Jiang Addresses APEC Leaders' Meeting on Economic Development, Counter-terrorism

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, October 28, 2002

Jiang Addresses APEC Leaders' Meeting on Economic Development, Counter-terrorism

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Chinese President Jiang Zemin addressed Sunday the 10th annual Economic Leaders' Meeting of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum on a broad range of issues including economic development, global multilateral trading system and counter-terrorism.

Under the theme of "Expanding the Benefits of Cooperation for Growth and Economic Development -- Implementing the Vision," the 2002 APEC Economic Leaders Meeting was held at this seaside resort in northern Mexico on Saturday and Sunday. During the two-day meeting, APEC leaders focused their discussion on counter-terrorism and economic development in the Asia-Pacific region.

At the second-day session of the meeting, Jiang delivered a keynote address consisting of the following major points:

Economic Stability and Growth

Jiang said that achieving economic stability and growth at bothglobal and regional levels is an important task for the international community, stressing that no country can realize development behind closed doors in the world today.

"Given the risks and difficulties in global and regional economies, it is all the more essential to strengthen coordination and cooperation with one another," he said.

"We should all adopt down-to-earth fiscal and monetary policies, regulate and stabilize the market, and restore the investor and consumer confidence with a view to promoting economic growth," he added.

The Chinese president urged the developed countries to take thelead in adopting specific actions and shoulder greater responsibilities in this respect.

By speeding up trade and investment liberalization and facilitation on the one hand, and economic-technical cooperation on the other, APEC can make a contribution to restoring market confidence and enhancing a balanced development, Jiang explained.

APEC should help enhance the global competitiveness of its developing members through stronger measures of cooperation in capacity building, human resources development and finance, he said.

"It is for this purpose that China has initiated the APEC Finance and Development Program and the Human Capacity Building Promotion Program," Jiang noted, saying that substantive progress has been made in these projects thanks to the active participation of and enthusiastic support from the APEC members.

Global Multilateral Trading System

In the address, Jiang called for efforts to support a new open global multilateral trading system and move forward the new round of negotiations in the World Trade Organization (WTO), saying that a sound multilateral trading system and fair trading environment are key guarantees for a sustained and steady growth of world trade.

They are also an important precondition for countries to benefit from the ongoing economic globalization, he said, noting that although the new round of multilateral trade negotiations hasbeen launched, its progress is slow.

The parties should adopt a more pragmatic attitude, bearing in mind their common interests and endeavoring for a sound development of the multilateral trading system, he said. The needs of the developing countries should be given top consideration so that the new round of trade negotiations will truly become one for development, the Chinese president added.

This makes it essential for APEC to have an in-depth exchange of views on major issues of the new round of WTO negotiations, he said. "We should join efforts to resist trade protectionism and create conditions favorable for economic growth in all members and the healthy development of the multilateral trading system," he emphasized.

In recent years, there has been a rise in regional trade arrangements, which develop in parallel with the multilateral trading system. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity. As long as such arrangements are consistent with the basic principles of the WTO and the "Bogor Goals" laid out by APEC, they will contribute to the evolving trade and investment liberalization process in the Asia-Pacific region and the healthy development of the multilateral trading system, according to the Chinese president.

Counter-terrorism

In the address, Jiang called for efforts to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation so as to create an environment of peace and security for the region's development and prosperity.

He emphasized that as a victim of terrorism, China strongly condemns and opposes all forms of terrorism and reaffirms its support to international efforts against terrorism.

He explained that peace is the important prerequisite for global and regional economic growth, whereas terrorism is posing a serious threat to world peace.

It was at the 9th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting held in Shanghai last year that "we took the lead in making a firm and resounding declaration to fight terrorism collectively, which played a constructive role in getting the UN and other mechanisms to work cooperatively against terrorism," Jiang said.

What transpired in the past year shows that, as long as the international community cooperates closely and acts concertedly, it will be difficult for terrorism to strike again, he said.

"In the struggle against terrorism, we should focus on both remedies to cure the symptoms of terrorism and solutions to address its root causes. World peace and security will be safeguarded if the new security concept with the principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation at its coreis followed," Jiang said, adding that APEC should continue to playan active role in combating terrorism.

"Building on the APEC Economic Leaders' Statement on Counter-Terrorism adopted at the Shanghai Meeting, we should give greater expression to our resolve to fight international terrorism by enhancing our security cooperation in such areas as finance, customs, transportation and telecommunication," he noted.

The 2002 APEC Economic Leaders Meeting was intended to discuss economic and development issues. But in the wake of the deadly bombing on the Indonesian island of Bali, a series of terrorist attacks in the Philippines and hostage-taking by Chechen separatists in Moscow, global security issues dominated the meeting.

The meeting ended with the adoption of an Economic Leaders' Declaration on economic growth and two Counter-Terrorism Statements.

China's Role in Global Economic Development

In the address, Jiang said that China's rapid economic development over recent years will contribute to promoting the development of the world economy and creating more development opportunities.

"Facts have proved and will continue to prove, that China's development will bring about more opportunities for the economic development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large," he said.

A growing and more prosperous China will undoubtedly play a positive and constructive role in ensuring peace and development in the region and around the world, according to the president.

Thanks to the development over the past more than 20 years since China adopted the policy of reform and opening up to the outside world in 1978, China's modernization drive has made remarkable headway. China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November last year.

Jiang said that China's WTO membership marks a new stage of the process of reform and opening up.

"We will remain true to our commitments, working hard to develop an all-directional, multi-level and wide-ranging pattern of openness, and participating more broadly in international economic cooperation," Jiang said.

China will unswervingly follow the development path suited to its national conditions, adhere to the process of reform and opening up and press ahead with the socialist modernization drive, he noted.

APEC, set up in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies and to the need to advance Asia-Pacific economic dynamism and sense of community, now groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Economic Stability, Growth Remain Important Task: Jiang

Jiang Calls for Strengthening Anti-terrorism Cooperation

>> Full Coverage

China Opposes US Weapon Sales to Taiwan ( 37 Messages)

"China to Replace US as the Engine for World Economy": Interview ( 3 Messages)

China's Spacemen Expected to Dart off the Earth in Three Years ( 3 Messages)

Economist on China's Sustainable Economic Growth ( 10 Messages)

China Outlines Future Plans for Expansion of Road Network ( 28 Messages)