Deepening Mutually Beneficial Cooperation and Promoting Prosperity in the Asia Pacific
--Yang Jiechi talks about President Hu Jintao's attendance at the19th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting
As the19th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting was drawing to a close on Nov. 15, 2011, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who accompanied President Hu Jintao during the trip, joined the journalists and talked about President Hu Jintao's attendance at the meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Yang said that the APEC economic leaders meeting was held against the background that the international financial crisis is having a more profound impact, the growth of the world's major economies is slowing down, the Asia-Pacific has become the most dynamic and promising region and APEC is facing new opportunities for development.During Hu's stay in Honolulu, the president engaged in highly intensive diplomatic activities, including delivering a keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' meeting and joining CEO summit. At the meetings, Hu explained China's view on the world and regional economic situations and China's position on Asia-Pacific cooperation, and outlined China's pro-growth economic measures and its concept of win-win cooperation, Yang said. President Hu also met with leaders of the participating economies and engaged with U.S. people from all walks of life. President Hu's active engagement at the APEC meetings was a great success and was conducive to strengthening China's relations with other APEC members, increasing their understanding and support of China and setting the direction of future regional cooperation, Yang said.
President Hu's attendance at the meeting got a lot of attention and coverage in international media, which highly praised China's positive, constructive and responsible role.
I. Pushing Forward Long-term, Stable, Rapid Economic Growth in Asia-Pacific
Yang said as the world economic situation is complex and volatile and development is facing severe challenges, long-term, stable, rapid economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region is of great significance to the world economy. The foreign minister said in his speech on the economic growth in the Asia Pacific, Hu called on all parties to properly deal with the deep-level problems existing in the world economy, which had been exposed in the international financial crisis. The Chinese leader urged APEC members to strengthen confidence and determination, implement the APEC Leaders' Growth Strategy adopted last year in Yokohama, Japan and speed up the shift in the mode of economic growth through improvement of global governance. APEC members should carry out development strategy conducive to full employment, enhance quality of economic growth and continue to push forward economic globalization and economic integration in the region. Hu also urged APEC members to strive for balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and safe growth of the economy and promote long-term stable and rapid economic development and social harmony and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Hu put a specific emphasis on the importance of job creation as a key way to consolidate and expand the fruits of economic and social development and urged members to actively support and participate in APEC Skills Development Promotion Project and activities of APEC Skills Development Promotion Centre. Hu's remarks gave a comprehensive analysis of the real problems facing world economic growth and what is needed for world economic growth in the long run.
II. Increasing Understanding, Recognition of Chinese Policies
Yang said this year marks the 10th anniversary of China's entry into the World Trade Organization and 20th anniversary of its entry into the APEC. Despite the international financial crisis, China's economy has maintained steady growth and its influence in the world economic pattern is growing, which draws attention from all parties. Hu briefed other APEC leaders at the meetings on China's policies and measures to pursue development in a scientific way, shift the growth pattern, deepen the reform and opening up, improve people's livelihood and promote long-term stable and rapid economic development as well as social harmony and stability. He pledged that China would continue to deepen economic reforms, improve the environment for commerce and investment, enhance ecological civilization, endeavor to develop a green economy, strengthen the protection of intellectual property, advance innovation, improve the level of openness, and actively engage in global governance and regional cooperation. China has become a fast-growing emerging market with unprecedented scale. Hu said China's rapid development would become an important driver and source of economic growth of the Asia-Pacific region as well as the world, and would provide opportunities and a strong guarantee for other APEC members. All parties spoke highly of the important role that China's economic development plays in the sustainable recovery and growth of the world economy and generally accepted China's concept of shifting the economic growth pattern. They hold that China's policy objectives are in line with the direction of promoting sustainable world economic growth and are looking forward to China playing a more positive and important role.
III. Providing Guidance for Future Asia-Pacific Cooperation
Yang said that with the rising influence of the Asia-Pacific region, countries in the region have increased input and economic development in the Asia-Pacific region has great prospects. The process of regional trade and investment cooperation has been developing in an orderly way and bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements are increasing. APEC's role has drawn attention from all parties. President Hu raised important proposals on APEC cooperation at the meeting. He pointed out that to build a prosperous, harmonious Asia Pacific of peace and development is in line with the common interests of all members and is also a long-term goal of regional cooperation. Hu said that APEC, as the most important mechanism of economic cooperation in the region, should broaden the agenda of cooperation, give its advantages full play and carry out systematic reforms on the basis of the new situation of international economic development and trade and investment. The forum should play its unique role in supporting its members to shift economic growth patterns and deepen regional economic integration, he said. And he urged all members to promote the regional trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, deepen regional economic integration and strengthen economic and technical cooperation to achieve common development and prosperity of all members. All members should implement the APEC Leaders' Growth Strategy adopted last year in Yokohama and deepen cooperation on green growth in the Asia-Pacific region by taking into account different capacities and special differential treatment of developed and developing members. APEC members should enhance cooperation in priority areas of economic structural reform and continue to improve the business environment, lower business costs and increase economic competitiveness of the Asia-Pacific region. In terms of regulatory cooperation, APEC should give priority to activities such as capacity building and experience sharing to help members improve their economic growth patterns and foster a policy environment conducive to trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. Hu also called on all members to actively promote cooperation on low-carbon towns demonstration project, further cooperate on forestation and human resources and make active contributions to a green and inclusive growth of the region. Hu's proposals were widely supported by other members.
IV. Advancing China-U.S. Cooperative Partnership
In January, President Hu made a successful state visit to the United States during which he and U.S. counterpart Barack Obama reached consensus on building a cooperative China-U.S. partnership and pushed bilateral ties to a new stage of development, Yang said. The two heads of state met on the sidelines of the APEC forum in Honolulu. During the meeting, the ninth official meeting between the two heads of state, they had a candid, in-depth exchange of views and reached broad consensus. They agreed to work together to continuously strengthen the China-U.S. cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit, Yang said. During their meeting, the Chinese president said China-U.S. relations had entered another critical period, and both sides should promote cooperation at bilateral, regional and global levels to achieve more substantial results and ensure the steady development of China-U.S. ties, he said. Hu also made a three-point proposal on advancing the bilateral relationship, stressing that China and the U.S. should forge a mutually beneficial and reciprocal cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual trust and they should become cooperative partners "in the same boat" and pull together in times of trouble, according to Yang. Meanwhile, the Chinese president said China respected the legitimate interests of the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific region, and welcomed it to play a constructive role in the region, the foreign minister said. Hu also expressed the hope that the U.S. would respect China's legitimate regional interests and properly handle issues related to each other's interests and concerns in a bid to jointly promote peace, mutual trust and cooperation in the region, he said.
Obama said, since Hu's January visit, U.S.-China relations had made stable and made progress, and strengthening cooperation between the U.S. and China was vital for the two countries, the Asia Pacific region and the world at large, Yang said. Obama said the U.S. would work with China to continue to expand the U.S.-China relationship in a constructive way and the U.S. welcomed a stronger, successful, prosperous and stable China to play an even greater role in international affairs. The U.S. president also emphasized that the U.S. respected the legitimate interests of China in the Asia Pacific region, and the sovereignty of China, and it will continue to pursue the one-China policy based on the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, and will not support "Taiwan independence", Yang said. Obama also said his country valued the efforts made by China in pushing forward bilateral trade and economic links and the U.S. was ready to work with other countries to overcome the current difficulties in the world economy and push for strong, sustainable and balanced economic growth around the world, the foreign minister said.
V. Promoting China's Friendly Relations with Other Countries
Yang said Hu was engaged in intensive bilateral meetings throughout the forum.
When meeting with his Peruvian counterpart Ollanta Humala Tasso, Hu said both China and Peru are important developing countries in the Pacific Rim. Hu said China always treats and handles its relations with Peru from a strategic height. The two countries should maintain high-level contact, expand pragmatic cooperation, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in cultural fields and seek closer multilateral cooperation. Echoing Hu's proposals on enhancing bilateral ties, Humala said Peru was willing to strengthen its political contact with China and advance bilateral cooperation in various areas to achieve win-win results. Both sides should strengthen cultural exchanges and enhance coordination and consultation in multilateral fields.
When meeting with Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang, Hu said the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government attach importance to developing ties with Vietnam and are willing to work with the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese government to further develop their all-round strategic cooperative partnership. China and Vietnam needed to enhance strategic communication and political mutual trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation for mutual benefit and expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges to cement the foundation of public opinion for China-Vietnam friendship.
Sang said that Vietnam has consistently advocated a strategy of strengthening and consolidating the two countries' all-around strategic cooperative partnership. Sang proposed that, in the new phase, the two sides should act in accordance with the consensus reached by the two parties' leaders and under the guideline of "long-term stability, future-orientation, good-neighborliness and comprehensive cooperation" and spirit of remaining good neighbors, friends, comrades and partners, to enhance mutual trust between the two parties and two nations and exert greater efforts in developing bilateral relations. Sang said he hoped to increase high-level visits as well as exchanges and cooperation between both peoples in various forms, offer proper guidance to public opinion and communicate the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries. Both sides should also promote communication and coordination on international and regional affairs in a bid to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.
While meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Hu said China is ready to work with the Japanese side to bear in mind the fundamental interest of both peoples and strengthen all-round dialogues, exchanges and cooperation on bilateral, regional and global dimensions and in the areas of politics, economy, culture and people-to-people exchanges based on the principles set forth in the four political documents between both sides and a series of important consensus reached by both sides. He expressed readiness to deepen the China-Japan mutually beneficial relationship of strategic significance in a sustained way and jointly celebrate the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties with Japan next year. The Chinese president put forward a five-point proposal on further advancing bilateral ties, including maintaining high-level contact to enhance political mutual trust, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation to create highlights of cooperation, expanding cultural and people-to-people exchanges to increase friendly feelings between both peoples, advancing regional cooperation to enhance coordination on international affairs and properly handling disputes to maintain stability. Noda said the two countries should bear in mind the overall situation and expand their relations in a stable way. Japan was ready to make joint efforts with China to enhance cooperation and exchanges in all areas, further deepen the mutually beneficial relationship of strategic significance, improve mutual understanding between the two peoples and reinforce the foundation of public opinion. Also, he said the two countries should improve cooperation and coordination on regional and international affairs so as to jointly play an active role in promoting stability and prosperity of the Asia Pacific region and the world at large. On the issues between the two countries, Noda said the two sides should take an overall perspective and deal with them properly to prevent them from affecting bilateral ties.
During a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Hu said that China was ready to work with Canada to enhance mutual trust, expand cooperation, increase common ground and deepen friendship. He said the two countries should view and develop bilateral ties from a strategic height and firmly stick to the correct direction in developing bilateral relationship. Hu said the two countries should maintain high-level contact and dialogue at various levels and should continuously enhance consensus and trust through contact and communication. The two countries should complement each other's advantages, seek win-win results, explore new ideas and tap potential. Both sides should further strengthen pragmatic cooperation in a wide range of areas, promote friendship between their peoples and expand cultural exchanges so as to improve mutual understanding and consolidate the basis of public opinion for developing bilateral relations. The two sides should expand cooperation in multilateral arena by increasing dialogue and consultation on major regional and international issues so as to jointly maintain peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large. Harper said Canada attached importance to developing its strategic partnership with China. He said Canada is ready to work with China to further tap this potential, broaden cooperation and meet common challenges. Harper also said the two sides should deepen their strategic and economic partnership, step up consultation in the multilateral arena and join hands to fight protectionism.
During his stay in Hawaii, Hu also broadly engaged with U.S. people from all walks of life and carried out public diplomacy. During his meeting with U.S. business leaders from a broad range of industries, Hu expounded China's positive attitude of deepening economic and trade cooperation with the U.S.. He emphasized that under the current situation, China-U.S. economic and trade relations face both challenges and important development opportunities. China's total import within the next five years is expected to exceed 8 trillion US dollars and consumer goods market will be close to 5 trillion US dollars by 2015, which will provide a huge market for the U.S. to rejuvenate its manufacturing industry and achieve the Export Initiative objective. He said that it is totally possible for China-U.S. trade volume to exceed 500 billion US dollars in the next 3 or 4 years based on the current level and growth rate. The two sides should stick to equal consultations and follow market rules and the WTO rules to properly handle frictions. They should neither politicize economic and trade issues nor engage in protectionism. China will unswervingly push forward reform and opening up, firmly implement the mutually beneficial and win-win strategy of opening up and, as always, provide a sound investment environment for all the foreign companies, including the American ones. He called on the U.S. business community to resist protectionism and play an active role in promoting healthy and stable development of Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations. He emphasized that businesses are the main players of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation. He hopes the business communities of both sides seize opportunities, keep forging ahead and make their cooperation more productive. He stressed that China is resolutely determined to strengthen IPR protection. It is willing to strengthen dialogue and exchanges with the U.S. to jointly enhance IPR protection. The American business representatives said President Hu Jintao's speech was very convincing and encouraging. As the world's two major economies, the United States and China will still compete in the future, but both sides must seek mutual benefit and win-win situation. China has made effective efforts in improving the investment environment and protecting intellectual property rights in recent years.
Yang finally said that President Hu Jintao's attendance at the meeting will have an significant and far-reaching impact on deepening regional cooperation, advancing regional economic integration, establishing a balanced and win-win multilateral trading system and promoting APEC's long-term development and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific.