Second, security depends on development. Security issue is a development issue to a certain extent, as competition for development resources and development spaces may trigger security conflicts. The world will definitely not be peaceful with only a small number of countries enjoying development and prosperity. Security risks may be fundamentally removed only through common development and common prosperity of all countries, regions and ethnic groups. In 2010, there were 1.2 billion people living below the poverty line of 1.25 US dollars a day, or 2.4 billion under 2 dollars a day. Countries of the South have a per capita income less than 1/4 of countries of the North. Such a status quo, with only a small number of countries being prosperous, and the vast developing world found in poverty and backwardness, must be changed. There could be no development of the world without the common development of the majority of countries. To reduce poverty and narrow the South-North gap is the fundamental approach and urgent task to uphold international security. We stand for enhancing the awareness of mankind being a community of shared destiny. The developed countries should shoulder more responsibility to help the developing countries accelerate development. Meanwhile, all countries should work together to build a new type of global development partnership that is more equitable and balanced, so that the sunshine of development could reach all corners of the earth, and all countries and peoples enjoy a good life.

Third, security depends on cooperation. Many of the security issues in today’s world have gone beyond national borders and regions. No country can stay aloof or achieve so-called absolute security by itself. As an African proverb goes, “When spiders unite, they can tie down a lion”. Cooperation is the correct choice for settling security issues. Since its founding 12 years ago, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), has played an important role in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism, and in maintaining peace and stability of the region and the world at large. China has also taken an active part in various forms of international security cooperation, and conducted joint exercises for counter-terrorism and disaster-relief purposes as well as defense security cooperation with over 20 countries. Facing growing global security challenges, we advocate a new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination, and pursue a new concept of comprehensive security, common security and cooperation-based security, so that the global village we live in will become a major stage for common development instead of a wrestling field. We need to expand international cooperation in the regulation of such “new frontiers” as the cyberspace, outer space and polar regions. China is ready to work with all countries to uphold the main role of the United Nations in handling international security affairs, and actively participate in regional security dialogue cooperation mechanisms such as the SCO, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), with a view to establishing an open, inclusive and equitable international and regional security cooperation architecture, and making the international order and the international system more just and reasonable.

Fourth, security depends on win-win principles. Win-win principles are cornerstone for sustained security. A Western saying goes, when goods don’t cross borders, soldiers will. The risk of security conflict will be significantly reduced when the interests of countries intertwine and converge. Although more than 20 years have passed since the end of the Cold War, the zero-sum Cold War mentality still lingers, as evidenced by the flaring wars and conflicts in some regions. A proverb in Latin America says that only when it is good for all can it be truly good for yourself. We maintain that countries should abandon the obsolete zero-sum security concept and view and handle international security issues based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation. No country should seek its own security at the expense of the security of other countries. We are resolutely opposed to acts that benefit oneself at others’ expense, shift trouble onto others, and still less to say, that destabilize a region or even the whole world for the sake of selfish interests.

According to the Chinese classic Book of Change, as heaven maintains vigor through movements, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-perfection; as earth’s condition is receptive devotion, a gentleman should hold the outer world with broad mind. This is where the motto of Tsinghua University comes from. Although the path towards peace is tortuous and difficult, peace is the common ideal of mankind and the trend of the times. I hope that peace-loving and visionary people of all countries will work together to pursue peace, development and security, and build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.