Xi: 2015 marks historic juncture
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, March 28, 2015
 |
| Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia on March 28, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua] |
China continues to promote win-win cooperation
China will work to promote a new type of international relations of win-win cooperation and will always remain a staunch force for world peace and common development, Chinese President Xi Jinping said. [Click here to watch the full video of Xi's speech 
]
"China will be steadfast in pursuing the independent foreign policy of peace, the path of peaceful development, the win-win strategy of opening up, and the approach of upholding justice while pursuing shared interests," Xi said.
Xi noted that what China needs most is a harmonious and stable domestic environment and a peaceful and tranquil international environment, adding that turbulence or war runs against the fundamental interests of the Chinese people.
China has suffered from turbulence and war for more than a century since modern times, and the Chinese people would never want to inflict the same tragedy on other countries or peoples, Xi said.
Xi Jinping added the Chinese economy is highly resilient and has much potential, which gives enough room to leverage a host of policy tools.
Nations differ in a wide spectrum of aspects, but they share a common aspiration for win-win cooperation, Xi noted.
In his keynote speech, Xi cited a series of proverbs from different nations to accentuate that people from across the world all have a ready interest in mutually beneficial collaboration.
The sayings he mentioned include:
Southeast Asia: The lotus flowers grow taller as the water rises.
Africa: If you want to go fast, walk alone; and if you want to go far, walk together.
Europe: A single tree cannot block the chilly wind.
China: When big rivers have water, the small ones are filled; and when small rivers have water, the big ones are filled.
"All these sayings speak to one same truth, that is, only through win-win cooperation can we make big and sustainable achievements that are beneficial to all," he said.
Xi on "Belt and Road": Not China's solo but inspiring chorus
The "Belt and Road" initiatives will not be a solo for China but a real chorus comprising all countries along the routes, Xi said.
The "Belt and Road" initiatives, aimed at meeting the development needs of China, countries along the routes and the region at large, will serve the common interests of relevant parties and answer the call of the times for regional and global cooperation, Xi said.
Noting that the initiatives will be carried out following principles of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, Xi said the "Belt and Road" will be built on existing basis to help countries align their development strategies and form complementarity, with no intention of replacing existing mechanisms or initiatives for regional cooperation.
Stressing that the "Belt and Road" initiatives and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) are both open initiatives, Xi said all countries along the routes in Asia, as well as China's friends and partners around the world, are welcomed to take an active part in these endeavors.
The "Belt and Road" initiatives, namely, the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, were put forward by Xi during his visits to Kazakhstan and Indonesia in 2013.
The Silk Road Economic Belt is to be established along the ancient Silk Road trade route, stretching northwest from China's coastal area through Central Asia on to Europe, while the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road will run from China's south to Southeast Asia and even Africa.
The vision, once realized, will directly benefit 4.4 billion people, or 63 percent of the global population.
So far, more than 60 countries along the routes and international organizations have shown interest in taking part in the two initiatives.
2015 marks historic juncture to reflect on past, look to future
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday that this year marks a historic juncture to reflect on the past and look to the future.
The world commemorates in 2015 the 70th anniversary of the end of the World Anti-Fascist War, the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the founding of the United Nations, Xi noted in a keynote speech at the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA).
With the days of global colonialism and the Cold War long gone, countries are now increasingly interconnected and interdependent, Xi said, adding that countries are now in a better position to uphold general stability in the world and seek common development.
This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference and will witness the completion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Community, Xi noted.
"As such, it is an important year to be commemorated as well as a historic juncture to reflect on the past and look to the future," the president said.
Asian countries have gradually come up with an Asian way of cooperation in the course of advancing regional cooperation, which features mutual respect, consensus building and accommodation of each other's comfort levels, the Chinese president said.
More and more Asian countries have found their development paths that suit their own national conditions and embarked on a fast-track of economic growth, he said.
Asia still faces numerous challenges, among which some are the old issues left over from history and others are new ones associated with current disputes, Xi said.
As Asia is confronted with various traditional and non-traditional security threats, it remains an uphill battle for Asian countries to grow the economy, improve people's livelihood and eliminate poverty, he said.
China and Russia have both decided to hold a military parade later this year to celebrate their respective victories in the war against the fascist Axis powers.
Britain, the United States and France have all planned to hold various events to mark the end of a war that took millions of lives.
In Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to give a highly sensitive speech this summer on Japan's wartime aggression. The international community has been urging him to face history squarely and take up due historical responsibilities.
Hua Chunying, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said that China's commemorative events are for memorizing history, learning from history and exploring effective ways to maintain peace and security in the world against the new backdrop.
China ready to sign friendship treaty with all neighbors
Chinese President Xi Jinping said China stands ready to sign treaties of good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation with all its neighbors to provide strong support for the development of bilateral relations as well as prosperity and stability in the region.
China has signed such treaties with eight of its neighbors and is holding discussion to sign the same treaty with ASEAN, said Xi while delivering a keynote speech.
China will vigorously promote regional financial cooperation
China will vigorously promote a system of regional financial cooperation, and explore a platform for exchanges and cooperation among Asian financial institutions, the Chinese president said.
The country will also advance complementary and coordinated development between the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and such multilateral financial institutions as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, Xi said.
Xi proposes dialogue conference among Asian civilizations
Xi proposed a conference of dialogue among Asian civilizations to be held with an aim to boost regional cooperation and development.
The president said that the conference will provide a platform to enhance interactions among the youth, people's groups, local communities and the media and to form a network of think-tank cooperation, so as to add to Asian people's rich cultural life and contribute to more vibrant regional cooperation and development.
New security concepts should be nurtured in Asia
Xi Jinping said that the Cold War mentality should be discarded and new security concepts be nurtured as Asia explores a path to ensure security.
"To build a community of common destiny, we need to pursue common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security," the president said at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia.
AIIB welcomes all countries
The China-proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is an open initiative and China welcomes all countries to join the effort, said Xi on Saturday.
"We will ... advance complementary and coordinated development between the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and such multilateral financial institutions as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank," Xi told the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia.
Beijing is committed to vigorously promoting a system of regional financial cooperation and exploring a platform for exchanges and cooperation among Asian financial institutions, he added.
"The 'Belt and Road' and the AIIB are both open initiatives. We welcome all countries along the routes and in Asia, as well as our friends and partners around the world, to take an active part in these endeavors," he said, referring to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives.
Xi said the vision and action paper of China-proposed "Belt and Road" initiative has been developed thanks to the concerted efforts of relevant parties.
Substantive progress has been made in the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), he said.
The AIIB is a China-initiated international financial institution aimed at supporting infrastructure projects in Asia. It is expected to be formally established by the end of this year.
Twenty-one countries, including China, India and Singapore, signed a memorandum of understanding in Beijing in October 2014 to build the AIIB. Six other nations, including Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, joined the body until Feb. 9, 2015. As agreed, Beijing will be the host city for the headquarters.
The authorized capital of the AIIB is 100 billion U.S. dollars and the initial subscribed capital is expected to be around 50 billion dollars. The paid-in ratio will be 20 percent. Founding members have agreed that GDP will be the basic parameter in determining share allocation among member countries.
In March, nine other countries, namely Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Turkey, Austria and South Korea, have so far applied to join the AIIB as founding members. The application deadline is March 31.
China to import goods worth 10-trln-USD in 5 years
China will import more than 10 trillion U.S. dollars of goods in the coming five years, marking continued opportunities brought to the world, Xi said.
"Chinese economy will continue to bring more opportunities of trade, growth, investment and cooperation for other countries in Asia and beyond," Xi said while delivering a keynote speech at the opening plenary of the annual conference of the 2015 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA).
In the coming five years, Chinese investment abroad will exceed 500 billion U.S. dollars, and more than 500 million outbound visits will be made by Chinese tourists, according to the speech.
"China will stick to its basic state policy of opening up, improve its investment climate, and protect the lawful rights and interests of investors," Xi said.
Xi noted that the people of Asian countries could drive this train of Asia's development to take Asia to an even brighter future.
Xi extends condolences over Germanwings crash, pays tribute to Lee Kuan Yew
Chinese President Xi Jinping opened his keynote speech at a regional forum here Saturday with condolences over the recent Germanwings crash.
On behalf of the Chinese government and people, as well as all present at the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), Xi expressed deep condolences on the tragedy and sincere sympathies with the families affected.
A Germanwings A320 airliner crashed into southern French Alps en route from Spain's Barcelona to Germany's Duesseldorf on Tuesday. None of the 144 passengers and six crew members on board was expected to survive.
Later in his remarks, Xi expounded the profound changes Asia and the world at large have gone through since the end of World War II, and paid high tribute to late Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and all those who made contribution to Asia's peace and development.
"Mr. Lee was a strategist and statesman respected across the world for his outstanding contribution to the peace and development of Asia and the exchanges and cooperation between Asia and the world," Xi said.
Under the theme of "Asia's New Future: Toward a Community of Common Destiny", the four-day event will witness more than 70 formal discussions on topics of macroeconomy, industrial transformation, regional development, technological innovation, politics and regional security.
Leaders from 15 other countries as well as nearly 2,800 officials, businessmen and media staffers attend the forum.
A non-governmental and non-profit international organization founded in 2001, the BFA works to promote regional economic integration and bring Asian countries closer to their development goals.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)