Premier: China's development to benefit Asia ( 2003-11-02 14:05) (Xinhua)
China's reform, opening-up and further economic development will surely bring
more development opportunities and tangible benefits to other Asian countries,
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Sunday at the second annual conference of Boao
Forum for Asia.
"We will stick to our opening-up policy, honor our WTO commitment, make our
market more accessible with improved investment environment in general and
better business conditions for Asian and other entrepreneurs in particular," Wen
said.
China will encourage its enterprises of various types of ownership to invest
overseas in implementing the country's "go global" strategy, he added.
The first twenty years of this century represent a crucial stage of China's
development, a stage of building a well-off society in an all-round way.
"While firmly taking economic development as our central task and striving
for greater scope and quality of economic growth, China will properly balance
economic development with social development with a view to achieving a
comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable progress in the country," the premier
said.
He said China will press ahead reform at all fronts, improve its socialist
market economic system and constantly add new impetus to the country's economic
and social development.
China's development benefits Asia and world
The sustained and rapid growth of the Chinese economy has not only benefited
the Chinese people, but also made the people in the rest of Asia and other parts
of the world more prosperous, Wen said.
Wen said that having overcome the difficulties caused by the SARS outbreak
and serious natural disasters, China enjoys an impressive economic growth and
all-round progress in all its undertakings.
Between January and September this year, China's GDP grew by 8. 5 percent
compared with the same period of last year.
Foreign trade also went up substantially, with export jumping 32.3 percent to
307.7 billion US dollars, and import soaring 40.5 percent to 298.6 billion
dollars.
"Our total import from the rest of Asia increased by 43.1 percent, with
imports from Japan, the Republic of Korea, India and ASEAN countries growing by
39.7 percent, 52.8 percent, 85.3 percent, and 54.5 percent respectively."
China is an important member of the Asian family, the premier said.
Since the founding of New China in 1949, especially since the adoption of
reform and opening-up policy 25 years ago, China has sustained a rapid economic
development, increased its overall national strength remarkably and delivered,
by and large, a comfortable living standard for its citizens, he said.
The weight of China's economy in Asian and global economies has increased
steadily, and since much of its import and export trade is conducted within
Asia, China is playing an increasing role in Asia's economic development.
Cooperation an effective way to achieve win-win situation
Noting that to step up regional cooperation and exchanges is an effective way
to achieve a win-win situation in Asia, Wen said, " We should deepen regional
and sub-regional cooperation in keeping with such principles as diversity in
forms, mutual benefit, reciprocity and gradual progress."
He said that in recent years, thanks to concerted efforts by Asian countries,
cooperation of multiple forms has grown stronger, such as the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
plus China (10+1), ASEAN plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK)
(10+3), China, Japan and ROK, ASEAN and India, Asia Cooperation Dialogue and
other mechanisms.
"A gratifying situation of sound, mutually beneficial and open cooperation is
in the offing in Asia," he added.
The premier stressed that Asian countries should build on the existing
cooperation mechanisms, explore new ones and expand the scope of cooperation
while improving the quality of cooperation.
To persist in openness and cooperation with the rest of the world is a must
for a win-win Asia, he said.
"Asia cannot rejuvenate in isolation of the world, and the world also needs
Asia for prosperity and progress," Wen said.
Describing the world as a colorful place of diversity, Wen said Asia should
open herself to the finest achievements of all civilizations and draw upon the
successful experience of development of others in order to achieve development.
"We have to admit that it is the regions and countries outside Asia that have
led the world at the economic, scientific and technological fronts in modern
times."
"We should learn from them while taking advantage of the ongoing economic
globalization," said Wen, who called on Asian counties to do a better job in
promoting their development and progress by opening to the rest of the world and
engaging them with closer cooperation.
The premier said the sustained and rapid growth of the Chinese economy has
not only benefited the Chinese people, but also made the people in the rest of
Asia and other parts of the world more prosperous.
Having overcome the difficulties caused by the SARS outbreak and serious
natural disasters, China enjoys an impressive economic growth and all-round
progress in all its undertakings.
Between January and September this year, China's GDP grew by 8. 5 percent
compared with the same period of last year.
Foreign trade also went up substantially, with export jumping 32.3 percent to
307.7 billion US dollars and import soaring 40.5 percent to 298.6 billion
dollars.
"Our total import from the rest of Asia increased by 43.1 percent, with
imports from Japan, the Republic of Korea, India and ASEAN countries growing by
39.7 percent, 52.8 percent, 85.3 percent, and 54.5 percent respectively," Wen
said.
"China is an important member of Asia," the premier noted.
Since the founding of New China in 1949, especially since the adoption of
reform and opening-up policy 25 years ago, China has sustained a rapid economic
development, increased its overall national strength remarkably and delivered,
by and large, a comfortable living standard for its citizens.
The weight of China's economy in Asian and global economies has increased
steadily, and since much of its import and export trade is conducted within
Asia, China is playing an increasing role in Asia's economic development, he
said.
It is the consistent policy of the Chinese government to work for an Asia
that enjoys development, rejuvenation, peace and stability, the premier said.
China's Asia policy is aimed at achieving peace, security, cooperation and
prosperity, said Wen. To promote cooperation, development and a win-win
situation in Asia, China will"-- engage the fellow Asian countries, in a spirit
of mutual respect and equality, in cultivating a regional political environment
where all countries, big or small, can live with one another in peace and
tranquility;
-- deepen cooperation with the fellow Asian countries, strive for common
development and create a regional development environment where all can enjoy
prosperity;
-- strengthen mutual trust and coordination with the fellow Asian countries
and shape a regional security environment of lasting stability; and
-- intensify exchanges and emulations with the fellow Asian countries, and
bring about a regional cultural environment of rich diversity.
"One has every reason to believe that a dynamic, strong and prosperous China,
a China that is dedicated to world peace and development and a China that never
seeks hegemony for itself, will make fresh contributions to Asia's rejuvenation
and renewal," he concluded.
China sticks to policy for win-win Asia
Premier Wen said that it is the consistent policy of the Chinese government
to work for an Asia that enjoys development, rejuvenation, peace and stability.
"China's Asia policy is aimed at achieving peace, security, cooperation and
prosperity," said Wen.
The premier outlined China's policy to promote cooperation, development and a
win-win situation in Asia as follows"-- Engaging the fellow Asian countries, in
a spirit of mutual respect and equality, in cultivating a regional political
environment where all countries, big or small, can live with one another in
peace and tranquility;
-- Deepening cooperation with the fellow Asian countries, striving for common
development and creating a regional development environment where all can enjoy
prosperity;
-- Strengthening mutual trust and coordination with the fellow Asian
countries and shaping a regional security environment of lasting stability; and
-- Intensifying exchanges and emulations with the fellow Asian countries, and
bringing about a regional cultural environment of rich diversity.
"One has every reason to believe that a dynamic, strong and prosperous China,
a China that is dedicated to world peace and development and a China that never
seeks hegemony for itself, will make fresh contributions to Asia's rejuvenation
and renewal," he concluded.
