China's security policy is designed first and foremost to safeguard its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, Zhang Zhijun, vice minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said yesterday at the 42nd Munich Conference on Security Policy.

 

The objectives of China's security policy are first of all to maintain its own stability and development, Zhang said.

 

"The second is to maintain peace and stability in the neighboring areas, and third to promote international security dialogue and cooperation," he said.

 

Zhang added that China's security policy is geared to the "needs of economic development and the creation of a stable international environment, particularly, a favorable neighboring environment." 

 

China's national defense construction is aimed at safeguarding security and unity of the country and ensuring the smooth advancement of economic development, he said. 

 

China "refuses to join any military alliance or engage in any arms race," he said, adding: "China does not seek spheres of influence nor aims to set up overseas military bases." 

 

Zhang reaffirmed China's opposition to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, and it supports the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. 

 

China would not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against nuclear weapons-free countries or regions, he added. 

 

China has cut troop numbers by almost 2 million over the last two decades, he said.

 

Zhang said China "stands for a new security concept that features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and collaboration." 

 

He added that China is "working to enhance mutual trust through dialogue, resolve conflicts through consultation, and seek stability through cooperation." 

 

China has supported efforts to conduct security dialogues and establish regional security cooperation mechanisms so as to strengthen and deepen multilateral security cooperation, he said.

 

The conference, which ran from February 3 to 5, was attended by more than 300 defense ministers and senior government officials from 50 nations. 

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2006)