Beijing, 27 August 2010

Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It's my great honor to attend the opening session of the Seminar on NGOs in Globalization. First of all, please allow me to extend, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and in my own name, warm congratulations on the successful convocation of the seminar.

As far as I know, it's the first ever seminar in China co-sponsored by government agencies, academic institutions and foreign NGOs. It is also the first time for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to co-host such an event. This is a highly creative idea and it fully reflects the significance of this seminar and the greate importance the Chinese government attaches to NGOs.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation and thanks for the efforts made for this seminar by the Department of External Security Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, the NGO Research Center of Tsinghua University and Save the Children. I also want to thank all the government agencies, academic institutions and Chinese and foreign NGOs for their support and participation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The world is undergoing major development, major transformation and major adjustment. The trend towards multi-polarity and economic globalization is gaining momentum. The international financial crisis is still taking its toll. Global issues are becoming more pronounced and regional and international hotspot issues keep flaring up. Countries in the world are increasingly interconnected in their destiny.

Under such circumstances, NGOs have enjoyed vigorous development and have been more active than ever in economy, social affairs, education, health and environmental protection, playing an important role in promoting economic and social development of all countries and safeguarding world peace. Governments of all countries and international organizations such as the United Nations attach great value to the NGOs. There are broader prospects for NGO development.

I'm delighted at the presence of overseas NGOs, including Save the Children, Ford Foundation, Asia Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Li Ka Shing Foundation. Since the inception of China's reform and opening-up, many overseas NGOs have come to China for cooperation and carried out a large number of useful activities with their Chinese counterparts in the fields of economy, education, science and technology, culture, public health, sports, environmental protection, charity and social welfare, which have enhanced understanding between China and other countries and further strengthened China's ties with the rest of the world. Through these friendly exchanges and cooperation, overseas NGOs and their staff have left the Chinese people with a deep impression of their professionalism, devotion for work and friendliness.

China enjoys fast economic and social development and enhanced national strength. However, China remains a large developing country with unbalanced regional development. Overseas NGOs, with their advantages in concept, talents, management and fund, have vast space for development in China.

I would like to take this opportunity to share with you the views of the Chinese government on overseas NGO activities in China.

First, the Chinese government speaks highly of the positive role of overseas NGOs and welcomes their activities in China. We hope the overseas NGOs will continue their practical cooperation with legal Chinese organizations in poverty alleviation, disaster relief, environmental protection, education, medical care and charity and make fresh contribution to promoting exchanges between China and foreign countries and advancing economic and social development.

Second, China needs overseas NGOs to carry out friendly cooperation in China and takes seriously the problems facing them. Due to the inadequate laws and regulations and the lack of administrative measures in China in this regard, registration has been a major difficulty for overseas NGOs. This has to some extent affected their activities in China. Currently, the competent Chinese authorities are making efforts to revise the relevant laws and regulations. During the transition period, we will do our utmost to provide necessary convenience for overseas NGO activities in China.

Third, overseas NGOs should have a deep understanding of China's national conditions and set their eyes on China's development needs. We hope that overseas NGOs will conduct more studies on China's economic and social development, cooperate with legal Chinese organizations in line with their own features and advantages as well as the local conditions and implement their programs in a scientific and rational way, so as to achieve the goal of putting people first and serving the society.

Fourth, overseas NGOs should conduct activities in accordance with China's laws. They should abide by China's Constitution, laws, regulations, rules and national policies and refrain from doing anything that may undermine China's national security, reunification, ethnical unity and social stability, nor should they support or fund any organization or individual to this end. They should not engage in political, religious or profit-making activities in the name of NGOs.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I'm glad that some Chinese social organizations are also present today, such as China International Exchange Association, China Institution for International Strategic Studies, Association of Former Diplomats of China, United Nations Association of China and Chinese Medical Association. Social organizations are China's NGOs. With the deepening of China's reform and opening-up and the gradual improvement of the market economic system, profound changes are taking place in China's social management system. Social organizations, whose total number has exceeded 430,000, have greatly developed. The Chinese government attaches great importance to the development and management of social organizations, gives full scope to their positive roles in increasing the general public's participation in social affairs and reflecting people's aspirations and encourages them to serve economic and social development. Chinese social organizations have played a positive and unique role in promoting social development, improving people's lives, protecting the environment and achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and have been active in external exchanges and cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

With "NGOs in Globalization" as its theme, this seminar provides us with a platform of communication and cooperation and lays the foundation for long-term cooperation in the future. I sincerely hope that all participants will be active in the discussions, seek interactions and exchanges among different viewpoints, make practical proposals and achieve positive outcomes at this seminar. I believe with the joint efforts of all participants, this seminar will surely be a complete success.

Thank you!