I.Non-traditional security issues have become more pronounced.

In today's world, the international situation is, on the whole, moving towards relaxation, and peace and development are the main theme of the times. At the same time, we must realize that development in the world is uneven and imbalanced, the gap between the rich North and the poor South is further widening, and the many traditional security issues triggered by ethnic, religious, territorial and natural resources disputes are far from being resolved. The September 11th incident indicates that non-traditional security issues as represented by international terrorism are of graver concern.

Terrorism, illicit drug, HIV/AIDS, piracy, illegal migration, environmental security, economic security, information security and other non-traditional security issues are more pronounced. They have become a new feature of the international and regional security environment, bringing new challenges to ARF members. The hallmark of these issues is that they are, in most cases, trans-national or trans-regional and are detrimental to the stability of all countries. Moreover, recent years have seen a noticeable rise of international terrorist activities, which constitutes a real threat to regional and international peace and is becoming an important factor of uncertainty affecting the security situation.


II.China's efforts to deal with non-traditional security issues

Like most countries in the world, China is now faced with growing non-traditional security threats.

On the one hand, China is seeking to enhance its own ability to resolve non-traditional security issues and taking all measures to crack down on trans-national crimes and address other non-traditional security problems. On the other, China strongly supports and actively participates in regional and international cooperation in this field. China has signed The United Nations Convention Against Trans-national Organized Crime and has been working to promote discussions on cooperation in non-traditional security areas at ARF and ASEAN plus China, Japan and ROK leader's meeting.

As for international cooperation on counter-terrorism, China supports an enhanced leading role of the United Nations in combating terrorism. China is a party to most of the international conventions on counter-terrorism and a supporter of ARF and APEC Leadership Meeting's declarations on counter-terrorism and concluded The Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism with other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in an effort to strengthen regional anti-terrorist cooperation. China has also conducted bilateral consultations on counter-terrorism with many countries.

In drug control cooperation, China has acceded to the three UN drug control documents, namely, The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, The Convention on Psychotropic Substances and The United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances . China has jointly launched a sub-regional drug control cooperation mechanism with Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and UNDCP and signed The Plan of Action of ASEAN and China Cooperative Operations in Response to Dangerous Drugs with ASEAN. China has also held a four-nation ministerial conference on drug control with Laos, Myanmar and Thailand to jointly identify

specific contents and targets for strengthened drug control cooperation.

In combating illegal migration and piracy, eliminating poverty and preventing HIV/AIDS, China has also taken a series of effective measures.

At the last year's ARF foreign minister's meeting, the Chinese side reiterated that ARF members, before conducting any bilateral or multilateral joint military exercises with other ARF members or/and non-ARF members, should notify each other well in advance and invite other ARF members to participate as observers. China is ready to send its observers to those military exercises that are designed to enhance cooperation in non-traditional security areas and will send for the first time observers to visit the Gold Cobra military exercises.


III.China's policy and position on cooperation in non-traditional security areas

Non-traditional security issues are very complicated as they are products of interwoven political, economic, ethnic, religious and other contradictions and have emerged against a profound historical and cultural background. Poverty, development gap, social injustice and unfairness are a hotbed of non-traditional security issues.

To seek a practical and effective way forward to address non-traditional issues in light of their characteristics is not only the common need of all countries in safeguarding their own security interests, but also a practical need for an enduring regional security environment of peace and stability. The Chinese side believes that in the cooperation in non-traditional security areas, emphasis should be given to the following points:

1. Trans-national issues need a trans-national cooperation. Given the trans-national and trans-regional nature of non-traditional security issues, enhanced coordination and closer regional and international cooperation among all countries are the only way to effectively meet the new challenges brought by these issues.

2. As non-traditional security threats cover a wide range of areas, it is important to address them through an integrated use of political, economic, diplomatic, legal, scientific and technological means and through cooperation in all possible forms and a step-by-step manner according to actual needs.

3. Prevention should be the priority in addressing non-traditional security issues. It is essential that we start with poverty alleviation and the establishment of a new, fair and equitable international order so as to prevent the breeding and spreading of non-traditional security problems in the first place.

4. Non-traditional and traditional security issues are intertwined and may affect and aggravate each other. The settlement of traditional issues may help resolve non-traditional ones.

5. In the cooperation in non-traditional security areas, it is important to observe the principle of mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs and foster a new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination. It is equally important to seek security through mutual trust, and enhance cooperation through mutual benefit.

As a responsible member of the international community, China stands ready to develop coordination and cooperation with other countries in the field of non-traditional security issues and encourage ARF to have further non-traditional security dialogue and cooperation so as to make positive contribution to the maintenance of regional peace and stability.