We have noted that the Latvian Foreign Ministry recently released the Foreign Policy Report of 2022, which touched on relevant China-related issues. I would like to reiterate the following principles and positions:
Both China and EU, China and Latvia should jointly strive for promoting sound and steady development of China-EU relations. China and the EU have established a comprehensive strategic partnership, which is the basic orientation of the two sides. Deliberately positioning China as a systemic rival is disruptive to China-EU relations. China and EU should uphold the correct mutual perception, stick to the principles of mutual respect, dialogue and cooperation, and mutual benefit so as to promote the steady and sustained progress of China-EU relations, which serves the common interests of both sides and is conducive to world peace and common development. We hope the Latvian side will play a positive role in this regard.
Since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations 31 years ago, China-Latvia relations have maintained forward momentum on the whole with the joint efforts of both sides. So long as the two sides stay committed to the principles of mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences and win-win cooperation, China-Latvia relations will surely be able to make steady progress on the right track. China is ready to work with Latvia to push forward the steady development of bilateral relations.
Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affair and the core of China's core interests. It is a red line that cannot be crossed. For some time, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan have been making provocations for "Taiwan independence" in collusion with external forces, which is the root cause of the current tension and turbulence across the Taiwan Straits. Safeguarding national unity and territorial integrity is the sacred right of any sovereign country and the basic principle of international law. We are ready to create vast space for peaceful reunification, but we will leave no room for separatist activities of any form.
China's position on the South China Sea issue is consistent and clear. Over the years, China and ASEAN countries are committed to properly handling differences through bilateral consultation and negotiation in accordance with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). China and ASEAN countries have worked together to maintain the overall stability in the South China Sea, providing a stable development environment for their respective development and prosperity.
It is up to the people of a country to decide whether it is democratic or not and what its human rights situation is. The whole-process people's democracy that China upholds and develops is broad, genuine and effective democracy, which has won the heartfelt support of the Chinese people. We made it possible for our nearly 1.4 billion people to shake off poverty and lead a decent and comfortable life, and has put in place the largest systems of education, social insurance, medical care and institutions of democracy at the community level. Chinese People's living standards have improved in all directions. No country has a perfect democratic system and human rights protection, and there is always a need for development and improvement. The specific differences between our two sides can be worked out through discussion, but only on the precondition of equality. To define one's own country as democratic and other countries as authoritarian is in itself undemocratic. The so-called "systematic human rights abuses" in China including Xinjiang has no basis in fact.
China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, remains committed to its foreign policy goals of upholding world peace and promoting common development, and it is dedicated to building a human community with a shared future. China has always been a force for world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. Facing the common challenges of humankind, we have taken the initiative to provide China's solutions, including the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative.
At present, the international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation regime is at an important crossroads. In the face of new circumstances and challenges, the international community should vigorously advocate peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are the common values of humanity, and embrace a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable global security. China have actively promoted the cause for international peace and participated in the international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation process. China is the top contributor of peacekeeping personnel among the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council; and it is the second largest funding contributor to both the UN and its peacekeeping operations. China is the only country in the world that pledges to “keep to a path of peaceful development” in its Constitution. It is the only one among the five Nuclear-Weapon States that is committed to no-first-use of nuclear weapons. China promoted the conclusion of the joint statement of the leaders of the five Nuclear-Weapon States on preventing nuclear war and avoiding arms races, thus made important contributions to maintaining global strategic stability.
On the issue of the Ukraine crisis, China has always decided its position and policy on the merits of the issue itself, and has taken an objective and fair position and actively promoted peace talks. We hope that relevant parties will remain rational and exercise restraint, prevent further escalation of conflict and confrontation, and properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultation. China will always stand on the side of peace and continue to play a constructive role in deescalating the situation.