Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of China

(Berlin, June 7, 2007)

It's a great pleasure to see you all again. I'd like to exchange views with you on issues of common concern.

Currently, economic globalization is experiencing an in-depth development and the world economy is undergoing a new round of growth. Developing countries are exploring development paths compatible with their national conditions, seizing opportunities to accelerate development and enjoying a good growth momentum. At the same time, developing countries are trying to enhance solidarity and actively promote world multi-polarization and the democratization of international relationships, becoming an important force in maintaining world peace and promoting common development.

However, developing countries are still in a disadvantaged position in the course of world development, and economic globalization has brought mounting challenges to these countries. The combined population of China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico accounts for 42 percent of the world's total. We five major developing countries have an increasingly important place in global economy and trade. We shoulder the responsibility of making joint efforts to cope with risks resulting from economic globalization, safeguarding our common interests, creating favorable development conditions and boosting the coordinated development of the world. Therefore, we should make concerted efforts in the following areas:

Enhancing coordination and expanding space for development. The in-depth development of economic globalization is strengthening the connections among different countries, while external factors are becoming increasingly important to the development of every country. We should continue to work for the establishment of a sound international economic order and foster a financial, trade and energy environment. We should urge the United Nations and other international organizations to increase input for development and strive to increase the say and representation of developing countries in the international economy. We should exhort developed countries to meet commitments and provide more assistance for developing countries by writing off or reducing the latter's debts and increasing investments in and transfering technology to them.

Effectively upgrading cooperation levels. Recent years have witnessed an increasingly active South-South cooperation. Developing countries are strengthening their cooperation, especially in areas such as trade, investment, human resource training, infrastructure, culture, education and public health, making great achievements. New platforms, such as the Summit of South American-Arab Countries, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum, also have boosted South-South cooperation. We shourl seize this favorable opportunity, further tap potentials, expand and enrich our cooperation and contribute to the common development of developing countries.

Improving and maintaining the meeting mechanism. The leaders of the five countries have held several meetings, and ministers from the five also met during the UN General Assembly last year. All these are good ways to sustain cooperation. We need to make good preparations for impending meetings, take follow-up steps, maintain close consultations, share experiences and expand our common ground in order to achieve concrete progress.
 China agrees that it should increase the say of developing countries in the format, agenda and outcome of international dialogue, and work to establish a new global partnership for development based on equality, mutual benefit and a win-win model.

Climate changes concern the sustainable development of the whole human race and the future of developing countries. We should strengthen our coordination and cooperation, so as to properly cope with the challenges of climate change and to safeguard our common interests. We should jointly propel the international community to follow the "United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change" a well as the objectives and frameworks defined in the "Kyoto Protocol." We should pursue the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and conduct active, pragmatic and effective cooperation. Either from the perspective of historical responsibilities or from their current capabilities, developed countries should take the lead in cutting emissions and offering aid to developing countries for emission relief and adaptation to climate change. As far as many developing countries are concerned, their primary tasks are to develop their economies and improve people's livelihoods. At the same time, we should adopt measures that suit our own national conditions for sustainable development.

China attaches great importance to environmental protection and sustainable development. We pursue the scientific concept of development that lay emphasis on human-centered, overall coordination and sustainable development. We will also carefully fulfill international conventions, adopt a series of policies and measures to promote economic restructuring and the transformation of an economic growth mode, save energy and enhance energy efficiency, develop renewable energy, and conduct ecological improvement projects. In order to better respond to climate change, the Chinese Government has formulated and released the China National Climate Change Program, which will be carefully implemented. By doing so, we are trying to be responsible for our own citizens and to make contributions to global sustainable development.

While attempting to do a good job internally, China stands ready to conduct extensive cooperation with the international community, including other developing countries. Our five countries share a lot in common and possess respective advantages in coping with climate change. China would further like to strengthen its communication with other countries and learn from their strong points to offset our weaknesses under the framework of South-South cooperation. We also will offer aid to other developing countries within our capability.

Today's meeting is quite helpful. Let's make joint efforts to continuously push forward South-South cooperation and South-North dialogue, so as to make a contribution to the building of a harmonious world of lasting peace and shared prosperity.