Chinese President
Jiang Zemin delivered a speech entitled "Striving for
Development and Prosperity through Cooperation" in Shanghai
Thursday at a welcoming dinner during
the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit 2001.
Jiang extended warm welcome to the participants on behalf of the
Chinese government and people as well as in his own name, noting
that he has attended many sessions of APEC CEO Summit to discuss
Asia-Pacific economic cooperation and development with business
leaders in the region.
It
is of significance that the APEC CEO Summit 2001 Shanghai is
devoted to the theme of "New Century, New Economy: Developing in a
Globalizing World", Jiang said.
President Jiang Zemin reiterated that China will continue to work
hard to develop with all other countries and regions in the world
an economic relationship that features cooperation, mutual benefit,
all-win and common prosperity.
"To develop the New Economy, we must not only update our economy
with advanced science and technology, but also, in response to this
new trend of development, revamp the economic structures, systems
and mechanisms accordingly, readjust the economic relationships
between states and between enterprises, and update our philosophies
and concepts for economic and technological cooperation across
national boundaries," Jiang said.
Under the New Economy, he noted, the key lies in a full
implementation of the spirit of development through multilateral
cooperation in world economic affairs.
All countries or regions, regardless of ethnicity, history,
culture, social system and level of economic development, should
respect each other, seek common ground while setting aside
differences, learn from each other to offset their own weakness,
coexist peacefully, work for the establishment of a new, fair and
rational international political and economic order and strive for
common growth and prosperity through consultations and
cooperation.
"Here in lies not only the fundamental solution to the problems in
the world economic development, but also an essential condition for
development of the New Economy in the new century," Jiang said.
On
economic globalization and trade liberalization, the Chinese
president said that to put the issues in their right perspective is
of overarching importance to a healthy development of the global
economy.
"They are generally conducive to world economic development," he
said, adding that one must not overlook that given the unevenness
of global economic development, any improper handling of this
process will bring a negative impact on developing countries and
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
In
view of this, he said, the World
Trade Organization (WTO), APEC and national governments should
give full regard to the interests of the "vulnerable" countries and
peoples while pushing forward economic globalization and trade
liberalization.
"We must carry forward the spirit of development through
cooperation and vigorously strengthen economic and technical
cooperation," Jiang said.
In
addition, he stated "we must make mutually beneficial cooperation a
part and parcel of economic globalization and trade liberalization
so as to ensure their sound development."
China is the most populous developing country in the world. The
country cannot develop itself in isolation of the world and the
world also needs China for its development.
"We sincerely hope to see increased cooperation with all other APEC
members and all the countries and regions in the world for common
development. We have full confidence in the prospects for China's
development in the new century," he said.
After China's WTO accession, the country will participate in
international economic cooperation and division of labor on a
larger scale and in greater depth.
To
effectively fulfill its WTO obligations and commitments, China is
reviewing and amending existing laws and regulations as required by
the WTO rules.
"We will continue to work hard to develop with all other countries
and regions in the world an economic relationship that features
cooperation, mutual benefit, all-win and common prosperity," he
pledged.
China will also develop its economy further and open itself still
wider to the outside world, which offers more business
opportunities to overseas enterprises.
Since China's reform and opening up, the president said, Chinese
enterprises have vigorously undertaken economic and technological
cooperation with overseas enterprises and scored tremendous
achievements.
While helping Chinese enterprises develop, overseas enterprises
have also benefited from it, resulting in mutual benefits and an
all-win situation.
He
reassured that "the Chinese government stands ready to continue to
offer facilities and necessary conditions for closer cooperation
between Chinese enterprises and their overseas counterparts."
(Xinhua
News Agency October 19, 2001)