Full Text of Speech by Jiang Zemin at Opening Ceremony of ADB Annual Meeting

Home>>Business

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, May 10, 2002

Full Text of Speech by Jiang Zemin at Opening Ceremony of ADB Annual Meeting

Following is the full text of a speech made by Chinese President Jiang Zemin at the opening ceremony of the 35th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which opened in Shanghai on Friday.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Unity and Cooperation in Asia for Peace and Development in the World

Speech by President Jiang Zemin of the People's Republic of China at the 35th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank , 10 May 2002

Distinguished members of delegations, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is amidst spring blossom and warm breeze of south China that the 35th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank solemnly opens here in Shanghai. First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Government and people and also in my own name, I wish to express our warmest congratulations on the convocation of the Meeting and our sincere welcome to all the participants.

Thirteen years ago, the 22nd Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors was held in Beijing. Since then, profound changes have taken place both in China and around the world. What the people of all lands have wanted so much of the new century is a world of lasting peace and universal prosperity. I am delighted that China is hosting such an important event once again at this historical juncture.

The ADB annual meeting provides us with an occasion to address the issues of development in Asia. Hence, I wish to take this opportunity to share my views with you on the development prospects both in Asia and globally.

In today's world, the international situation has been undergoing deep changes. Peace and development remain overriding themes of our times. It has become the popular will of all countries to desire peace and stability rather than war and turmoil, and to achieve prosperity and progress rather than poverty and underdevelopment. With continued surge of world multipolarization and economic globalization, modern sciences spearheaded by IT and life science are making rapid advances. The fervent hope for lasting peace and universal prosperity of the people around the world is a powerful driving force behind our progress. Mankind's lofty cause of peace and development has held out bright prospects.

However, the unfair and inequitable old international political and economic order has not been fundamentally changed. Local wars, tensions and turbulences crop up one after another and terrorism and other non-traditional security problems have become all the more pronounced. Economic development around the world remains highly uneven. Quite a number of developing countries, in particular, are experiencing severe difficulties and the gap between the South and the North is further widening. Uncertainties in the international situation are on the rise. The lofty cause of peace and development is faced with challenges which must not be overlooked.

At such a crucial moment, the governments and people of all countries should go along with the trend of the times by enhancing exchanges and cooperation, carefully mapping out and persisting in the right direction of world development and working together to create a new century of peace and development.

The achievement of this common historic mission requires that we:

--- Vigorously push for a multi-polar world and democratized international relations. Unlike a replay of hegemonic rivalries and partition of the world into spheres of influence of the old time, the multi-polar world we advocate is one that features competition on an equal footing, mutually-beneficial cooperation, peaceful coexistence and common prosperity among all countries and regions in the world. By democratized international relations, we mean that affairs of each country should be decided by its own people, affairs between countries should be handled through consultations among them as equal members, and global challenges should be taken on by all countries working in close cooperation. So doing helps reflect the will and interests of the people of various countries and serves a balanced development of the world.

--- Strive to establish a new international economic order that suits the development levels and requirements of all countries. The root cause for the uneven global development lies in the absence of a fair and reasonable international economic order. Efforts should be made to reform the irrational international financial and trade regimes by encouraging an orderly and equitable flow of various economic factors and ensuring the equal rights of all countries, developing countries in particular, to development consistent with economic globalization. At the same time, there should be increase development assistance to the developing countries and an enhanced role of international development agencies in transferring resources with a view to promoting a more rational distribution of the gains of economic globalization and a fairer sharing of the fruits of development.

--- Fully respect the diversity in human civilizations. Diversity is an intrinsic feature of our world. The common pursuit of progress by mankind can only be expressed by way of different civilizations, and the popular aspiration for a better life in all countries may be realized through different paths to development. All civilizations and development paths ought to exist side by side harmoniously, learning from one another amidst competition and interaction and making progress on the basis of seeking common ground while shelving differences. The development of each country will inevitably follow its own historical orbit. Countries at different stages of development should conduct exchanges and friendly cooperation as equal partners and on the basis of mutual respect. Ladies and Gentlemen,

Asia is the biggest continent in the world, accounting for nearly 1/3 of the world's landmass, 3/5 of the world's population and a quarter of the world's economic aggregates. With a time- honored history and brilliant cultures, Asian peoples are known for their fine qualities of self-esteem, self-confidence, diligence, courage, frugality and hard work. They have achieved remarkable successes to the worldwide admiration in their centuries-long endeavors for independence, liberation and development after overcoming numerous difficulties and setbacks.

Throughout the long course of history, the people in Asia have made outstanding contribution to the advancement of humanity. In the 21st century that is full of promises, Asia should, and can, make even greater contribution to the progress of human civilization.

At present, Asia is faced with both new opportunities and new challenges in its development. While enjoying, on the whole, a situation of peace and stability, Asia has possessed enormous potential and advantages for development as it remains the world's most dynamic economic region with the vastest growth potentials. The deep-going economic globalization and rapid scientific and technological progress are all conducive to Asian countries' use of international capital and advanced know-how and their access to the international market, thus accelerating the development of their own economies. However, the security situation in certain Asian areas allows little optimism and the fight against terrorism needs to go still deeper. Economic globalization, while generating development opportunities, has added uncertainties to world economic environment and made it harder for the developing economies within the region to restructure and fend off the external shocks.

In order to seize the opportunities, meet the challenges and accelerate development, Asian countries should step up their own efforts and work in closer regional cooperation with Asian characteristics. Asian countries vary in national conditions, development levels and cultures. Rather than an obstacle to regional cooperation, this will make stronger Asian cooperation all the more meaningful. Such cooperation will help Asian countries further expand their market and use their resources@extensively, promote a rational development of world multipolarization and economic globalization, and contribute to greater peace and prosperity in the world.

It is gratifying to note that thanks to concerted efforts of Asian countries, regional cooperation in Asia has been growing ever stronger in recent years. With the preliminary establishment of such cooperation mechanisms as the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation, East Asian Cooperation, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and others, an open, healthy and mutually beneficial cooperation pattern has taken shape.

Here, I would like to make a few proposals for stronger regional cooperation in Asia. First, we need to make concerted efforts to cultivate a political environment of mutual understanding and good neighborliness bearing in mind the overall interests of development in Asia. Second, we need to carry out the principles of consultations on an equal footing, reciprocity and mutual benefit to give full expression to the equal rights and common interests of all parties. Third, while sticking to the principles of diversity in forms and gradual progress, we should base ourselves on the existing cooperative mechanisms and constantly explore new ways of cooperation, centering first and foremost on closer sub-regional cooperation and probing for, on such basis, effective approaches to Asian cooperation. Fourth, we should continue to pursue the open regionalism so that Asian cooperation will provide the world's other regions with fresh development opportunities while tapping the development potential within the region.

As the largest multilateral development agency in the region, ADB has made important contributions to Asia's economic development over the years. China appreciates the tremendous job ADB has done in facilitating regional efforts to remove poverty and the significant results it has achieved in promoting sub- regional economic cooperation in Asia. Here, I also wish to thank the non-Asian ADB members for their contribution to Asian development.

We value the positive role of ADB in China's modernization program and stand ready to deepen our cooperation with the bank. It is my hope that ADB will provide still more preferential funds to the developing members so that they can make greater headway in poverty reduction and productivity enhancement. I hope that ADB will keep up its vigorous support to regional and sub-regional cooperation in Asia and help forge closer partnership among its members. I also hope that ADB will uphold the just and objective development concepts and development policies and work more actively for the establishment of a new economic order in Asia and around the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Chinese people love peace and long for a better life. China 's development is an important part of the cause of Asian and the world peace and development. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China and particularly the adoption of reform and opening up, China has undergone a great historic transformation in its society and scored universally recognized achievements in its development. Having reached the strategic goals for the first and second stages of its modernization drive, China has delivered a comfortable living standard to its people nationwide. Shanghai, the venue of our meeting, is a good miniature of a robust China in reform, opening up and modernization drive. Compared with the developed countries, however, China is still quite backward in productive forces and technological capacity. Its economic and cultural progress is not evenly distributed. It still needs long and hard efforts before it can basically realize modernization and allow its entire people a constantly rising living standard. In the new century, the Chinese people will continue to focus on economic development, seize the opportunities, to deepen reform and opening up, maintain stability and work relentlessly to realize the goal for the third stage of the modernization drive.

What we have learned from our experience of reform and development is indeed very profound. For a big developing country of over one billion people such as China to proper, it is essential to follow a path of development that is suitable to the national conditions of its own, strive to maintain the unity and tranquility in its society and constantly focus on the improvement of peoples' life. No matter what difficulties or dangers that may lie ahead, the Chinese people will stick to this path of their own choosing in the future.

China's recent accession to the World Trade Organization marks the beginning of a new stage in the country's reform and opening up to the outside world. It will participate more broadly and@intensively in international economic competition and cooperation, open still wider to the rest of Asia and the world at large. Strictly honoring its commitments, China will gradually expand its openness, constantly improve its legal system and create a market environment that is more fair and transparent. China's WTO membership will inject fresh vitality into growth momentum of China, Asia and the world. The Chinese people will be better off because of it. So will the people living in the rest of Asia and around the world.

A more developed China means a stronger force for peace and progress in Asia and the world. No matter how the world may evolve, China will forever be a good neighbor, a good friend and a good partner to other Asian countries, and forever a staunch force in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

I am convinced of the bright prospects for Asia and the world. Let us join hands to work for solidarity and cooperation among Asian countries, for solidarity and cooperation between Asian peoples and people in the rest of the world, and for an even better future for all.

May the ADB annual meeting be a complete success!

Thank you.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Jiang Assures More Open Market for Asia and World

35th ADB Annual Meeting Opens in Shanghai

>> Full Coverage

Jiang Calls for Joint Efforts Towards Growth of Sino-US Ties ( 153 Messages)

Know Who to Love, Who to Hate ( 299 Messages)

China's First Magnetic Suspension Test Track Built ( 57 Messages)

China's Economy to Grow Above Six Percent ( 80 Messages)

"Washington Times" at Anti-China Tricks Again ( 127 Messages)

Karl Marx Still Remembered by Chinese ( 90 Messages)

Spirit of May 4 Movement Still Inspires Chinese Youth ( 35 Messages)

Protests Prompt Retailer to Pull T-shirts Mocking Chinese-Americans ( 284 Messages)

Harvard Project in China Violates Farmers' Rights ( 13 Messages)