Chinese Vice Premier Calls for Cooperation Among Asia-Pacific Enterprises

Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen Thursday called for cooperation among enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region in their competition with an aim to boost common development and embrace economic prosperity.

Addressing the CEO Summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which opened early Thursday in Shanghai, Qian said that as a result of their productive efforts, business leaders in the Asia-Pacific region have not only contributed significantly to the economic prosperity and people's well-being in this region but also become an important force pushing forward economic cooperation in the region and the world at large.

He said Chinese President Jiang Zemin and many leaders from other APEC members will address the meeting of the elite of the Asia-Pacific business community. "This will be an occasion under the new situation for important communication and exchanges between entrepreneurs as well as between entrepreneurs and governments. It will help increase cooperation between enterprises and governments."

Qian said it is entirely possible for enterprises from different APEC economies to bring into play their respective comparative advantages, boost inter-regional economic and technological cooperation, optimize the allocation of resources in a wider scope and on a greater scale, and achieve an all-win outcome while seeking to maximize their profits.

This summit "will help the entrepreneurs from APEC economies to unite as one, pool their wisdom and efforts, and together face the grim challenge posed by the visible slowdown of world economic growth as well as the impact on world and regional economies resulting from the September 11 terrorist attack."

It will help them to explore modalities for the growth and development of enterprises in the new situation, look for ways to rejuvenate the Asia-Pacific economy and contribute their due share to stabilizing the economic situation in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole, he added.

China values its friendly cooperation with other APEC economies. They are China's important partners in economic cooperation and trade, he said.

China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) is imminent at present. Qian pointed out that China, which is at a new historic starting point, faces unprecedented opportunities for trade and investment.

He extended China's sincerely welcome to enterprises from various economies to come to China to grasp business opportunity and seek even greater progress.

"I'm sure that in the 21st century, through persistent efforts of all APEC members, the economy of the Asia-Pacific region will regain its vitality and the life of people in the region further improved," he said.






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