Chinese President Urges Unity, Cooperation Among Developing NationsChinese President Jiang Zemin Friday urged the world's developing countries to strengthen their unity and cooperation so as to establish a new international political and economic order.In an address here to the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jiang said developing countries should boost unity and make joint efforts to set up a just and rational new international political and economic order. He pointed out that new competition, confrontation and challenges have made the world develop in an inharmonious way and the democratization of international relations is far from being realized. "The unfair and irrational international political and economic order has remained unchanged and has become even worse in certain aspects." Therefore, he said, developing countries are facing more arduous tasks in safeguarding their state sovereignty, security and interests. And while enjoying greater opportunity for development, they also confront challenges that must be dealt with seriously. Jiang called on developing countries to accelerate democratization in the international relations, promote reform in the world economic, financial and trade systems, defend their own legitimate rights and interests and win the right for equal development. To enhance consultation and South-South cooperation is an important means for developing countries to face the changes in the international situation and improve their overall strength and international status, the Chinese president added. "Developing countries should actively participate in the South- North dialogue on the basis of equality and mutual benefit in an effort to improve South-North relations," he said. He also asked developed countries to take into consideration the interests of developing countries and work together with them to solve their problems such as lack of fund, heavy debt and backward technology. Developed and developing countries should respect each other, carry out dialogue, seek common points while reserving differences and strive for common development, Jiang said. The Chinese president also appealed to developing countries to tap their own potential for further development. Jiang is on a six-nation Latin America tour, which will also take him to Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Cuba and Venezuela. |
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