China's national defense policies are defensive in nature. China seeks no hegemony, expansion or overseas deployment, and enters no military alliance or arms race. Its military expenditure has been kept at a low level. In fact, had other nuclear-weapons states adopted the same policies like China does, the world we live today would have witnessed a totally different situation of the nuclear disarmament. Friends, ladies and gentlemen, Chinese people are peace-loving people.
China is an important force for peace in Asia and in the world at large.
Today China is concentrating all its efforts on peaceful development. China's economic development can only strengthen the complementary nature of the world economy, promote common prosperity and consequently is conducive to peace and stability in Asia and in the world as a whole. As the new century is approaching, we are ready to work together with the people of all countries for the complete prohibition and thorough elimination of nuclear weapons and for a better future.