To strive for peace has always been the purpose of New China’s foreign policy. In 1954, five years after the founding of the People’s Republic, Mao Zedong stated, “Our general task is to unite the whole people and win the support of all our friends abroad in the struggle to build a great socialist country, defend world peace and advance the cause of human progress.” In 1978 China shifted the focus of its work to economic development. In the new historical period since 1978, Deng Xiaoping emphasized the task of opposing hegemonism and safeguarding world peace, and defined the objective and task of China’s diplomacy as striving for a peaceful international climate and a favorable environment in areas around China in a fairly long period. In September 1982 Deng Xiaoping declared in his opening speech at the twelfth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, “To accelerate socialist modernization, to strive for China’s reunification and particularly for the return of Taiwan to the motherland, and to oppose hegemonism and work to safeguard world peace – these are the three major tasks of our people in this decade.”

The world is undergoing major changes. Multi-polarization and economic globalization are developing, exerting unprecedentedly great influence on the political, economic and cultural life of humanity. The international situation in general is moving towards relaxation, and the forces for peace and stability are growing. But the world is far from tranquil. Cold-war mentality is still there, hegemonism and power politics have new manifestations, and it is 52 CHINA’S DIPLOMACY still an arduous task to oppose hegemonism and safeguard world peace. China holds that all countries, large or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community. Countries should settle their disputes and conflicts peacefully through consultation and not resort to the use or threat of force; no country should interfere in the internal affairs of other countries under any pretext, let alone using its strength to invade, bully or overthrow other countries. China never imposes its social system or ideology on others, and it will never allow others to impose their social systems or ideologies on itself.