Be Open and Inclusive And Achieve Mutual Benefit and Common Progress

Premier Wen Jiabao
The First East Asia Summit
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 14 December 2005

Dear Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi,
Dear Colleagues,

It gives me great pleasure to attend this historic meeting. The convocation of the East Asia Summit is a major event in promoting East Asia cooperation. A natural outcome of accelerated economic globalization and regional cooperation and growing interdependence and mutual interest among countries in the region, this Summit marks a new stage of development in East Asia cooperation. It provides a new platform for countries attending the summit to discuss important issues concerning development, and will surely expand the scope of East Asia cooperation and lift it to a new level. We should make full use of this platform to enhance dialogue, increase mutual trust, expand exchanges and deepen cooperation so as to promote peace, development and prosperity in the region.

Dear Colleagues,

The world is experiencing complex and profound changes, which have presented us with both rare opportunities and numerous challenges.

In today's world, peace, development and cooperation are an irresistible trend of the times. This has created an external environment conducive to the development of East Asian countries. Rapid progress in science and technology and the accelerated transformation of global economy and relocation of production factors have provided a historical opportunity for countries to speed up development. East Asia, with abundant resources, huge market and rich developmental experience gained over the years, has a solid foundation for developing and revitalizing itself. Enhanced intra-regional dialogue, coordination and cooperation have provided strong impetus for the common development of all countries.

On the other hand, we are confronted with many difficulties and challenges. In East Asia, there are both problems left over from the Cold War and long-standing territorial, ethnic and religious issues, as well as increasingly acute new problems such as terrorism, transnational crimes, natural disasters and the spread of communicable diseases. The region also faces problems such as imbalance development and widening gap in wealth, sharp increase in energy and resource consumption and deterioration of the ecological environment. These intertwined problems have undermined stability and hindered development in East Asia.

Facing these new regional developments, we should follow the trend of the times, strengthen coordination and take up the challenges together so as to achieve lasting peace, development and prosperity for the region. This is an urgent and historical mission we are called upon by our era to fulfill. Here, I wish to offer my views for your consideration.

First, we should give priority to development and promoting common prosperity. East Asia has a big share of the world's poor population and there is a huge gap in wealth in the region. Development is the most pressing regional issue and number one priority for national governments. If the development issue is not addressed in a fundamental way, our region can not expect to enjoy lasting peace and security. We should endeavor to explore development strategies that suit our respective national conditions, reduce and eradicate poverty and improve living standards for our peoples. We should carry out institutional reform and scientific and technological innovation on a priority basis, optimize economic structure and change the mode of growth so as to bring about all-round, coordinated and sustainable economic and social development. We should conduct extensive exchanges, draw on each other's experience in development and provide more support to the underdeveloped countries in the region, thus narrowing the regional gap and achieving common development.

Second, we should build harmonious relations and safeguard peace and stability. East Asia is burdened by many historical problems and needs to tackle complex issues, both old and new. To build a framework of state-to-state relations featuring mutual trust and harmonious co-existence is the prerequisite for and guarantee of regional peace and development. We should respect and treat each other on an equal footing, resolve disputes and differences through dialogue and coordination. We should increase high-level exchanges and strengthen consultation and coordination on international and regional issues to enhance mutual trust and build consensus. We should enhance cultural exchanges, encourage dialogue between civilizations, enhance people-to-people contact and promote friendship among peoples through increased contacts. Thus, we can strengthen the basis for the development of state-to-state relations and build a regional environment of peace, development and harmony.

Third, we should strive to achieve win-win progress through cooperation. Under the current new circumstances, cooperation is the only way leading to common development. Only through cooperation can we transcend differences; only through cooperation can we expand our common interest; and only through cooperation can we effectively meet challenges and accomplish common progress. Regional cooperation is an important trend in today's world. We should approach and promote cooperation in East Asia from a strategic perspective, follow the principles of building consensus through consultation and of gradualism, and appreciate and accommodate each country's interests and concerns. We should respect the diversity of the region, make innovative efforts and embark upon a path of regional cooperation that suits the actual conditions of East Asia. We should proceed from the reality of East Asia, maintain proper pace and take solid steps in advancing regional cooperation. We should ensure that regional cooperation is geared to people's needs and move in a direction that will enable it to yield common progress for the region.

Dear Colleagues,

Here, I wish to emphasize that East Asia cooperation should be a transparent and open process. It should not be something that is closed, exclusive and directed against any particular party. China takes the position that in pursuing regional cooperation, it is imperative to be open-minded and promote open regionalism so as to achieve progress for all countries and development in all regions.

Only through open cooperation can we achieve continued progress. Unlike the European Union and North America, cooperation in East Asia has just got off the ground and has a long way to go. Only by drawing upon the experience of other regions with an open mind and accommodating attitude can we ensure that the nascent East Asia cooperation process will be a sustainable and dynamic one.

Only through open cooperation can we bring into full play the strength of this region. Countries in East Asia vary in national conditions, mode of development and stage of development. Their cultures and traditions have diverse and distinctive features. They may have varying interests and different need for cooperation. Only by making East Asia cooperation an open and transparent process can we build consensus, give full play to diversity and accelerate regional cooperation.

Only through open cooperation can we keep pace with the trend of the times. No country or region can achieve development in isolation from the rapid change in economic globalization. Seclusion and exclusion can only lead to stagnation and backwardness. Only when we are as inclusive as the ocean that admits all rivers, when we absorb all that is good in other civilizations and integrate ourselves into the global economy can we make continued progress in East Asia cooperation.

Both history and reality have told us that East Asia cannot develop itself in isolation from the rest of the world. We should strive to promote regional cooperation participated by countries in this region, with distinctive features of this region and suited to the need of this region. We should continue to support ASEAN in playing the leading role in East Asia cooperation. On the other hand, we should give due consideration to the legitimate interests of the non-East Asian countries in this region, so as to gain their understanding of and support for East Asia cooperation.

Participation of India, Australia and New Zealand in the East Asia cooperation process will give great scope to further cooperation. We look forward to working with these three countries to advance East Asia development and cooperation. The United States, the European Union and other countries and organizations outside this region are welcome to enter into relations with the East Asia cooperation mechanism and to play a positive and constructive role in promoting stability and development in East Asia.

We support the East Asia cooperation mechanism in maintaining coordination with mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED), and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). We should create a new situation in which various regional cooperation mechanisms give full play to their respective strengths, reinforce each other and enjoy common development.

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past 27 years since it launched the reform and opening-up program, China has made great achievements in economic and social development. It has succeeded in embarking upon a development path suited to its national conditions, namely, a Chinese path to socialist modernization. It is a path to peaceful development.

What a path to peaceful development means is that China will seize the favorable opportunities presented by a peaceful world to develop itself; at the same time, it will strive to maintain and promote world peace through its own development. It means that China will, by relying mainly on its own strength, carrying out reform and making innovation, and by taking a scientific approach to development as the guidance, achieve all-round, coordinated and sustainable development and build a harmonious society. It means that China will remain open, actively participate in economic globalization and engage in cooperation with the rest of the world on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. It means that China's interests will be closely linked with that of other countries and China's development and prosperity will converge with regional and global development and prosperity. This path to peaceful development, which is in keeping with the global trend of development, serves the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and people of the world. We will stick to this path.

Observing the principle of "building friendly relation and partnership with neighbors" and the policy of "fostering an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborly environment", China is committed to developing friendly relations and cooperation with other countries in this region. It will continue to adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and resolve disputes with other countries in a peaceful way through dialogue and consultation. China will continue to take an active part in regional cooperation and endeavor to promote regional economic integration. China will adhere to a new security concept of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination, work to defuse regional hotspots, enhance multilateral security cooperation and maintain regional peace and stability. China will respect, as always, the diverse nature of cultures, religions and values in East Asia and promote both dialogue on an equal footing among civilizations and cultures and exchanges among them.

Developments have proven and will continue to prove that China is a responsible country and a staunch force for world peace and common development. No matter what may happen in the international arena, China will remain a trustworthy and reliable cooperation partner of the people in this region. China will never seek domination in East Asia. China will not develop itself at the expense of others, and its development will not threaten any other country. A stable, open and prosperous China will surely make greater contribution to maintaining regional and world peace and promoting common development of the mankind.

Dear Colleagues,

As I end my remarks, I wish to quote the lines from a classic Chinese poem: "We have no fear of the clouds that may block our view, as we are already on the summit." I am convinced that as long as we keep pace with the times, observe global trends from a historical height, plan for the future with the wisdom of statesman, are committed to development for the benefit of all and promote regional cooperation in a pragmatic and open manner, we can surely overcome difficulties and roadblocks on the way and make new progress as we work for peace, development and prosperity in East Asia.

Thank you.