China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace. The basic objectives of this policy are to safeguard China's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, promote friendly exchanges and cooperation with other countries, work for a better international and peripheral environment for the country's reform, opening up and modernization drive, maintain world peace, and promote common
development. This policy includes the following:
1. Follow the principle of independence. In all international affairs, China decides its own stance and policy in the fundamental interests of the people of China and the world and according to the merits of issues concerned, it will not succumb to any external pressure, and it will not ally itself with any large country or any group of countries.
2. Oppose hegemonism and maintain world peace. China pursues a foreign policy of peace, and it will not go in for any military bloc, arms race or military expansion. China holds that countries should resolve their disputes and conflicts peacefully through consultation, no country should resort to the use or threat of force or interfere in the internal affairs of other countries on any pretext, and no country should, using its strength at will, bully, invade or subvert any other country. China has never forced its social system or ideology on any other country, nor will it allow others to impose their social systems or ideologies on itself. China will never seek hegemony.
3. Establish and develop relations of friendship and cooperation with all other countries on the basis of the five principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual nonaggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.