Li Peng interviewed on South Korean relations, Jiang leadership, and
nuclear weapons 
SOURCE: Source: 'Tong-a Ilbo', Seoul, in Korean 25 Feb 95
pp 3-4 
BODY:  Excerpts from "exclusive interview" with Chinese Premier Li
Peng by Kim Pyong-kwan, chairman of 'Tong-a Ilbo', at Zhongnanhai in
Beijing on 24th February; compiled by reporter Kim Chung-kun; 

   ...[Kim Pyong-kwan] Thank you for sparing your precious time from your
busy schedule. When you visited the ROK last year, the people of the ROK
were deeply impressed by your profound and dignified manner, and now have
even more special friendly feelings towards China. What is your view of
future ROK-PRC relations in various fields, including the political and
security fields as well as economic cooperation? 

   [Li] We are neighbours, one family in Northeast Asia. China hopes that
both North and South Korea enjoy prosperity. I am certain that if the
North and South as well as the countries concerned join their efforts,
Northeast Asia will have long-term stability, development and prosperity.
The PRC supports inter-Korean dialogue. I want to make it clear that the
Chinese government supports all measures for stability and the
preservation of peace on the Korean Peninsula... 

   [Kim] Since the PRC is our close neighbour, the people of the ROK are
always interested in your country. How is the health of Deng Xiaoping? 

   [Li] The socialist theory with Chinese characteristics founded by
comrade leader Deng Xiaoping has taken deep root in the minds of our
people, and has already provided great benefits to our people. The lines
and policies established by Comrade Deng will be continuously maintained
and implemented.  In our country, the period of transition from the
second-generation revolutionary leadership to the third-generation
leadership is complete; the power transfer tothe third-generation centred
around President Jiang Zemin is complete. Such leadership will effectively
lead the Chinese people. Comrade Deng will be of great strength for our
people even after his death. 

   [Kim] The 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Asia
falls in 1995. The PRC has become a responsible member of the
international community,and ROK-PRC relations have been normalized. What
is your impression on celebrating the 50th anniversary of the end of the
Second World War? What is your assessment of the 20th century, a century
of revolution, war and liberation? 

   [Li] This year is the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World
War as well as the 50th anniversary of victory in the worldwide war
against fascism, including the Chinese people's anti-Japanese struggle.
The people of the world should make great efforts towards a durable peace
and development this year... 
   On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of victory in the anti- fascist
war, the PRC will actively participate in various events to be held all
over the world to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World
War. Each country's government and people ought to heed the warning of
history and sincerely ponder the experiences and lessons learned from the
changes in mankind in this century. We should not forget the past, which
can serve as a guide in the future; we should enter a peaceful, prosperous
and stable 21st century.  As has constantly been proved by history and
reality, hegemonism and authoritarianism always failed to win the people's
confidence. Peace and development are two great issues of this century. It
promotes and develops the common hopes of people of all countries to
protect peace, respect one another and strengthen their cooperation. The
PRC will continue to make efforts for world peace and development in
handling international issues. 

   [Kim] The 21st century is being called "the age of Asia" or "the age of
Asia and the Pacific" . The 21st century is just five years away. To put
it concretely, the age of Asia will occur along with the liberalization of
trade and investment in this region, which will be realized by 2020
according to the Bogor Declaration adopted at a meeting of the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation [APEC]. I would like to hear your
blueprint for the coming age. 

   [Li] It is the common hope of all countries in the Asia-Pacific region
to strengthen cooperation and promote economic development. APEC's Bogor
Declaration presents a future image of international economic cooperation
in theAsia-Pacific region. The PRC agrees with the long-term goal of
liberalizing trade and investment in this region, which was established by
APEC leaders at aninformal meeting in Bogor, Indonesia. To achieve this
goal, principles on opening up and on equality must be observed. In my
opinion, APEC member countries whose economic development levels are
different may each have their own timetable for liberalizing trade and
investment, and cannot help but assume different positions and methods in
other fields. When this is accepted, it will be possible to promote
economic development in the Asia-Pacific region in conformity with the
various realities of this region. The reform and opening up the PRC is now
pushing ahead with are indeed practical measures for liberalizingtrade and
investment. Further development of the PRC's economy will be of great help
in achieving the goal of liberalizing trade and investment. 

   [Kim] The question I am going to ask is linked to the previous one.
Scholars predict that Western culture will soon fade out, and that
Oriental culture will dominate the world. If this is true, how do you
think Oriental and Western countries will narrow the gap and differences
between their cultures to achieve harmony? 

   [Li] ...In the course of reform, opening up and construction for
modernization, the PRC will continue to earnestly learn about the
excellent cultural results, advanced sciences and technologies, and
management experience of other countries, and will accelerate the
development of its construction work for modernization by accepting sound
Western cultural goods. 

   [Kim] It seems the principle of the PRC's diplomacy is based on the
spirit ofthe UN Charter and "Zhou Enlai's five-point peace principle"
declared in 1954 (1. territorial integrity and mutual respect of
sovereignty; 2. nonaggression; 3. noninterference in domestic affairs ; 4.
equality and reciprocity; and 5. peaceful coexistence). When you visited
the ROK in October 1994, you promised to cooperate in implementing the
Geneva Agreement between North Korea and the United States as regards the
North Korean nuclear issue and the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue.
What is the PRC government's idea for guaranteeing peace in Northeast
Asia, including the Korean Peninsula? What is the basic direction of the
PRC's policy on the Korean Peninsula? And what does the PRC suppose are
the roles of the United States and Japan in Northeast Asia? 

   [Li] The PRC government's basic policy towards the Korean Peninsula is
to alleviate tensions on the peninsula and preserve peace and stability,
for this is not only in the interest of both North and South Korea but is
also conducive to the peace and development of Northeast Asia and the
world. To this end, we have consistently supported dialogue and
negotiation as a way to solve the problems betwen North and South.
Achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and effectively
solving the problems will be an important step to alleviating tensions on
the Korean Peninsula and improving North-South relations. We welcome the
settlement of the nuclear issue between North
 Korea and the United States, and are grateful for the constructive
efforts the concerned countries have made. The PRC wishes the alleviation
of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the achievement of long-term
peace and stability; we will support all efforts to this end. In
consideration of the specific natureof Norteast Asia, the United States
and Japan should make active efforts for the alleviation of tensions on
the Korean Peninsula and for the improvement of relations among the
countries in this region. The United States, one of the countries
concerned with the Korean Peninsula, must take particular responsibility
for this. We hope the United States and Japan will normalize relations
with North Korea and make beneficial contributions to stability and
development in this region. 

   [Kim] The PRC recently conducted a nuclear test; a report says the PRC
will continue nuclear testing in the future. In Northeast Asia, the PRC
possesses nuclear weapons, Japan has the capability to develop nuclear
weapons and the suspicions over North Korea's nuclear programme have not
been completely resolved. The possession or potential possession of
nuclear weapons by the three countries of Northeast Asia can disturb the
peace in this region. How will the PRC, which has advocated the
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, resolve the nuclear problem in
Northeast Asia? What measures are necessary to achieve the
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as viewed by the PRC?  What is
the purpose of and use for the PRC's nuclear weapons, continual nuclear
testing, and development and possession of newer-style nuclear weapons now
that the Cold War is over following the collapse of the Soviet Union? 

[Li] The PRC is a nuclear state, but has conducted fewer nuclear tests
than other nuclear states.  The PRC is also making active efforts so that
a treaty for a total ban on nuclear testing will be signed as soon as
possible. In case this treaty is signed, the PRC will suspend all nuclear
testing. The PRC supports the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. 
   The PRC is the first state that proclaimed its opposition to
pre-emptive nuclear strikes as well as the use and threat of nuclear
weapons against nonnuclear states. We hope other nuclear states will take
the same attitude as shown by the PRC. The PRC has no desire to
permanently [Korean: yongguhi] possess nuclear weapons. 
   We have already proposed the signing of a treaty for the total ban on
nuclear weapons. We hope other nuclear states, particularly those which
possess many nuclear weapons, will respond positively to this proposal so
that the objective of a total abolition and ban on nuclear weapons will be
realized. 

   [Kim] The environmental problem has become serious with the PRC's
economic development. According to a report, pollution from the PRC is
feared to be turning the Yellow Sea into a dead sea. Is the PRC prepared
to take the lead in preventing the Yellow Sea from being contaminated by
issuing a joint declaration and establishing a joint organization with the
ROK and Japan for environmental preservation of the Yellow Sea? 

   [Li] The PRC government has long since attached great importance to
marine environmental preservation. The PRC government legislated and
promulgated "The Marine Environmental Preservation Law of the PRC" in
1982, and has promulgated aseries of six relevant laws and regulations
since then. Last year the PRC ratified "The PRC's Objective of State
Affairs for the 21st Century - The PRC's White Paper for Population and
Environmental Development for the 21st Century" and also put forth the
objective of the continuous development and protection ofmarine resources.
The PRC has also built a national marine environmental observation network
and regularly examines the marine environmental situation. At the same
time, the PRC has been conducting work to designate a marine environmental
protection zone and prevent contamination by ships moored at port.As for
the environmental problem of the Yellow Sea, as seen in the 1993 Statement
on the PRC Environmental Situation and in the results of observations and
measurements over the last few years, the quality of most of the sea water
along the PRC's coast is satisfactory [yangho]. We have received an
appraisal that the quality of the water along the coast of the central
Gulf of Pohai and the Yellow Sea in particular is generally satisfactory.
The seas which are relatively far from land are basically not
contaminated. 
            
   [Kim] As for the political and economic situation in the post-first
generation PRC to be developed henceforth, optimistic and pessimistic
views are intermingled. What are your measures to cope with problems such
as the gap between urban and rural areas, complaints by peasants, and the
blind influx of people into the vicinity of cities, all of which are
caused by the PRC-style socialist system and the transition from a planned
to a market economy? 
   Under what political and economic system will the next generation of
the PRC lead their lives peacefully and affluently in the 21st century? 

   [Li] Having implemented the policy of reform and opening up centred on
economic construction, and having built a socialism characteristic of the
PRC since 1979, the PRC has significantly transformed its features. The
PRC economy has now entered a rapid and sound development. Economic
development promotes political stability. Reform and opening up have been
of great help to the people. With the definite improvement in the people's
standard of living, the party and government command the full support and
loyalty of the people. All people across the country are waging a vigorous
struggle to achieve the next strategic target under the leadership of the
party Central Committee centred around Comrade Jiang Zemin. Therefore,
there is no reason for any pessimism about the future of the PRC. The
future of the PRC is very bright.  Because the PRC's reform and opening
up, and its building of a socialist market economic system, are original
work, we could come up against a new situation or new problem. The PRC
government will properly solve the problems we encounter through a
balanced harmony between reform, development and stability. As is well
shown by the result of the reform and opening up the PRC has implemented
over the last 16 years, the PRC will ensure that the Chinese people lead
peaceful and affluent lives through the socialism characteristic of the
PRC. As they do now, so will they in the future. 

   [Kim] Thank you very much.