Tang made the remarks in an interview in Beijing recently when reviewing China's diplomatic efforts this year and looking ahead to the plans for 2002.

He noted that 2002 will be an important year for China, and diplomatic work will continue to focus on promoting China's modernization and reunification, safeguarding world peace and pushing for common development.

The international situations have been complicated this year, witnessing ups and downs with unexpected major events and uncertain elements, Tang stated.

He cited the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States in particular, saying that this had a great impact on international politics, economy, security and culture.

However, he pointed out, the event did not bring about great changes for the development of international situations, and peace and development are still the emphasis of the current times.

He went on to say that the multi-polarization of the world continued to evolve with twists and turns, and the international environment in which China revolves holds more opportunities than challenges.

He summarized the status of the international situation at present and in the future, saying it is and will be characterized as generally peaceful and stable, but with some conflicts and tensions.

Noting that the current international security situation is more diversified, Tang pointed out that conventional and non-conventional security factors have interacted, and terrorism, as a non-conventional and major threat to the international security, has had a damaging impact globally.

After the September 11 attacks, Afghanistan, with a suddenly changing situation, became a hot spot in the world, added Tang.

He noted that China, as one of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and a neighbor of Afghanistan, has always been concerned about the Afghan situation and has been playing a positive role in solving this issue.

China hopes that all factions in Afghanistan continue to pay due attention to national reconciliation and carry out agreements in a down-to-earth manner so as to restore peace and stability in the land as soon as possible.

On the Mideast peace process, Tang said that China has always supported the process and the Arab people's just cause, as well as a right-minded, comprehensive and rational solution to the Mideast issue.

The Mideast peace process faces grave challenges brought on by the escalating conflicts between Israel and Palestine, noted Tang, adding that China is uneasy about this.

He stressed that China strongly condemns violent actions, hoping that all parties concerned will take measures to curb all violence immediately and create conditions for easing tensions and re-opening the peace talks in the region.

Tang listed the positive changes that have taken place this year: all countries have expressed the desire to seek common ground, and to strengthen their dialog and cooperation on peace and development in multi-lateral and bilateral fields; tensions among big powers have relaxed; and there were more and more exchanges of visits and telephone calls between high-level political leaders.

He pointed out that these changes were conducive to the evolution of multi-polarization, and world peace and stability.

Meanwhile, he cautioned, the basic contradictions in international relations remained unsolved with some deep-rooted problems among big powers still existing; the south-north gap has expanded; and little improvement has been seen in the ongoing problem of irrational international order.

He spoke highly of the Chinese leadership's efforts to assist the country's diplomatic achievements this year, saying that China's international status and role have been raised, and citing China's positive and constructive role in anti-terrorism struggles and its successful hosting of the ninth APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) economic leaders' meeting.

He also listed the new development of state-to-state relations between China and major countries.

Sino-US relations gradually were restored and improved after difficulties in the first half of this year, and leaders of the two countries reached important consensus on the development of bilateral constructive and cooperative relations, thus opening new prospects for bilateral ties, stated Tang.

The Sino-Russian good-neighborly treaty of friendship and cooperation signed between leaders of China and Russia this year has laid the legal foundation for the development of bilateral long-term friendship, he added.

He went on to say that Sino-European relations witnessed smooth development and entered a new era of all-round cooperation, and Sino-Japanese relations, although they experienced twists and turns, returned to normal through joint efforts and in the spirit of learning from history and confidently facing the future.

He also talked about the new overall development of good-neighborly friendship and cooperation between China and its neighboring countries.

Tang said the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization marks a new type of regional cooperative organization aimed at seeking security with mutual trust and cooperation with mutual benefit.

China and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) agreed to set up a free trade area in the next 10 years, which, according to Tang, is of profound significance for the long-term development of bilateral ties and regional prosperity and stability.

At the same time, Tang said, China and most developing countries scored substantial progress in their cooperative relations, maintained constant high-level exchanges of visits, strengthened political consultations and expanded economic and trade cooperation.

(China Daily December 30, 2001)