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Li Yuanchao's speech at the Commemoration of the International Day of Peace 2013 & China-South Asia Peace and Development Forum (3)

(Xinhua)    08:36, September 22, 2013
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Third, we should enhance dialogues and consultations to peacefully resolve disputes. Rabindranath Tagore, the great Indian poet, once said:"Brute force shows but the weakness of mankind." It is dialogues and consultations that are the correct way to resolve conflicts and disputes. In recent years, South Asian countries have endeavored to seek peaceful resolutions of their disputes through consultations. India and Pakistan, for example, are continuing with peace talks; Bangladesh and India have settled their land border; and countries in the region are making efforts to negotiate for a joint water resource management policy. China has been committed to handling territorial and maritime disputes with neighboring countries through dialogues and consultations, and so far we have successfully resolved land border issues left over by history with 12 neighbors. China wishes to work with South Asian countries to settle disputes and conflicts through peaceful negotiations with reconciliation and oppose the use or threat of force.

Fourth, we should expand mutually beneficial cooperation to achieve development and win-win. It has become a general trend for countries to promote development through cooperation, and to promote peace through development. In recent years, SAARC members have signed a free trade agreement and an agreement on trade in services, and they are now endeavoring for more connectivity in the region which facilitates regional economic integration. China highly values our mutually beneficial cooperation with SAARC, and in 2006 became an observer of the Association. In 2012, China's trade volume with SAARC reached 93 billion U.S. dollars, and the accumulated contract value exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars. China is willing to work together with South Asian countries in the spirit of equality and win-win cooperation, to fully leverage our advantages of geographical closeness and economic complementarities, accelerate the improvement of connectivity, expand concrete cooperation in various fields, build an ever closer community of common interests, and lay a solid material foundation for lasting peace.

The Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation articulated by President Xi Jinping is a dream of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, which is consistent with the dream of the South Asian people. China is willing to peacefully coexist with our neighbors, including South Asian countries, on an equal footing, so that we are always good neighbors, good friends, and good partners.

The theme of this year's International Day of Peace - Education for Peace, designated by the United Nations, is highly relevant. The girl who won the Pakistan National Peace Award, Malala Yousafzai said, "If this new generation is not given pens, they will be given guns by terrorists." The international community should make concerted efforts to educate our people, especially the younger generation, to cherish, safeguard, and promote peace, so that every corner of the world would be filled with the sunshine of peace.

【1】 【2】 【3】

(Editor:ZhangQian、Liang Jun)

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