█Intensifying Pragmatic Cooperation And Pursuing Peaceful Development Hand in Hand

█ Deepening Neighborly Friendship and Mutual Trust and Creating a Bright Future

█ Consolidating Traditional Friendship and Expanding Mutually Beneficial Cooperation

 

 

Intensifying Pragmatic Cooperation And Pursuing Peaceful Development Hand in Hand

--Speech delivered by Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of China, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit at Tashkent on June 17, 2004

It gives me much pleasure to discuss some issues of common concern with all of you. Here I would like to extend my hearty thanks to President Islam Karimov and the Uzbek government, the host of the conference, for their careful preparations and satisfactory arrangements for the conference.

The ultimate purpose of establishing and developing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is to secure a lasting peace and common development of its member states. Over the past three years, SCO has made much headway on the path to attaining this goal, having built up a better institutional system and legislation foundation, kicking off smooth cooperation in fields of security and the economy, and setting up a favorable image of peace, cooperation and openness for the whole world. Today, the SCO has developed into an important link to intensify the neighborliness and mutual trust and cooperation in a pragmatic way among its member states, and an efficient mechanism for promoting regional security, stability and development, as well as a constructive force in dealing with international and regional affairs.

It has been justified that the establishment and development of SCO is going with the tide of the times of seeking peace and development of the people of various countries. The "Shanghai Spirit", which advocates mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations, and pursuit of common development, is of strong vitality and general significance. The successful practice of SCO has made an important contribution to the buildup of a fair, reasonable political and economic world order in the new century. We are satisfied with the achievements made by the organization and we are fully confident of its promising prospects.

SCO has entered a new stage of development. From now on, the organization should shift its focus of work onto expansion and deepening of cooperation in various fields. With pragmatic spirit, we have to define our concrete target and take effective measures to transfer the enormous potentials in our cooperation into real product of cooperation, thus bringing tangible benefits to the people of its member states. This is an inevitable course of its sustained and sound development. For this purpose, we have to make endeavors in the following key aspects:

First, continuing to strengthen security cooperation. We have to relentlessly crack down on the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, firmly deter and eradicate threats posed by drug trafficking and proliferation of weaponry, so as to create a secure and stable environment for socioeconomic development of all the member states.

Second, greatly promoting economic cooperation. We have to carry through the Economic and Trade Cooperation Program of Member States of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, promoting shared economic development among member states on the basis of the principles of equality and mutual benefits, a market economy, opening up to each other, and a combination of unilateral and multilateral relationships, bringing to into full play the advantages of compensative economies and affluent natural resources of each member state through various forms of development so as to promote common development of economies. To make substantial achievements as quickly as possible in promoting economic cooperation, China decided to provide a total of US$900 million of buyer's credit for preferential exports to other member states.

Third, deepening the development of humanity and cultural cooperation. The member states of the organization boast unique humanity and cultural resources of their own with a huge potential for cooperation. We should expand cooperation in culture, education, science and technology, tourism and media, and to improve mutual understanding and friendship among the people of member states so as to consolidate the social foundation for the development of SCO.

The SCO should take a more open and constructive attitude to join in the handling of international and regional affairs and promote its international influence, striving to make greater contributions to the lofty cause of world peace and development. Afghanistan and Mongolia are neighbors of the member states of the organization. We welcome Afghan President Hamid Karzai to join us in the conference and we believe it will lay a good foundation for both sides to develop cooperation.

The status of observer granted by the SCO to Mongolia will promote further development of relations between both sides.

Promoting the development of the organization is an important aspect of China's foreign policy. China will continue its devotion to the promotion of neighborliness and friendly relations among the member states and will do its best to further development of the organization.

The SCO was founded and has been developing amid a complicated and changing international situation. In the new century, peace and development remain the keynote of the times. But factors of instability, uncertainty and insecurity are also increasing. The international community is facing unprecedented opportunities of development while confronting various kinds of grim challenges.

A series of events occurring most recently show that terrorism still threatens world peace and development. To win the fight against terrorism, we have to maintain the proper direction and take effective measures. We must oppose any forms of terrorism. And we must not allow double standard in the fight. We have to strengthen international cooperation, uniting various countries to join hands in the same fight. We should not identify terrorism with a particular ethnic group or nationality or religion. It is imperative to carry out a comprehensive address, making efforts to solve the problems of regional conflicts and poverty and eliminate the roots of terrorism.

To build up a more peaceful, stable and prosperous 21st century, it requires the efforts and action of all the countries in the world.

-Politically, multilateralism must be maintained. Democratization of international relationships should be promoted. We must persist in the principle that international affairs should be dealt with by various countries on an equal footing and we must maintain and develop the important role of the UN in the settlement of international issues.

- On security, a new sense of security based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination should be cultivated, while getting rid of such ideas and practice as seeking one-sided absolute security. Security should be based on mutual trust and cooperation.

- Economically, an overall cooperation based on equality and mutual benefit should be developed to materialize a balanced development among various countries and regions. The big disparity between the rich and the poor countries in the North and South of the world is not conducive to the realization of a permanent peace and stability and sustained development in the world.

- Culturally, diverse civilizations of human kind should be maintained. We have to promote exchanges between various countries of their different civilizations, different social systems and roads of development so as to learn from and help each other and to co-exist harmoniously and peacefully.

China is sticking to its course of peaceful development. We will develop ourselves while maintaining world peace, and promote common development.

 

 

Deepening Neighborly Friendship and Mutual Trust and Creating a Bright Future

--Speech by President Hu Jintao at the Uzbek Parliament on June 16, 2004

At the invitation of President Islam Karimov, I now pay a state visit to your honored country. I'm very pleased that yesterday, President Karimov and I had a cordial and fruitful talk, and today I am here, meeting friends from various circles who are concerned about China and China-Uzbekistan relationships. I would like to convey sincere greetings from the Chinese people to all the industrious, brave and intelligent Uzbek people.

Uzbekistan enjoys a long history and splendid culture, and has made great contributions to human civilization. Since its independence 12 years ago, the Uzbek people, under the leadership of President Karimov, have succeeded in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity by persisting in a development road that suits their national conditions and have scored remarkable achievements. Currently, Uzbekistan enjoys a situation featuring political stability, economic development and social progress, and constant rising of international status. Despite hardships, the Uzbek people have never ceased the efforts to make the country stronger. You are writing a new chapter of rejuvenating your nation. As a friendly neighbor of Uzbekistan, we are very happy with your achievements and wish you even greater success.

Uzbekistan, an important country in Central Asia, is China's close and friendly partner. China has long attached importance to the development of China-Uzbekistan relationships. Since the two countries established diplomatic relations 12 years ago, we have kept frequent high-level exchanges, deepened mutual trust in politics and conducted cooperation in the fields of economics, trade, science and technology, education, the judiciary and communications. In addition the two countries have made concerted efforts in fighting against the "three forces"--terrorism, separatism and extremism, and have made positive contributions to maintaining regional peace.

We have a huge potential and enjoy a wide perspective for cooperation. China is willing, together with Uzbekistan, to continue following the principle of equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit and non interference in each others' internal affairs, with a view to take the two-countries' relationship to higher level. President Karimov and I have reached the consensus of developing a friendly partnership. Politically, we will keep high-level exchanges, increase dialogue and enhance mutual trust and support. Economically, we will deepen economic and trade cooperation and constantly explore new forms of cooperation. Apart from this, we will join hands to crack down on the "three forces," including the "Eastern Turkistan" terrorists, within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In the meantime, we will continue to support each other in major international affairs.

The countries in Central Asia are a new rising force on the European-Asian Continent. Their rapid development and important geographic location have attracted growing attention of the world. In the past 10 or so years since their independence, the countries made unceasing efforts in pursuing peace and stability, probing the mode for development that suits their conditions, safeguarding regional security, developing economy, improving people's living standard, promoting regional cooperation and seeking common development. In the meantime, the countries have attached importance to expanding foreign exchanges and launching dialogues among countries with different cultures. Thus they are playing an increasingly important role in international affairs.

As a close neighbor of the Central Asian countries, China is very pleased with the achievements they have made, and sincerely hopes they will enjoy long-term stability and sustained development.

Currently, the Central Asian countries are still facing the arduous task of maintaining regional stability, safeguarding security and accelerating economic development. This requires the coordination of all parts. The international community should give them more assistance by undertaking various forms of cooperation with them, featuring equality, pragmatism and mutual benefit. Also, all parties should respect their history, nationality, religion and culture, and do more things conducive to peace, security and development in the region.

China is willing, together with related parties, to safeguard the stability and make unremitting efforts to promote the economic development in the Central Asian region.

As early as the 2nd century BC, China established close relations with Central Asian nations through the Silk Road, by which, the Chinese people and the people of the countries have learned from each other, drawn on experiences of each other, and developed a profound friendship. China is one of the countries that established diplomatic relations with the five Central Asian nations, soon after they won independence. Over the past 10 years, China has made efforts to develop neighborly friendship on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, and constantly enlarged the areas of cooperation. The concerted efforts made by both sides have brought satisfying results. We have supported each other on issues related to issues related to sovereignty and territorial integrity, thus laying a solid foundation for developing a relationship of complete trust.

Regarding regional security, we have made bilateral and multilateral cooperation in cracking down on the "three forces" that threaten regional security, and achieved remarkable results in this regard.

In the economic field, we have become cooperative partners. China and the Central Asian countries are mutually complementary in economy, which is stimulating the cooperation of the two sides in energy, communication and trade. In 2003 alone, China's trade with the five Central Asian countries reached US$4.05 billion, nine times that of 1992. And its investment there exceeded US$1billion. This has brought benefits and opportunities for both sides and exerted a positive influence on regional stability and development.

The establishment of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a successful practice for promoting a new security concept and exploring new cooperative modes. Tomorrow, the six SCO members will hold its first summit meeting after entering a new stage of full-range cooperation.

We will also issue the Tashkent Declaration, sign several important documents, and discuss a regional development plan and cooperative orientation. The SCO development is expected to make constant contributions to the establishment of a new world political and economic order.

Reviewing the past and looking toward the future, we are full of confidence in deepening the cooperation and friendly neighboring relationships with Central Asian countries. For this purpose, I suggest:

First, enhancing mutual trust in politics. Efforts should be made to intensify high-level exchanges and improve cooperative mechanisms, continue to offer assistance to each other in important affairs related to national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity, thus establishing an all-around and high-level neighborly friendship and cooperative relationship.

Second, intensifying coordination to safeguard regional stability. Efforts should be made to crack down on all evil forces that threaten regional peace and security in order to create a favorable environment for living and development.

Third, persisting in the principle of reciprocity and mutual benefit, and promoting pragmatic cooperation. We should tap the potential for cooperation. Based on the win-win principle, we should enlarge reciprocal investment, promote the cooperation in energy, railway and road construction, optimize trade structure, support multilateral economic cooperation and establish a mechanism facilitating investment.

Fourth, intensifying cultural exchanges and traditional friendship. We should attach importance to cultural exchanges and dialogue of both sides to promote mutual understanding and a harmonious co-existence. We should support the exchanges in culture, media, academia and tourism and between non-governmental organizations.

Over the past 25 years since its introduction of reform and opening-up policy, China has scored tangible achievements in economic and social development. Its GDP grew by 9.4 percent annually. Meanwhile, its productivity and comprehensive national strength as well as people's living standard improved greatly. In 2003, China's GDP hit USS 1,400 billion and the per-capita USS1,000. Currently, China's economy maintains a good momentum for development. In the first quarter of this year, its GDP growth hit 9.8 percent and fiscal revenue and foreign trade increased by 33.4 percent and 38.2 percent respectively.

In the meantime, we should note that China, a country with a population of 1.3 billion and uneven economic development, still faces the arduous task to realize modernization. China's goal for the first 20 years of this century is to build a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way, quadrupling its GDP on the basis of the year 2000, to reach US$4 trillion yuan and per-capita of US$3,000.

To promote the coordinated development, the Chinese Government initiated the strategy of western development. After four years of construction, the infrastructure in the western areas has improved and socioeconomic development accelerated. China welcomes enterprises of Central Asian countries to join China's western development and explore new business opportunities.

China requires a long, peaceful and stable international environment for its economic development. China will hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation and unswervingly persist in the independent foreign policy of peace and take the peaceful development route. China has the tradition of pursuing harmony and keeping good relations with neighbors, as is the principle of its foreign policy. China is dedicated to develop harmonious neighboring relations with surrounding countries and hope them enjoy a peaceful environment and prosperity.

China will never seek hegemony, nor will territory expansion.

China will stick to its opening policy and intensify economic and technological cooperation with the surrounding countries, including Central Asian countries, and join hands with them to create a new cooperative structure featuring reciprocity, mutual compensating economies and mutual benefit. China's development will not only bring benefit to the Chinese people, but also exert positive influence on Central Asian region.

 

 

Consolidating Traditional Friendship and Expanding Mutually Beneficial Cooperation

--Excerpt speech by Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Parliament of Romania on June 14, 2004

I am very glad to have an opportunity to meet all my friends here in the Parliament Hall of Romania. This is my third visit to the country. The development achievements of Romania and the friendliness and hospitality of Romanian people have made an unforgettable impression on me. I would like to extend sincere greetings and kind regards to the friendly Romanian people on behalf of the Chinese Government and people.

China and Romania are ten thousands of miles away from each other and located in two continents of Asia and Europe. But the two peoples have established profound friendship in the long period of efforts striving for national independence and economic development.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Romania. On October 5, 1949, when new China was just founded, Romania established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, becoming the third country in the world that admits the People's Republic of China. Over the past five and a half decades, despite the twists and turns in international situations and the changed domestic situations in the two countries, the deep friendship between the two countries and peoples has not changed; neither have the strong mutual political trust nor the innermost feelings of assisting each other.

We respect the social system and development road chosen by Romanian people in light of their national conditions. We get along well and treat each other on an equal footing, never interfere in each other's internal affairs, and support each other in the efforts of safeguarding state independence, sovereignty and unification. We are good friends and good partners whenever in need. Either when Romania suffered a flood 30 years ago or when the SARS epidemic occurred in China last year, the two countries assisted each other. We energetically strive for the development of economic and trade cooperation based on mutual benefit and reciprocity. In recent years, the trade volumes between the two countries have increased, reaching US$976 million in 2003. China's investment in Romania grows constantly and progress in major project cooperation has been achieved. We have paid attention to cultural cooperation and exchanges between young people, nurturing and strengthening the development of Sino-Romanian relations, so as to ensure the Sino-Romanian friend-ship continues to be handed down from generation to generation.

During this visit, the two sides have reached consensus on developing comprehensive friendly partnership of cooperation, which will inject new and strong impetus to the traditional friendship between the two countries.

The Mid-Eastern European region holds an important strategic position and houses a variety of nationalities, civilizations and religions. Crossing the threshold of the new century, the Mid-Eastem European region is now standing at a new starting point of history. Through l0 years of endeavor, all countries in the region have achieved political stability, economic development and improved living standard, as well as rising international status.

The Chinese people and the peoples of the Mid-Eastern European region have enjoyed long-standing traditional friendship. There is no fundamental conflict between China and the Mid-Eastern European countries, nor do they constitute a threat to each other. Because of the differences in history, culture and tradition, political system and economic development, it is normal for the two sides to have different views on certain issues. So long as we handle them properly, seek common ground while reserving differences, these differences wouldn't become obstacles to hinder the friendly cooperation between the two sides. China has more new friends in the European Union after the Mid-Eastern European countries joined the EU one after another, and thus China has another new platform in its cooperation with these countries. The relationship between China and the Mid-Eastern European countries will constitute an important component part in the Sino-European relationship.

China stands ready to continue to comprehensively boost its relations with Mid-Eastern European countries under the spirit of mutual respect, mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation. Therefore, I will make the following four proposals with regard to developing China's relations with Mid-Eastern European countries.

First, enhancing friendly exchanges, boosting mutual political trust, deepening mutual understanding, expanding consensus and supporting each other, especially the major political concerns of each other, so as to further develop their bilateral relations under the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

Second, expanding economic and trade cooperation and promoting common development, adhering to the principles of mutual benefit and reciprocity and trying to increase the investment and technological content of their economic cooperation in order to become each other's stable economic and trade partner through sharing complementarity.

Third, expanding cultural exchanges and consolidating traditional friendship, enhancing exchanges in the fields of culture, sports, science and technology, tourism, health and journalism so as to constantly enrich the content of their cooperation.

Fourth, strengthening international cooperation and jointly coping with relevant challenges, enhancing strategic dialogue and cooperation on counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, combating cross-border crimes and giving play to the role of the United Nations, and remaining committed to safeguarding world peace and stability.

With the development of the EU integration, the pattern of European geographic politics is changing. A thriving Europe is playing a decisive role in the international arena. Europe will be more stable and prosperous and will play an even positive role in the international arena.

Peace and development remain the themes of our times. To maintain world peace and promote common development is the common aspiration of all the people in the world. At the same time, the world is far from tranquil and uncertainties that affect peace and development are on the rise.

Unilateralism has new manifestations. Partial conflicts resulted from national and religious contradictions and from border and territorial disputes fluctuate. Differences between south and north are further expanding. Terrorism, rampant transnational crime, diseases and environmental pollution, and other non-traditional security factors have brought about threats to the development of human beings. Therefore, the human race is facing new opportunities and challenges with regard to maintaining world peace and promoting common development.

To grasp the opportunities, cope with the challenges, promote the lofty cause of boosting world peace and development and realize the goal of having different peoples live in peace and amity, people of different countries should make unremitting efforts in the following aspects:

- Adhering to the principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation, and realizing common security for all countries. In today's world, all countries are increasingly interdependent, and they should transcend the concept of unilateral security, give up unilateralism and the practice of depending solely on force, respect and safeguard the international multilateral mechanism with the United Nations at the core, enhance international and regional multilateral cooperation of all forms, resolve disputes through dialogue and consultation, and jointly maintain international and regional security and stability.

- Adhering to the guideline of having comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development and realizing common prosperity for all countries. Efforts should be made to strengthen mutual coordination and cooperation between countries and regions and place a priority on helping developing countries boost their economic and social development.

The international society should make joint efforts to bridge the gaps between the rich and the poor, between the north and the south and solve the glaring problems of deteriorated ecological environment, and to continuously improve the living of all peoples, particularly those still in poverty.

- Respecting the diversity of culture and realizing common progress for different civilizations. They should respect the path and pattern of development chosen by different countries in light of their specific national conditions, respect the colorful civilizations and ways of life created by people of different countries in the process of history and promote different civilizations to learn from and share complementarity with each other so as to boost world diversity and the overall progress of the human society.

Over the past two decades since the reform and opening up, China has made remarkable achievements in its modernization drive. Social productivity and comprehensive national strength have achieved historical great leap forward and people's living has generally reached moderately prosperous level. In 2003, China's gross domestic product (GDP) registered more than US$1,400 billion, exceeding USS 1,000 average per-capita. Meanwhile, we are clearly aware of the fact that China is a densely populated country with an uneven development, and the per-capita GDP lags behind the world. So, there is a long way to go for China to realize modernization and make the 1.3 billion people live a moderately prosperous life. This also needs long and arduous efforts of generations.

We have established the development goal for the first two decades of this century, which means to go all out to build a well-off society in an all round way and to quadruple the GDP in 2020 on the basis of the year 2000, to reach US$4 trillion and the per-capita GDP US$3,000. We will, under the guidance of the important thought of Deng Xiaoping theory and "three representatives," adhere to make the economic construction as the central task, firmly boost the reform and opening up, set up and implement the development concept of working for the interest of people, and for the overall, coordinated and sustainable development. We will coordinate the urban and rural development, inter-regional advance, social-economic progress, harmonious advance between human and nature. We will coordinate the domestic development and opening up to the outside world, continue to expand socialist market economy, democratic politics and advanced culture, so as to promote overall economic and social progress and the comprehensive development of people.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the five principles of peaceful co-existence. In June 1954, China and some other Asian countries initiated the five principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence. They have become a universally recognized norm for all countries to establish and develop friendly relations and cooperation with other countries.

The aim of China's diplomatic policy is to safeguard world peace and promote common development. China will firmly hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, unswervingly pursue an independent foreign policy of peace and steadfastly follow the path of peaceful development. China will develop friendly relations with all countries under the five principles of peaceful co-existence, so as to make unremitting efforts to enhance the friendship between the Chinese people and people of the world and to strengthen mutual benefit and cooperation between China and all other countries.

Let's hold our hands together and make fresh contributions to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.