China continues to work toward the expansion of common interests and the proper resolution of disputes with the world’s major countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
Sino-US Relations
The relations between China and the United States were marked in 2002 by improvement and development. Both countries kept close high-level contacts and strategic dialogues. In October, President Jiang Zemin paid a successful visit to the US and reached a series of important common views on developing Sino-US constructive cooperative relations with US President Bush. President Bush for the first time clearly expressed the idea of opposing the independence of Taiwan. Mutual understanding and trust between the leaders of China and the US have been strengthened, which has an important significance on furthering developing Sino-US relations. President Bush visited China in February. Vice-President Hu Jingtao’s visit to the US from the end of April to early May gained significant success. Economic and trade cooperation between China and the US expanded at a fast rate. Both China and the US developed counter-terrorism cooperation on the basis of bilateral exchange and mutual benefits. In the meantime, China insisted on its principle and launched firm and justifiable struggles against violation by the US of the three Sino-US joint communiques on the question of Taiwan, thus safeguarding the interests of the nation. China also disagreed with the United States on the Iraq issue (see UN Relations below). After the Iraqi war began, China urged an end to hostilities and a return to the seeking of a political solution within the framework of the United Nations.
Sino-Russian Relations
The year 2002 witnessed a deepening of the strategic cooperative and partner relationship between China and Russia. Frequent high-level visits took place between the two countries, and cooperation — especially cooperation in international affairs — was strengthened. The Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-Neighborly Friendship and Cooperation, signed in July 2001 by Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been put into effect in both countries. In June, President Jiang visited Russia. In August, Russian Premier Mikhail Kasyanov paid a formal visit to China and held the seventh regular meeting with Premier Zhu Rongji in Shanghai. In December, President Putin of Russia paid a state visit to China, and the heads of state of China and Russia signed the Sino-Russian Joint Declaration.
Sino-EU Relations
The exchange and cooperation between China and European Union in political, economic, trade and cultural spheres in 2002 developed smoothly with greater common understanding reached and coordination strengthened between China and the EU on important international and regional problems. In September 2002, Premier Zhu Rongji attended the Fourth Asia-EU Summit and the Fifth Sino-EU Leaders’ Meeting and paid a formal visit to France, Austria and Denmark. In May, Chairman Li Ruihuan of the CPPCC National Committee visited Britain. In November, Finnish President Tarja Halonen paid a state visit to China. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder visited China in late 2002 as did French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin in January 2003.
China-Japan Relations
The 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan in September 1972 was marked with celebrations in both nations in 2002. Some 13,000 Japanese friends, including former Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and 60 or so members of the Diet came to Beijing for commemorative activities. Meanwhile, some 5,000 Chinese visited Japan, bringing a new tide of exchanges between two peoples and reflecting mutual goodwill. More visitors came to China from Japan than any other country, and the year 2002 marked new development and further cooperation in the fields of economy and trade between China and Japan, a major trading partner. The year 2003 marks the 25th anniversary of signing of Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
