"They (the Chinese people) have always wanted to see the world in peace and live in harmony with all other peoples in the world. This is a tradition that has been deeply rooted in the Chinese culture," the vice-premier said at a welcome luncheon jointly hosted by the National Committee on US-China Relations, US-China Business Council, US-China Policy Foundation and the Nixon Center.

"It is our long-term tasks to go all out for economic development and steadily improve our people's life. We therefore need an external environmental of lasting peace more than anyone else," Qian, who is in Washington on a week-long visit, said in a speech.

He said that the fundamental objective of China's foreign policy is to safeguard peace and promote development, and China has committed itself to friendly relations and cooperation with all countries in the world.

As to China's defense policy, Qian noted that it is a " defensive" one. "Our military spending is only about 5 percent of that of the US, one third of Japan's and less than half of the U. K.'s," he noted.

"In the past 10 years and more, we have cut our defense forces twice, by a total of 1.5 million servicemen," Qian said, adding that "it is indeed groundless to clamor about China threat."

"With the growth of economic globalization and the arrival of a cyber age, China's future is closely linked with the destiny of the mankind. China's prosperity promises peace while its backwardness spells instability,"

(Xinhua 03/24/2001)