Interview with Chinese President and Secretary General of the Chinese Communist Party Hu Jintao

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Exclusive interview with Chinese President and Secretary General of the Chinese Communist Party Hu Jintao

May 22 2003 2:06PM Exclusive interview with Chinese President and Secretary General of the Chinese Communist Party Hu Jintao

Hu Jintao:

I am glad to have an opportunity to meet friends from Russian mass media groups and grant them an interview. Interfax and the Russian Television and Radio Company are very familiar to the Chinese people. You are a bridge linking our two nations. You promptly inform the Russian people about our development and about changes underway in China, and highlight Russia's diversified life. Your work serves the purpose of strengthening friendship between our countries. While I have this opportunity, I would like to express my profound gratitude and convey good wishes from the Chinese people to Russia's citizens.

On the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, I will pay a state visit to Russia, attend the Moscow summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and take part in celebrations of the 300th anniversary of St.Petersburg. I am looking forward to a new meeting with President Vladimir Putin and I am sure that my visit to Russia will definitely be an impressive success. Now I am prepared to ANSWER your questions.

QUESTION: In what mood are you going to Moscow and what results are you expecting from your visit and from your talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin? What place does the Chinese leadership assign to Russia in its foreign policy? Will the continuity of the course be preserved?

ANSWER: In October, 2001, I paid a working visit to Russia on President Vladimir Putin's invitation. It was my first visit to Russia. Although it was rather brief, it made a profound impression on me. Since then, I have maintained strong contacts with President Putin. We have developed favorable, business-like relations and a personal friendship. Both of us believe that broader exchanges and contacts between our countries' leaders at the high and top levels are of great importance for the further development of interstate relations.

I am closely following the changes in Russia, and I must say with great pleasure that under President Vladimir Putin's leadership, political stability, economic growth and social unity has been maintained in Russia, the citizens' living standards have been rising and Russia's international positions have been growing stronger.

It is important that the Russian people have scored new achievements in building their country, their Motherland.

This upcoming visit to Russia will be my first trip abroad since I became President of the People's Republic of China. I plan a thorough exchange of views with President Vladimir Putin on issues pertaining to bilateral relations and on important present-day regional and international issues.

Our discussion is expected to further strengthen political trust between [our countries] and strengthen mutually advantageous cooperation, so we can raise Chinese-Russian relations of partnership and strategic ties to a new level.

The Chinese government and leadership attach great importance to efforts to develop and strengthen Chinese-Russian relations. Whatever changes may occur on the international arena, China will steadily and unswervingly stick to the course and policy of promoting Chinese-Russian relations of good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation.

We are satisfied with the favorable development of Chinese-Russian relations over the past years. We think, however, that Chinese-Russian relations have enormous potential and great opportunities.

Together with our Russian friends, making use of the positive work already done, together we are prepared to open up an even more beautiful future for Chinese-Russian relations of good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation for the benefit of the two countries and peoples.

Since I was elected President of the People Republic of China, I have continued to say that China's foreign and domestic policies will, as before, be based on principles of continuity and remain stable.

China, as a developing country, views steady economic development and continuous improvements in the people's living standards as the central task on which all of our efforts are focused now, and in the future.

As a peace-loving country, China will continue to pursue an independent, sovereign and peaceful foreign policy. We will continue to observe the five principles of peaceful coexistence, strengthen good-neighborly and friendly relations, promote positive partnership relations with our neighbors, continue to develop relations of friendship and cooperation with all countries and thus make our contribution to the cause of safeguarding peace and stability and facilitating development and prosperity all over the world.

QUESTION: In the early 1990s, Russia's first president Boris Yeltsin and your predecessor Jiang Zemin came to an agreement to bring bilateral trade up to $20 billion. Is this goal still on the agenda? Is this task feasible? Which aspects of bilateral relations would you describe as the most promising? Please tell us about the prospects for our countries' joint efforts in energy, and fuel and raw materials.

ANSWER: China and Russia are two major neighboring states. Our economies complement one another to a large degree. At the same time, favorable political relations between our countries provide an effective guarantee for building up our trade and economic relations.

Guided precisely by these factors, in the early 1990s, President Jiang Zemin and President Yeltsin made the decision to work together to bring our bilateral trade to $20 billion.

With a feeling of great pleasure, we are observing that thanks to our mutual efforts, Chinese-Russian trade and economic ties are moving ahead and bringing clear results.

Progress in bilateral trade has been particularly steady in the past four years. Last year, bilateral trade reached $12 billion. From January to April, 2003, positive trends in bilateral trade continued to develop. In the first four months of 2003, bilateral trade reached $ 4.5 billion, up 30% from the same period last year.

I would like to assure my Russian friends that I am confident that the goal to bring bilateral trade to a record-high mark of $20 billion is feasible.

Further development of trade and economic relations and continued work to intensify our economic ties are important for strengthening our relations of partnership and strategic cooperation.

China and Russia must continue to extensively develop technical and economic ties in the spirit of strategic cooperation, equality and mutual benefit, on the basis of market principles, in accordance with the current international practice and guided by the interests of the two countries' economic development.

But there is an important issue here that deserves mention. China and Russia must make more efforts to perfect the system of servicing our trade. What I mean is banking services, crediting, insurance and information backup. It is important to ensure the mutual access of goods, services and investments to our markets in order to open new areas, ways and forms of cooperation.

The advantages of our two economies are becoming increasingly evident. The development and processing of natural resources and high technologies are evolving into new and promising aspects of our trade and economic relations. Major joint projects in the energy sector, including the nuclear energy sector, are making steady progress. The discovery of new fields of cooperation is laying the groundwork for the sustained development of Chinese-Russian business ties.

I would especially like to point out that Russia is one of the world's largest exporters of energy and fuel, while China has become one of the world's major energy importers. Therefore, our cooperation in the energy sector holds great promise. We are glad that agreements have been reached on a number of large-scale and important projects in the oil and gas sector.

I am sure that due to our mutual efforts and strong contacts, our cooperation in implementing these projects will bear fruitful results.

QUESTION: Do you share the belief that the Iraq issue has become a serious test of strength for the UN and for the idea of a multipolar world order advocated by China and Russia? China is known as an active fighter against international terrorism. What, in your opinion, are the prospects for preserving the anti-terrorist coalition in the context of the latest developments in Iraq?

ANSWER: By now, the war in Iraq is, on the whole, over. It will undoubtedly have a protracted influence on the development of the international situation. But I would like to stress that, on the whole, this war has not changed the current global architecture, nor can it reverse the trend towards a multipolar world.

China believes that the trend towards a multipolar world is irreversible. China is ready to continue to intensify its relations with Russia in order to accelerate the process of formation of a multipolar world order together.

As far as the United Nations is concerned, as an international organization called upon to defend international peace and security, it plays what can be called an irreplaceable role. Currently, the international community is sincerely hoping that the United Nations will play a leading role in the solution of the postwar problems facing Iraq and that the influence and prestige of the UN Security Council will be safeguarded.

China and Russia are permanent members of the UN Security Council. We must, together with other major world powers, strengthen our joint efforts within the UN in order to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and the achievement of universal prosperity and development.

As for action against terrorism, the Chinese government is against all forms and all manifestations of terrorism and supports and takes an active part in regional and international anti-terrorist efforts. Our position and our opinion on this remain unchanged.

We believe that anti-terrorist efforts must meet the goals and principles of the UN Charter and other generally recognized standards of international relations. These efforts must be in the interests of peace, stability and development, both in the region and worldwide.

The limits of anti-terrorist action cannot be broadened at one's will. Terrorism cannot be attributed to any particular nation or religion. Nor can one use so-called double standards in these efforts. We must combat the manifestations and ultimate causes of terrorism alike. These problems need to be addressed in a comprehensive manner, and ultimately the sources of terrorism must be removed.

We are deeply shocked by the recent terrorist explosions in the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation.

I have sent a telegram to President Vladimir Putin. In it, I expressed deep sorrow to all those injured by the explosion and condolences to the families and friends of those who fell victim. I reaffirmed in this telegram that China will continue to support the efforts of the Russian government and the Russian people against terrorism and in defense of their national unity.

QUESTION: How do you assess the situation on the Korean peninsula and prospects for its settlement in connection with the so-called nuclear problem of the People's Democratic Republic of Korea [PDRK or North Korea]?

ANSWER: China and Russia are friendly neighbors of the Korean peninsula. Both Russia and China are deeply concerned about this nuclear issue.

China always sees the defense of peace and stability on the Korean peninsula as the point of departure for the solution of the Korean problem. We stand for the de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula, and are against either side on the Korean peninsula developing or possessing nuclear weapons. At the same time, we believe that the concerns of the DPRK for its own security must receive proper consideration.

It is our position that the DPRK nuclear issue must be solved via dialogue. We believe that this will serve to strengthen peace and stability in Eastern Asia and worldwide, and it is in the interests of all parties concerned. It is for this reason that China is carrying out permanent work and is making efforts that can facilitate a conciliation between the parties and the negotiation process.

During the last 10 days of last month, China invited representatives of the DPRK and the United States to Beijing. Negotiations were held in Beijing. During the negotiations, the parties presented a thorough outline of their positions and learned about the concerns of their partners. This helped strengthen mutual understanding and facilitated the search for peaceful ways to solve the problem via dialogue. It can be said that a good start has already been made.

Given the complicated nature of the DPRK nuclear problem, we believe that it will take time to be solved. But the goodwill, sincerity and persistent efforts on the part of the parties involved are even more crucial. We hope that those involved will exercise restraint and self-control and will prevent the situation from developing towards the further escalation of tension.

We also hope that, thanks to the international community's combined efforts, the negotiation process in Beijing will continue.

China and Russia take the same position on the DPRK's nuclear program. We have very good contacts and are intensifying our interaction.

We are ready to continue developing our relations with Russia and the international community as a whole, and will make combined efforts to ensure that the DPRK nuclear problem develops toward a peaceful solution.

QUESTION: What measures is the Chinese leadership taking against the SARS epidemic. Will it be possible to stop this dangerous disease from spreading?

ANSWER: As you know, an epidemic of atypical pneumonia [SARS] has spread in some of China's regions. This is a new type of infectious disease, one that has not yet been completely identified or explored. Faced with the serious threat of atypical pneumonia, the Chinese government has demonstrated a high sense of responsibility, without deviating from the principle that the health and security of the masses are above everything.

Speaking in concrete terms, we are on the forefront of the struggle against atypical pneumonia. We are studying the epidemiological situation and carrying out treatment and preventive measures, generalizing our experience and drawing necessary lessons. At the same time, we are taking a full series of resolute measures.

We are amending the legal base and have created a rapid reaction system in addition to improving warning systems and control over the epidemiological situation.

We are building up financing [for this purpose] and have created a special fund for sick peasants who receive treatment free of charge. For lower-paid sections of the urban population, we have created a social aid system, so that all of the sick can be cured, even those who are unable to pay for treatment.

We are launching extensive programs to popularize specialist knowledge, in addition to carrying out educational efforts and mobilizing broad masses of people to combat the atypical pneumonia epidemic.

Our preventive measures and work to control the epidemic are a nationwide effort. We are carrying out measures for the earliest possible detection of the infected, the earliest possible notification, the earliest possible isolation of the infected and sick, and their earliest possible treatment, in order to bring the spread of the epidemic under control.

We are also pooling the attention and efforts of all of China's top experts in order to conduct necessary research, particularly research to discover the pathogenic organisms, and to diagnose and determine principles for prevention and treatment.

We are taking very strict quarantine measures at border checkpoints in order to prevent the entry and exit of sick people. In other words, we are taking all measures to stop this disease from spreading outside our country.

We are also strengthening our relations with international organizations, including the World Health Organization, and with interested foreign states.

Thanks to our efforts, the latest measures that I have already mentioned have produced their first results. It is absolutely clear that the number of new cases of contraction of this disease has been decreasing in the past few days.

Of course, we need to go through yet another stage of persistent efforts and struggle to bring this epidemic under effective control and ultimately put an end to it. However, we are convinced that atypical pneumonia is a disease that can be prevented, controlled and cured.

We are full of confidence and determination that we can win a victory over atypical pneumonia due to the strength of the Chinese people as a whole, and with efforts on the part of all of China's medical personnel and support from the international community.

We are grateful to the Russian Government and the Russian people for the understanding and support that you are offering us at a time when the Chinese people are experiencing difficulties. We are ready to continue to strengthen our ties with Russia and the international community in preventing and treating atypical pneumonia.

In conclusion, I would like to thank you again for travelling such a long distance to come to China to interview me. I am very pleased with our cooperation and expect it to continue.