Chinese Ambassador to the United States Li Daoyu glorified China's economic progress and skirted questions about human rights violations before a packed Cook Auditorium last night.
Li said 1997 is particularly significant for the Chinese because it marks the 19th year since Deng Xiao Ping's revolution, which opened up business opportunities for the outside world, including the United States.
Since opening its market, China has rapidly integrated into the world trading system, Li said. Over the past 19 years, trade has grown from $20 billion to $290 billion.
In order to further boost trade, China cut import tariffs in 1996 on 4,900 items by 30 percent, lowering the general level of tariffs from the current 35 percent to 23 percent, Li said.
By the year 2000, China will reduce the tariff level to 15 percent, Li said.
"We have tried to transform its economy into a social market economy and open its market to more international partners," he said.
In the 1980s, the Gross National Product rose between eight and nine percent and has been rising at 11 percent annually for the past six years. Due to the rapid economic prosperity in recent years, the life expectancy in China has doubled to 70 years, Li said. In 1945, the average life expectancy was only 55 years.
"With the real income rising within the past years, our people's quality of life has improved steadily," Li said. "People are living much longer and enjoying better lives."
Economic reform will remain China's top priority, Li said. In order to accomplish this, China will need full cooperation from all the countries including the United States.
China is optimistic about its economic prospects but aware of the challenges that lie ahead, Li said.
Despite the steady increase in the economy, 65 million of the 1.2 billion people in China still live in poverty. "We must feed 20 percent of the world's population on seven percent of the world's arable land," Li said.
1997 also marks the return of Hong Kong to the Chinese government. China will regain possession of Hong Kong on July 1, 1997.
"The cessation of Hong Kong for150 years was a national shame, and this shame will be cleared," Li said. "Hong Kong's return to the motherland has been a long-cherished wish of the Chinese people."
Despite Hong Kong's return to China, Hong Kong's autonomous government will remain in place for the next 50 years, Li said. The court system and police will remain the same, and Hong Kong will still be governed by the people of Hong Kong.
Li also addressed the possibility of reunification with Taiwan. Li said he doubts a peaceful reunification can occur until Taiwan accepts the "One China" policy.
"Taiwan authorities have been going down the dangerous road of separation," Li said. "It has separated Taiwan from the mainland."
Some audience members asked Li about human rights violations in Tibet. Li said China has made the proper reparations to Tibet by giving money for the temples destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.
"The most important human right is the right to develop," Li said. "We have to feed, clothe and house billions of people."
Li said he believes economic progress is the only way to achieve full human rights.
"China will continue to develop friendly relations with all countries," Li said. "It is always China's commitment that countries should respect each other, engage in peaceful cooperation and work for common prosperity regardless of difference in ideology or culture."
