Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, in an interview in the run-up to the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, has vowed to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.

"In the last six decades, we have insisted on an independent foreign policy of peace, coordinated domestic and foreign situations and served the core task of the (Communist) Party and the state," Yang told Xinhua on Monday.

Founded on Oct. 1, 1949, the People's Republic was first recognized by the Soviet Union and less than 20 countries. Today, China had established diplomatic ties with 171 countries.

China had developed relations with major powers such as Russia, the United States, the European Union and Japan, and cooperation with emerging powers, including Brazil and India, was also strengthened, Yang said.

"Our relations with neighboring countries are a priority and we have never changed the primary policy of friendly relations with neighboring countries," he said.

China, along with Myanmar and India, advocated the five principles of peaceful co-existence in the 1950s. Since 2000, China had been active in multilateral cooperation with its neighbors.

It established the Shanghai Cooperation Organization with Russia and Central Asian states, carried out dialogue with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) and has become the largest trade partner of Japan, the ROK, India, Vietnam and Mongolia.

Yang applauded China's unity and cooperation with developing countries. He mentioned events in relations with Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean region and the Arab world.

"The cornerstone of China's diplomacy is to preserve unity and promote mutually beneficial cooperation with developing countries," Yang said.

He highlighted China's role on the world arena, especially in the reform of the United Nations and its Security Council, the reform of the international financial regime, climate change, energy security and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

"In the global financial crisis, China strived for stable and fast economic growth and actively took part in international cooperation to tackle the downturn," Yang said.

China had vowed to stick to the proactive fiscal policy and moderately easy monetary policy in the second half year to sustain stable and relatively fast economic growth.

(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2009)