Government of the People s Republic of China, namely, Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People s Republic of China, and it firmly maintains its stand under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation. The Diaoyu Islands have always been affiliated to China s Taiwan Island both in geographical terms and in accordance with China s historical jurisdiction practice. One hundred and twenty years ago, Japan stole the Diaoyu Islands from China through the Sino-Japanese War. After World War II, Japan was required to return to China unconditionally all Chinese territories that it stole in accordance with such international legal documents as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. The above documents have also clearly defined Japan s territory, which does not include the Diaoyu Islands. In recent years, Japan has been attempting to occupy the Diaoyu Islands illegally, which in essence is a grave challenge to the international world order set up according to such legal documents as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, and is a serious violation of its international legal duties. Comments and suggestions from our readers are appreciated. shuangqin2004@china.com.cn Distributed by Circulation Department Address: 225 Chaoyangmennei Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing , People s Republic of China Tel: Available through the China Internet Information Center at and 8 September 1, 2014