On September 8, 2000, President Jiang, who is now in New York to attend the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, hosted a breakfast party in honor of some of the leaders from the developing world at the hotel that he stays in New York.


The guests are the leaders of some organizations composed of developing countries and leaders from some developing countries. Leaders present at the breakfast were Thabo Mbeki, South African President and Chairman of the Non-allied Movement, Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigerian President and Chairman of Group 77; Seyyed Khatami, Iranian President and Chairman of the Organization of Islamic Conference; Yasser Arafat, Palestinian President and Chairman of the Arab League Council; Gnassingbe Eyadema, President of Togo and Chairman of the Organization of African Unity; Tran Duc Luong, Vietnamese President and Chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations; Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika; Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh; and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.




President Jiang delivered a keynote speech at the breakfast on the historical mission that the developing countries shoulder and on stepping up South-South cooperation under new circumstances. He noted that since the vast number of developing countries stood up in the mid-20th century, they have spoken with a louder voice in international affairs, become a major force in the international community and effectively promoted the development of multi-polarization in the world.


Jiang also noted that the old international political and economic order has caused such economic and social problems as poverty, drug trafficking and abuse, environment degradation, cross-border crimes and the spread of aids. The developing countries have fallen victim to these problems. Therefore, it is imperative for the developing nations to unite and push forward the establishment of a just, fair and new international political and economic order in a bid to change their own fate.


In order to step up solidarity and cooperation between China and the vast number of developing countries, President Jiang put forward a four-point principle: sincerity and friendship, equal treatment; increasing coordination and strengthening cooperation; tapping potentials and learning from each other's strong points to offset one's weakness; and uniting as one to open up good future. Last but not least, President Jiang stressed that China was, is and will always be a trustworthy friend of the developing countries.


On behalf of the guests present at the breakfast, South African President Thabo Mbeki thanked China for hosting the breakfast and expressed his full agreement with China's stance on South-South Cooperation.


The leaders present at the breakfast also exchanged views on issues of common concern to the developing countries.