Interview: Solana says stronger China "good for world"

European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Wednesday rejected the "China threat" hypothesis, saying a stronger China is good for the world.

"Throughout history, new arrivals or new competitors have often been regarded as threats, but the reality is that a stronger and more confident China is good for the world," Solana said during an exclusive interview with Xinhua on the eve of the eighth EU-China summit slated to begin Sept. 5 in Beijing.

From the beginning of this year, some Western politicians, businessmen and media have issued a new round of "China threat" propaganda, warning that China's economic rise would wreak havoc on the economies of other countries, China's military strength would pose a threat to regional security, and China would siphon off world resources as its consumption levels rose.

Talking about China's development, Solana said the Chinese economic growth "helps spur on our own," as both the EU and China benefit from China's economic expansion.

With the surge of China's economy and foreign trade, China has become the EU's second largest trading partner; meanwhile, the EU has turned into China's largest trading partner.

In terms of world diplomacy, Solana highly approved China's role in the international scene.

"China's growing political engagement in international affairs has brought positive dividends to the world; for example, the progress made on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, and the unique function of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) regional forum," he noted.

In July, the Pentagon issued a report on China's military power, insinuating that China's military modernization could jeopardize the security of Asian countries as well as that of the United States. The move sounded alarm bells and brought the "China threat" propaganda to a climax.

Rebuffing the Pentagon view, Solana said China is an important peacekeeping force in the world and has made greater and greater contributions to easing regional conflicts and defending world peace.

"China has posted large amounts of peacekeeping troops abroad in recent years and the troops are serving in missions all around the world," he said.

Since Solana took the office of the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy in October 1999, he has visited China almost every year.

"Whenever I visit China, I am always impressed by the pace of change there, and by the dynamism and determination of Chinese political and business leaders," he said.

From Solana's point of view, "strength brings responsibilities, " and he believes that "China is a responsible, principled and pragmatic country."

"China is a member of the international multilateral system, it is a member of the WTO, and it is a responsible partner. Therefore, I don't think we should talk about a China threat," he stressed.

"We may consider China to be a new competitor, but it is absolutely not a threat," he said, adding that "China is a competitor that the EU needs to cooperate with."

"The EU is willing to develop all-around strategic partnership with China," Solana said. "With our goals converging ever more closely, it makes sense to work together ever more closely."

"My Chinese friends often use the term 'win-win' -- this helps sum up the prevailing spirit of dialogue and cooperation that I admire with all my heart," Solana said.

Source: Xinhua