Sanya, Hainan (Xinhua): Chinese President Hu Jintao today chaired the BRICS Leaders Meeting in south China’s resort city of Sanya.
The following is the full text of Hu’s remarks.
Broad Vision, Shared Prosperity
Remarks by H.E. Hu Jintao
President of the People’s Republic of China
At the BRICS Leaders Meeting
Sanya, 14 April 2011
Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to meet you once again and discuss with you the plans for BRICS cooperation and development. Let me begin by extending, on behalf of the Chinese government and people and in my own name, warm welcome to all the leaders and delegates present at the meeting.
The second decade of the 21st century has just begun. In the past decade, our world went through major development, major changes and major adjustments. The trend of peace, development and cooperation gained stronger momentum. The world moved further towards multi-polarity and economic globalization. New changes took place in the global economic governance and new breakthroughs were in the making in scientific and technological innovation. Emerging market economies engaged in dynamic cooperation. All these have brought valuable opportunities to the development of all countries.
On the other hand, the last decade also witnessed incessant international and regional hotspots which undermined world peace and stability. Development imbalance between the North and the South remained an acute problem. Global challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, energy and resources security, serious communicable diseases and major natural disasters raised wide concerns. Today, we are still confronted with the underlying impact of the financial crisis. Rising commodity prices and inflationary pressure has added to the uncertainties of the world economic recovery. Global financial governance remains a daunting task. The recent political turbulence and even war in some west Asian and north African countries have affected regional stability. There is indeed a long way to go before lasting peace and common prosperity can be achieved.
Chinese President Hu Jintao chairs the BRICS Leaders Meeting in Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province, April 14, 2011. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)
Opportunities should be seized and challenges properly addressed. At this historic juncture when we usher in the second decade of the 21st century, we all need to reflect on one major topic: How to bring about a peaceful and tranquil 21st century in which humanity can enjoy common prosperity? I wish to share with you my observations in this regard.
First, we should endeavor to maintain world peace and stability. Peace and stability form the prerequisite and foundation for development. The two world wars in the last century caused mankind untold sufferings and world economic and social development severe setbacks. It is mainly due to the relatively peaceful and stable international environment that the world economy has been able to grow at a fast pace in the post-war era. The World Bank statistics show that none of the countries persistently under violent conflict has achieved the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). To maintain world peace and stability so that the people can live a happy and prosperous life is the primary responsibility for governments and leaders of all countries.
We should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and bring into full play the central role of the United Nations and its Security Council in peace keeping, peace making and peace building. We should seek peaceful settlement of international disputes through dialogue and consultation.
All countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community. We should work for common security in a spirit of democracy, inclusiveness, cooperation and win-win progress. Internal affairs of a country should be handled independently by the country itself and international affairs should be managed collectively through consultation by all. We should be committed to multilateralism and international cooperation, and promote democracy in international relations.
We should foster an international environment that supports efforts of countries to achieve peace, stability and prosperity in the light of their national circumstances. We should respect the sovereignty of all countries and their right to choose their development paths and models in keeping with the principle of seeking common ground while shelving differences. And we should respect the diversity of civilizations and pursue common progress through mutual learning and drawing on each other’s strength.
Second, we should endeavor to promote common development of all countries. The international financial crisis has aroused much thinking and discussion about world economic imbalances. In the final analysis, the biggest imbalance in the world economy is the development imbalance between the North and the South and the most fundamental problem in the world economy is the inadequate development of developing countries. Without economic development of the developing countries, there can be no sustained and stable growth in the world economy. We need to renew our commitment to the development of developing countries and promote world economic recovery and growth.
We should put in place a fair and effective global development system, enhance development institutions, increase resources for development and work to fully attain the UN MDGs. We should uphold the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” and work together to meet the global climate challenge. We should jointly uphold energy security in line with the principle of mutually beneficial cooperation, diversified development and coordinated energy supply. We should formulate a long-term international food cooperation strategy and ensure food security for all.
We should establish fair, just, inclusive and well-managed international monetary and financial systems to support global economic development and increase the say and representation of emerging markets and developing countries in these systems.
We should set up a just and equitable international free trade system, oppose protectionism in all its forms, strengthen the multilateral trading regime and push for early attainment of the goals of a development round at the Doha Round negotiations.
Dear Colleagues,
Over the past 30 years and more since reform and opening-up, China has made remarkable achievements in its development. In the past decade, China imported 687 billion U.S. dollars of goods on average every year, creating over 13 million jobs in related countries and regions. In 2010, China achieved a 10.3 percent GDP growth and made an important contribution to world economic recovery. This fully shows that China’s development is part of the world development and the better China develops, the greater the contribution it will make to the world.
At the same time, we are keenly aware that China has a large population and a weak economic foundation. Our development is uneven and per capita GDP low. We face considerable resources and environmental constraints in pursuing economic development. More than 100 million people live below the poverty line set by the UN. All these are our challenges, and we must make arduous efforts in order to achieve our development goals.
The Chinese government formulated and promulgated the Outline of the 12th Five-Year Plan not long ago. The Outline sets out the guiding principles, strategic objectives and major tasks for China’s economic and social development in the coming five years. We will be committed to scientific development, and focus on accelerating the transformation of the economic development pattern. We will advance economic restructuring at a faster pace, strengthen capacity for innovation, ensure energy conservation and emission reduction, and deepen reform and opening up. We will take greater steps to protect and improve people’s well-being and promote social equity and justice. We will strive for sustained, steady and relatively fast economic development, and promote social stability and harmony. We will ensure that our development is for the people and by the people, and the development achievements are shared among the people.
I am convinced that a China with more sustainable development, greater social harmony, better institutions and greater openness will not only bring more benefits to its 1.3 billion people, but also make greater contribution to world peace and development.
China will continue to advocate peace, development and cooperation, and remain committed to the independent foreign policy of peace, the path of peaceful development and the win-win strategy of opening-up. China welcomes the participation of all countries in its development endeavor. We will share development opportunities with other countries, and expand the dimensions of opening up. We will contribute to the development of the region and the world through our development and share prosperity with people around the world.
Dear colleagues, let us work together to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.
Thank you.
