The 10th Plenary Session of the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (IAESCSI) was opened in Beijing on June 20, 2007. Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a congratulatory message to the meeting. Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met with all the representatives and made a keynote speech.

The meeting was presided over by Wang Zhongyu, Vice Chairman of CPPCC, Chairman of the China Economic and Social Council and also Chairmen of the IAESCSI.

At the opening ceremony, on behalf of the Chinese Government and the people, Jia Qinglin expressed congratulations on the convening of this meeting and also gave a warm welcome to all the delegations and guests. Wang's speech was titled: To Compose a New Chapter of Peace, Development and Win-Win Result.

Jia said that since its establishment, the IAESCSI has always pursued the principle of mutual respect, treating each other on an equal footing, and seeking common ground while shelving differences. On the basis of democratic consultation, equal exchanges and sincere cooperation, it has always tried to encourage member organizations to learn from each other and actively cooperate with relevant international organizations. It has made itself an important bridge to connect different member organizations and provide them opportunities to discuss economic and social development and a platform to conduct exchanges and dialogue with other international organizations. It has shown strong vitality and a bright future.

Jia pointed out that peace and development are the themes of the time and it is increasingly becoming the consensus of the international community to promote mutual understanding and respect between different civilizations, through dialogue and communication, and to build world peace and international security on the basis of common trust. "Economic globalization presents both opportunities and challenges," he said.

"China should seize the opportunities to cope with challenges and avoid hazards, so as to make it possible for more countries and peoples to take part in the process of globalization and share the fruits. We hope that the IAESCSI will play a more important role in this regard."

Jia Qinglin stressed that to strengthen international cooperation is the inevitable way to realize common development under the new circumstances. China believes that all countries, big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak, should all respect each other, treat each other on an equal footing, and stay in harmony. Different civilizations and development models should learn from each other, help each other and coexist peacefully. We should respect and maintain the diversity of the world, try to strengthen dialogue between different civilizations, learn to coexist in diversity, seek common ground in differences and strive for common development through mutual exchanges, so as to build a harmonious homeland of peace, tranquility, justice and prosperity.

Jia stated that the Chinese Government and the people support the IAESCSI's work. It is hoped that in its future development, IAESCSI will make greater efforts to strengthen communication among different member organizations, promote North-South dialogues and win-win result, as well as world peace and development. IAESCSI should make proposals and suggestions about major world economic and social problems by making full use of its advantages. The IAESCSI should strengthen exchanges with other international organizations, such as the United Nations, to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Efforts should be made to further standardize IAESCSI to make it stronger, he concluded.

The present chairperson of the UN General Assembly, Sheika Haya, highly praised the work done by IAESCSI in the past years. She said that, with  deepening economic globalization and increasing interdependence among countries, it's necessary to continue to strengthen international cooperation and dialogue. "This is of great importance to the achievement of our common goal—to create a better future and to build a world of progress, development and harmony," she said.

Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, and Mailuoleisi, Vice Chairman of the UN Economic and Social Council, also commented on the meeting. Juan Somavia, Director-General of the International Labor Organization, expressed his views via a pre-recorded video clip. Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, sent a representative to speak at the meeting. Representatives from some member organizations also made remarks on the meeting topics. The meeting adopted the Beijing Declaration.

Founded in 1999, the IAESCSI is an international organization that aims to promote dialogue and communication among its members and to promote world economic and social development. It has a permanent observer status in the UN Economic and Social Council and the International Labor Organization. It now has 49 members. China Economic and Social Council entered this organization in July 2001. IAESCSI holds a plenary session every two years. At the 9th Plenary Session of the IAESCSI held in Paris in 2005, Wang Zhongyu, President of the Economic and Social Council of the People's Republic of China, was elected President of the IAESCSI.

This is the first plenary session that was held in Asia since the founding of the IAESCSI. Nearly 200 representatives and observers from 41 countries and regions, as well as leaders of some international organizations, participated in this meeting.