STRIVING FOR COOPERATION

    Meanwhile, the year has seen cooperation replacing confrontation, especially the increasing cultural exchanges between key players in the international arena.

    China launched the "Year of Russia" in March, staging more than 250 events in trade, investment, culture and other fields. It highlighted closer than ever ties between the two neighbors.

    The drive for cooperation also includes efforts to promote dialogue of different civilizations, being actively sought for by the Islamic world and African countries with their Western counterparts.

    China, a champion of the inter-civilization dialogue and cooperation in pursuit of peace and development, calls for the building of a harmonious world. The idea is being acknowledged by more and more countries in the world.

    With deep-rooted concerns still to be tackled and the trend for increased multilaterism and cooperation, the new year is expected to bring more of what we have seen in 2006: a world dominated by the balance of power, but not exempt from encounters over the UN reforms, human rights, security issues and development between the West and the developing countries.