On September 27, 2004, during the general debate of the 59th UN General Assembly, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing pointed out that peace, development and cooperation are a necessary requirement for the development of the era. Say Yes to peace, development and cooperation and No to war, poverty and conflict have become the strong appeal of people of all countries in the world.

Li Zhaoxing stressed that peace is the precondition for the development and prosperity of mankind and it will be impossible for any country to develop without a peaceful and stable international environment. Peace and development remain to be the overriding themes of the times. However, the light of peace has yet not reached out to every corner of the world, and traditional and non-traditional threats to security interweave with each other. The danger of war is looming, and hot issues keep cropping up. Terrorist activities remain rampant, transnational problems such as the spread of weapons of mass destruction, drug trafficking, trans-border crimes and illegal migration erupt one after another. Unstable, uncertain and unpredictable factors are increasing. To cope with security issues, all countries in the world should go beyond the differences of ideology and social system, stick to the new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation, promote democracy in international relations and solve disputes through peaceful dialogue.

Li said that development is the basis for the advance of human civilizations. To promote coordinated, balanced and common development throughout the world is the only way to ensure permanent peace and stability. In order to realize the development objectives set by the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, the international community should take strong measures, build an open and fair multilateral trading system, reform and improve international financial regime and establish a fair, reasonable international economic new order conducive to the trend of globalization and in the interests of all countries in the world.

Li emphasized that cooperation is an effective tool to cope with the challenges faced by mankind. International cooperation must be strengthened and multilateralism must be exercised to solve such global issues as disarmament, non-proliferation and fight against terrorism. The UN is the core of the international multilateral mechanism and the best venue to exercise multilateralism. The world is looking forward to seeing a dynamic and energetic UN. China supports necessary and well-grounded reforms of the UN according to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter so as to strengthen the organization's leading role in international affairs, raise its ability to cope with new threats and challenges and better embody the appeal and needs of developing countries. All member states should honor their commitments to the UN Charter and faithfully perform their international missions and obligations.

Li pointed out that a constantly developing China serves as a major force to resolutely maintain world peace, promote common development and advance international cooperation. After more than half a century of hard work, especially after more than twenty years of reform and opening-up, China has stepped into the new stage of building a well-off society in an all-round way. However, China is still a developing country. With a large population and a rather weak economic foundation, China still has a long way to go in order to realize its development objectives. China will, as always, take development as the top priority in governing and rejuvenating the country and keep its own house in order, which itself makes a great contribution to the global peace and stability. The growth of China will stand in the way of nobody, nor does it threat anyone. China follows a road of peaceful development. Its development requires a peaceful and stable international environment, and in turn its development will further promote the peace and progress of the entire world.

Li said that China stands for peace, development and cooperation, insists to seek peace and promoting development through cooperation, supports the democratization of international relations and diversification of development modes, safeguards the richness of world civilizations, advocates new security concept and is committed to promoting the establishment of a just and fair new world order.

Li said that China will consistently follow an independent foreign policy of peace, adheres to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and strengthen the stable development of bilateral ties with major countries in the world; hold the principle of good-neighborliness and link its efforts to strengthen bilateral friendship to that to enhance regional cooperation; enhance solidarity and cooperation with developing countries and support the righteous requirements and well-grounded opinions of developing countries in international affairs; play a constructive role in a number of multilateral fields like politics, economy, society, disarmament and arms control, safeguard the purposes and principles of UN Charter and universally recognized norms of international relations and support the consensus which are in the interests of all countries in the world.

On the Taiwan issue, Li stressed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. To safeguard state sovereignty and territorial integrity and realize complete reunification of the motherland at an early date is the common aspiration and strong will of the 1.3 billion Chinese people. The Chinese government adheres to the principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems". We will try our utmost with greatest sincerity to seek peaceful reunification. However, we will never tolerate "Taiwan independence" nor allow anybody to split Taiwan from China in whatever form.

Li expressed his hope that the international community should fully understand the complexity and sensitivity of the current situation across the Taiwan Straits, realize the serious damages of Taiwan authorities' separatist activities to the stability across the Straits and to the peace in Asia and Pacific, continue to support the efforts of the Chinese government to realize national reunification, jointly curb the activities of "Taiwan separatists" and promote the stability across the Taiwan Straits and peace throughout the world.

During his speech Li also explained the position of the Chinese government on the Iraqi issue, peaceful negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, cracking down on terrorism, disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, etc.

The speech of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing received warm applause and high compliments from all the delegates present at the Assembly. The delegates of more than 100 countries expressed congratulations to Li in a line.