On September 23, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao delivered an important speech to the general debate of the 64th session of the UN General Assembly held in New York. He stressed that China's future is more closely linked with that of the world. China is committed to the road of peaceful development and the mutually beneficial and win-win strategy of opening up. China will develop friendly relations and cooperation with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The more developed China is, the greater contribution it will make to the world. China has always been and will continue to be a positive force for world peace and common development.

The general debate is held at the General Assembly Hall of UN Headquarters where participating leaders elaborate their views on the international situation, the role of the UN and major international and regional issues. At 16:30 local time, Hu Jintao stepped on the solemn rostrum of the UN and delivered an important speech entitled Pull Together for a Bright Future amid warm applauses.

He pointed out that the world today is undergoing major development, major changes and major rebalancing and the trend towards peace, development and cooperation has grown stronger. The world is moving further towards multi-polarization and economic globalization, and multilateralism and democratization of international relations have been deeply rooted in people's hearts. Opening up and cooperation for mutual benefit and win-win outcome have become the consensus of the international community, while countries have been more interdependent than ever. At the same time, the unstable and uncertain factors in the international situation have posed severe challenges on world peace and development.

Faced with unprecedented opportunities and challenges, the international community should continue to go forward together, be committed to peace, development, cooperation, win-win progress and tolerance, endeavor to build a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity and contribute relentlessly to the lofty cause of peace and development of mankind, he emphasized.

First, we should view security in a broader perspective and maintain world peace and stability. The security of countries has never been so closely interwoven as it is today. Security is neither isolated nor a zero-sum game, and there is no absolute security. No country can remain safe or stable without world and regional peace and stability. We should embrace a new security thinking featured by mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination. While maintaining our own national security, we should respect the security concerns of other countries and promote the common security of mankind. We should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and seek peaceful solutions to regional hotspot issues and international disputes. There should be no willful use or threat of force. We should oppose terrorism, separatism and extremism in all forms and deepen international security cooperation.

Second, we should view development in a more holistic perspective. We cannot achieve common prosperity in the world or build a more just and equitable international economic order unless the developing countries enjoy common development and equal participation. We should regard common development as a major way to address global development imbalances and realize sustainable development. The UN should raise input in development, advance economic globalization in the direction of balanced development, shared benefits and win-win outcome and foster an international environment conducive to the development of developing countries. The international financial institutions should first and foremost use their newly increased resources to help developing countries alleviate poverty. Great efforts should be made to increase the representation and voice of developing countries in the reform of the international financial system. We should take responsible measures to cope with the international financial crisis, firmly oppose protectionism and actively push for an early, comprehensive and balanced outcome of the Doha Round negotiations. Developed countries should open markets to and reduce or exempt tariffs for developing ones and honor their official development assistance and debt relief commitments. Developing countries should independently explore the development modes beneficial to their growth and poverty eradication efforts.

Third, we should engage in cooperation in a more open attitude and work for mutual benefit and win-win outcome. Climate change, food security, energy resources security and public health security are all global challenges and no country is immune from them. The only way for us to meet those challenges and ensure harmony and peace is to conduct closer international cooperation. We should adhere to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol as the primary channel in tackling climate change, abide by the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities", follow the mandate of the Bali Roadmap and work for the success of the Copenhagen conference with a view to achieving mutual benefit and common development. We should increase agricultural input, promote technological progress, curb market speculation, increase food assistance and strengthen agricultural and food cooperation. Mutually beneficial cooperation on energy development and utilization should be stepped up and R&D of new and renewable energy should be accelerated. We should build the R&D and dissemination system of advanced energy technologies and diversify energy supply.

Fourth, we should be more tolerant to one another and live together in harmony. Mutual learning and tolerance among different civilizations are inexhaustible driving forces for social progress. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal. We should acknowledge the differences in cultural tradition, social system and values, respect the right of all countries to independently choosing their development paths, and allow different civilizations and development modes to draw on each other's strength through competition and achieve common development by seeking common ground while reserving differences.

Hu noted that the Chinese people will soon celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The Chinese people won independence and liberation after a prolonged hard struggle and became masters of the New China 60 years ago. Today, China's national strength has risen notably and its people are better off. China's development has contributed greatly to peace and development in the world.

As a responsible major developing country, China has always made common development an important part of its foreign policy. We have tried our best to provide support and assistance for other developing countries. China will adopt the following measures to further help other developing countries. First, we will increase support for other developing countries hit hard by the financial crisis, earnestly implement relevant capital increase and financing plans, strengthen trade and investment cooperation and raise the capacity of risk-resistance and sustainable development of related countries; second, we will continue to implement the measures announced at the UN High-level Event on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to assist other developing countries in speeding up development and facilitate the attainment of the MDGs; third, we will continue to implement the assistance measures to African countries announced at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, increase assistance to Africa, reduce or cancel debts for the heavily-indebted poor countries and least developed countries there, expand trade and investment, offer human resources and technological support and strengthen personnel training for Africa; fourth, we will continue to participate in and promote regional monetary and financial cooperation, maintain regional financial and economic stability and push forward financial cooperation and trade in the region.

He finally called on the participants to join hands, share development opportunities, meet challenges and make unremitting efforts to build a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity.

The audience burst into applauses after Hu Jintao finished his speech.

Wang Qishan, Ling Jihua, Wang Huning and Dai Bingguo were also present at the debate.

On the noon, Hu Jintao attended the luncheon hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the heads of national delegations to the general debate.

On the evening of September 22, Hu also attended the working dinner hosted by Ban Ki-moon for major participating national leaders.