Sino-US Relations

On October 19, 2001, President Jiang Zemin and US President George W. Bush met for the first time during the Informal Summit of the APEC in Shanghai, reaching significant agreement on promoting an developing the constructive and cooperative relations between China and the United States. Vice-Premier Qian Qichen and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tang Jiaxuan visited the United States in March and September 2001, respectively, and US Secretary of State Colin Powell visited China in July, 2001. All these had taken place in the important period for the relations between China and the United States. On December 27, 2001, President Bush granted China the PNTR (permanent normal trade relations) status, getting rid of major interference in the economic and trade relations between China and the US, and spurring the steady development of bilateral economic and trade relations. February 28, 2002 was the 30th anniversary of the announcement of the Sino-US Shanghai Communique. At this auspicious time, President Bush made a working visit to China at the invitation of President Jiang Zemin, from February 21 to 22.

Sino-Russian Relations

Close high-level contacts between China and Russia were made in 2001. President Jiang Zeming and President Vladimir Putin met several times, and especially the signing of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-Neighborly Friendship and Cooperation during the visit of President Jiang Zemin to Russia in July, 2001, laid a legal foundation for the development of long-term relations of friendship between the two countries. The main idea of the treaty is that the two countries and peoples will be “friends from generation to generation and will never be enemies.” As a programmatic document guiding the development of the relations between the two countries, it stresses non-alignment, non-confrontation and not being aimed at any third country, and sets an example for the international community in seeking security through mutual trust and seeking cooperation through mutual benefit. In September 2001, Premier Zhu Rongji visited Russia, further promoting all-round development of the economic and trade relations between the two countries.

Sino-EU Relations

The overall partnership relations between China and the EU are developing smoothly. In September 2001, Premier Zhu Rongji and current EU Chairman Guy Verhofstad, Prime Minister of Belgium, and Chairman Prodi of the EU Committee held the fourth meeting in Brussels, and decided to further expand and deepen equal and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, making the relations between the two sides enter a new stage in all aspects. Premier Zhu Rongji also visited Ireland and Belgium, by invitation. From October 27 to November 11, 2001, Vice-President Hu Jintao made formal visits to Britain, France, Spain and Germany, by invitation. From the end of October to early November, 2001, Chancellor Gerhard Schroder of Germany visited China, his third visit in two and half years.

Sino-Japanese Relations

In the spirit of “learning lessons from history and being geared to the future,” Sino-Japanese relations have returned to the track of normal development after many twists and turns, through the efforts of both sides. On October 8, 200l, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Lugouqiao southeast of Beijing, where the Chinese people’s anti-Japanese war broke out, and the nearby Memorial Hall of the War of Resistance Against Japan during a working visit to China. President Jiang Zemin met Prime Minister Koizumi later, during the Informal Summit of the APEC in Shanghai. The year 2002 marks the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan. The two countries have held various commemorative activities to further promote the friendly exchange and cooperation between the two sides.