Enhance Mutual Trust And Deepen Cooperation For a Bright Future of China-US, China-EU Relations Address by Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi At Informal Dinner of US-EU China Dialogue Project

Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me start by saying how happy I am to join you, both old and new friends, at this dinner, and I appreciate the opportunity to exchange views with you on the future of China-US and China-EU relations. Over the years, you have been actively involved in growing China-US and China-EU relations, and I wish to say a big thank-you to you all.     

The "Key States of Small Size" Strategy

On a spectrum based on national demographics,economy and power,there are many more"small powers"than there are middle powers and big powers.Critical to China’s new diplomacy is to identify and target the small powers that are key states for its strategic relations.A state such as Sri Lanka cannot truly be categorized into any of the three categories and its development outgrows traditional classification.Regarding the more than 200 states and regions in the world,China has officially stated that"relations with big powers are critical,with     

Brief Comments

In conclusion,the theories on the rise of great powers mainly center on the issue of relations between rising powers and war,in other words,whether the rise of power is doomed to be at the cost of war,and what kind of rising power is more likely to cause war.……     

Probing into the Theories on the Rise of Great Powers

The existent international relations theory has not given a clear definition of “the rise of great powers,“ and “rising“ is also not a fundamental concept in international relations or world politics. However, for whatever version of international relations history, it must be a recounting of the relations between countries that rise and fall; and for whatever international relations theory, it must admit the fact that the rise and fall of great powers is one of the natural laws characterized international relations development. As Paul Kennedy puts it, the “relative strengths of the leading nations in world affairs never remain constant, principally because of the uneven rate of growth among different societies and of the technological and organizational breakthroughs which bring a greater advantage to one society than to another.“① Therefore, it can be said that theories related to “the rise of great powers“ are so common, particularly concentrating on the possible influence of the rising power and its relations with war, the means and policies to deal with it as well as how to realize the peaceful transition of power. This article intends to explore and summarize all these theories and also make some comments based on the rise of China.……     

New Relations Between Major Powers

In recent years, the ＂new-type relationship between major powers＂ ,has become a hot-topic term in the studies of internationalpolitics and international relations. Why is it necessary to build a new-type relationship between major powers？ What are the essence and the connotation of such relationship？ How to build it against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world that is undergoing a profound structural reform and the evolving balance of international forces in international relations in all fields and at all levels？     

Three Major Power Relations Affecting China

During the course of recent dramatic upheavals in international relations, three big power relationships stand out. They are: between Western powers and non-Western emerging economies, within non-Western emerging economies and within Western powers. It is imperative that China learns to navigate successfully between     

Analysis of the Current Situation in North Africa ＆ the Middle East

After the upsurge of domestic turmoil in Tunis last December,unrest spread rapidly through North Africa and the Middle East,having a profound effect on current international relations.It will continue to affect relations between the major powers and the international system as a whole for some time to come.The regional turmoil of North Africa and the Middle East is of particular interest to International Political Economy(IPE)studies.It seems to embody a geostrategic conflict between the US and the EU in contending for leadership in North Africa and the Middle East.It is also an expression of the competition for dominance of the global financial structure between the major powers during a period of transition in the international system.Lastly,it is a manifestation of America’s struggle to maintain its global economic hegemony.     

REFLECTIONS ON THE TRANS-CENTURY WORLD SITUATION

The most salient and significant phenomenon in 1997 is the large scale adjust-ment of various bilateral and multilateral state relations,propelled specificallyby the big powers and major local powers.This will set the tune for the still-on-the-way transition of the world pattern from the old to the new in the dawning ofthe new century.     

TREND OF INDIA＇S DIPLOMATIC STRATEGY

In recent years, India has actively pursued an all-directional diplomatic strategy, attaching much importance to developing its relations with major powers. In particular, due to the great efforts made by the United States to draw India over to its side, relations between India and the United States have witnessed a fast development, which has attracted worldwide attention. It seems that this trend of laying special emphasis by India on its relations with the United States will continue for a considerably long period. However, it is unlikely that India will make a fundamental change to its independent and non-aligned foreign policy. It is expected that India will continue to consolidate and develop its traditional friendly relations with Russia, steadily improve its relations with China and strengthen its relations with the European Union. In Asia, India will continue to actively promote its external relations and enhance its influence in the region through bilateral as well as multilateral channels.     

Sino-American-Russian Triangle at the Turn of the Century

On the verge of the new century, the renewed triangular relations between China, the United States and Russia are of significance to the international relations as the world's three big powers have readjusted their ties in recent years.rather long time to come, the state that the United States is strong, Russia re-mains weak, and China is rising will remain unchanged by and large, and so willthe triangle. Readjustments of the Triangle Since the end of the Kosovo war, China, America and Russia, with differentstrategic considerations in mind, have stepped up restoration of mutual relations