President Lagos,

Distinguished Colleagues,

This morning, we had a discussion on ways to promote economic and technical cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Just now, President Bush shared his important views on anti-corruption, energy and other issues. I would also like to make a few observations on these issues.

First, I believe we should adopt a proactive and effective macro-economic policy and regulatory measures in light of our respective circumstances, increase our dialogue and coordination, deepen regional cooperation and work together to facilitate and maintain world economic growth. We should work hard to bring about substantive results of the new round of WTO negotiations at an early date, cut back on our differences and frictions, and create an equitable and win-win environment for trade and investment. Given the vital importance of energy to economic development, we should work together to keep the world energy market stable. I hereby propose that APEC step up efforts in the energy field, conduct policy dialogue and deepen cooperation among members in the areas of improving energy efficiency, developing alternative sources of energy and providing affordable energy products to the poor.

Second, I believe we should go on deepening our mutually beneficial cooperation and promoting the development of an Asia-Pacific community. I fully endorse the theme President Lagos has chosen for this year's APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting: "One Community, Our Future". TILF and Ecotech are the two major priority areas of APEC operations. We should lose no time in implementing the "Bogor Goals", which provide us with a guideline to measure our progress in TILF in the APEC region. This year, APEC, chaired by our host Chile, has made much useful effort in free trade arrangement. I would like to express welcome to the consensus reached by the members on the Santiago Initiative designed to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

Ecotech with capacity building as its key link should be further strengthened since it helps the developing members of the organization to participate in and benefit from economic globalization. China will launch an Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Center and use it as a platform for APEC members to step up capacity building through closer exchanges.

Third, I welcome APEC cooperation on anti-corruption. It is hoped that all members will follow the principles of equality, mutual benefit, respecting differences and emphasizing practical results, and strive for substantive progress in the areas of capacity building, prosecuting the offenders and recovering the proceeds of corruption.

This year marks APEC's 15th anniversary. As far as its future development is concerned, I believe we should adhere to APEC's general direction of economic cooperation, continue to follow its unique cooperation pattern by observing such principles as respect for differences, equality, mutual benefit, voluntarism and consensus, and stick to the road of gradual progress with vigorous efforts to act on the relevant initiatives. What is more, we should keep pace with the times and actively adapt ourselves to the changing situation in the region, while trying our best to optimize the allocation of resources, improve efficiency and make our cooperation more effective.

In short, the vast expanse of Asia and the Pacific is our common home, and ensuring its continued development and prosperity our shared responsibility. As leaders from this region, we should pledge our concerted efforts toward this noble end.