By Xuefei Chen Axelsson
Stockholm, July 28(ChinaEuropeDialogue) — A grand celebration has been held at the Chinese embassy in Stockholm to celebrate the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s army. Chinese Ambassador Cui Aimin spoke highly of the Chinese Liberation Army over the years.
“Throughout the river of its long history, China has experienced prosperity and glory, but also suffered from war and misery. Especially since modern times, China was repeatedly invaded by foreign enemies and subjected to internal wars. The country was once poor and weak with its people displaced. Painful memories have given the Chinese people real experience, deep understanding and relentless pursuit of peace. Over the past more than 70 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, we have always adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace, always been committed to the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and the people of the world. We have made independent policies and stances based on the issues’ own merits, respected the right of countries to independently choose their own development paths and social systems, and explored a new path of country-to-country relations featuring dialogue and partnership rather than confrontation and alliance.”
At present, the world has just emerged from the shadow of COVID-19, but is facing unprecedented and multiple crises and challenges. In the face of changes unseen in a century and complex international situation, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative (GSI) in 2022, calling on countries to stay committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and to take building a common security community as the long-term goal and working together to build a world of lasting peace and universal security. The GSI is rooted in true multilateralism and has offered a Chinese solution to bridging peace deficit and solving security dilemma. In response to the Ukraine crisis, the Chinese government issued China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, putting forward a 12-point proposal, including respecting the sovereignty of all countries, abandoning the Cold War mentality, ceasing hostilities and resuming peace talks. The Chinese side has had in-depth communication with many European countries and relevant parties, playing a constructive role in easing the spillover of the crisis and promoting a political settlement. Going forward, we will continue to promote peace talks, promote dialogue and consultation to address legitimate concerns of all parties, work for a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture, and jointly uphold peace and stability on the Eurasian continent.
“China will always be a builder of world peace, contributor to global development, defender of international order, provider of public goods and mediator of hotspot issues. Since its participation in UN peacekeeping operations in 1990, China has sent more than 50,000 peacekeepers to over 20 countries and regions. China is now the second largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget and the top contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping operations among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. More than 2,200 Chinese officers and soldiers are serving in 8 peacekeeping mission areas. Since its participation in the escort missions in 2008, China has sent 44 batches with over 100 vessels, escorted over 7,000 Chinese and foreign ships, and rescued and protected nearly 100 ships of various types, thus contributing to the great cause of world peace with concrete actions and fulfilling the duty of a responsible major country.”
There is a Chinese proverb that goes “crossing the river in the same boat”Tongzhougongji. Despite the differences in the color of our skin, in our languages and in our values and ways of life, we live together on this giant boat of Earth, which makes it natural and necessary for us to support each other. Over past more than one year that I worked in Sweden, I have visited over 20 cities, and have talked with government officials, enterprise executives, scholars from think tanks and workers in the factories. I have truly felt the expectations for peace and development, and the sincere and friendly feelings towards the Chinese people by the people of Sweden. Sweden was the first western country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, and there is a long history of friendly exchanges between the two countries. His Majesty the King Carl XVI Gustaf has visited China six times. The exchanges and cooperation between the two sides in the political, economic, cultural and other fields at various levels have been highly fruitful, and have brought tangible benefits to the two peoples. As the Ambassador, I have the duty to uphold the spirit of “crossing the river in the same boat”, together with my colleagues at the Embassy and friends from Sweden, to promote the continuous development of friendly exchanges and cooperation in all areas between China and Sweden.
It has always been our firm belief that a world of unity rather than division and of peace rather than turmoil, is in the common interest of all humanity. China is willing to work with all peace-loving and development-oriented members of the international community including Sweden, to jointly respond to all kinds of security challenges, and make new contributions to safeguarding world peace and stability.
Swedish army chief and many military attache in Stockholm attended the reception of about 150 people.