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in the building of international order.
The current international order is not
perfect. It needs to be reformed to answer
the call of the times and be fairer and
more justified. China is ready to be more
active in international rule-making and
improvement and to continue to undertake
international responsibilities and obligations
in line with our national capacity.
Finally, China has been consistently promoting
domestic and world development.
On one hand, we concentrate on solving
our own development issues. As a major
country, China’s continuous development
can benefit the world at large. Over the
past five years, China’s contribution to
the world economy exceeded 20 percent,
making us a crucial engine for global
economic growth. Since China joined the
WTO in 2001, our annual import averages
$750 billion. We have created more than
14 million jobs worldwide. In the next five
years, China’s total imports are expected
to exceed $8 trillion, which will create
more business opportunities for other
countries.
On the other hand, China is an important
player and champion in world
development. We are willing to work
together with other countries to advance
the UN Millennium Development Agenda
and jointly promote world prosperity and
progress.
China’s achievements in the past few
decades are unprecedented. To better
understand China, where China is going
and seizing the immense opportunities
brought in by China’s development, the
world needs to see China through our
soaring growth and gigantic changes.
China is also willing to have open and
candid dialogue and cooperation with
other countries. The world will see China
as it is — a country of good faith, sense
of responsibility and respect for others
but a country that shall never be bullied.
It is a country that has been advocating
socialist democratic politics in accordance
with its national conditions and values
and respects and protects human rights
— a country facing numerous challenges,
but which always keeps a fresh mind
and sticks to reform and opening up, a
country that learns from others, pursues
equal treatment, harmonious co-existence,
mutual benefit and common development
with other countries. The world can feel
comfortable and confident in dealing with
China.
Zhang Junsai is China’s ambassador to
Canada.
High Commission OF Rwanda
In defence of Paul Kagame
By Edda Mukabagwiza
In response to an article that appeared
in your summer edition, permit me to
indicate where Rwanda stands today
and where we are heading under the leadership
of President Paul Kagame.
While your readers know the agony
Rwanda and its people went through during
the 1994 genocide, and how it shattered
our political and economic infrastructure,
Rwanda is now a changed nation, one offering
hope to all its people for the future,
peaceful coexistence, freedom, development
and national harmony.
Overcoming the challenges presented by
the genocide has been a collective effort by
every Rwandan. Developing and improving
institutions have also transformed us
into a nation that is currently praised for its
recovery and admired by many.
On her recent African tour, U.S. Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton praised
Rwanda for being one of the African countries
successfully diversifying its economy,
creating jobs in different sectors and reducing
poverty. Rwanda has launched
a remarkable turnaround by replacing a
stagnant economy with steady growth, a
vibrant democracy, improved governance
and decreased poverty.
Rwanda continues for the fourth year
in a row to outperform many countries in
making it easy for business start-ups. It
moved up 12 positions in 2011 according
to the World Bank’s latest Doing Business
report, which measures 183 countries annually
on how easy or difficult it is for local
entrepreneurs to open and run their businesses.
In 2011 alone, Rwanda introduced
several initiatives, which means that it now
takes an average of 24 hours to start a business
compared to the 45-day average for
the African continent.
My country is one of the safest and most
transparent countries in Africa and has a
president who does all he can to attract
new businesses. Paul Kagame has provided
vision, energy and direction in improving
the overall business climate. A host of
reforms have positioned Rwanda as an investment
destination and attracted foreign
Rwandan High Commissioner Edda Mukabagwiza argues that President Paul Kagame has
provided “vision, energy and direction in improving the overall business climate.”
UN PHOTO
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