Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, at the Opening Ceremony of the Ninth World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention

(Kobe, Japan, September 15, 2007)

Let me start by extending, on behalf of the Chinese Government, warm congratulations on the opening of the Ninth World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention, which has gathered overseas Chinese business elites from the world over in the beautiful Japanese coastal city of Kobe. I'd also like to convey cordial greetings and best wishes to the overseas Chinese and friends from around the globe present here today.

Committed to the motto "business is business," the World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention has been held eight times in Asia, Australia and America since its inception in 1991. A total of nearly 20,000 participants attended the conferences, during which they put forward constructive ideas and suggestions on topics including world economic development and communication and cooperation among Chinese entrepreneurs. The conferences exemplified the core values of Chinese entrepreneurs — unity, pragmatism and the pioneering spirit, making a deep impression on people in different countries and drawing attention and praise from the general public.

Today, the World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention has become an important platform for overseas Chinese to strengthen their contact and communication and promote economic and trade cooperation. It is playing an increasingly important role in promoting the economic development of the host countries, China and the countries and regions where Chinese entrepreneurs are based and in enhancing the international influence of overseas Chinese. With the theme of "Seeking Win-Win Results through Harmonious Cooperation for the Benefit of the World," this year's convention is the largest one ever held. Given the strong support and active participation of overseas Chinese from across the world, I believe the convention will succeed in making fresh contributions to the world's economic development as well as communication and cooperation among Chinese entrepreneurs.

The international situation continues to undergo profound and complicated changes. The trend toward multipolarization is growing. Economic globalization is deepening. Regional cooperation is flourishing. Interactions among countries are increasing. Science and technology and productivity are advancing. Peace, development and cooperation have become an irresistible trend in the world today. At the same time, regional hotspot issues are cropping up from time to time, the South-North gap is widening, and global economic imbalances are arousing concern. Faced with the international situation characterized by the coexistence of opportunities and challenges, countries should strengthen mutual trust and coordination, deepen communication and cooperation and make every effort to achieve lasting peace and common prosperity in the world.

China's development is closely linked to the development of the world. It has been 29 years since China adopted its policy of reform and opening up in 1978. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese people have brought about profound changes in Chinese society with their concerted efforts and pioneering spirit, creating a surge of new developments in China. Over these years, China's social productivity has been greatly liberated and developed. Its gross domestic product has grown by 9.7 percent annually on average. It hit nearly $2.627 trillion in 2006, making China the fourth largest economy in the world.

We have established and improved the socialist market economy over the years. Economic openness has reached a new level. China's foreign trade volume reached $1.761 trillion in 2006, an 84-fold increase from 1978. Its world ranking went up from 27th place in 1978 to third place in 2006. China has also witnessed remarkable cultural progress. The rule of law has been enhanced. Nine-year compulsory education has been made universally available in the main. The goal of eliminating illiteracy among young and middle-aged people has been realized as scheduled. Public cultural services and the cultural industry are prospering. Profound changes have taken place in Chinese cultural life.

Chinese people's living standards have improved considerably over the past 29 years. The household income of both urban and rural residents has grown rapidly. The impoverished rural population was reduced from 250 million to 20 million. The Chinese are now generally living a well-off life. We have made a lot of achievements that were impossible in the past. Progress has been made with major projects such as the Three Georges Dam, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and the projects of transferring gas from the west to the east, transferring power from the west to the east and transferring water from the south to the north. A series of scientific and technological breakthroughs has been accomplished, with Shenzhou spacecraft as a telling example.

Remarkable changes have taken place across China, from the snow-covered Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the west to the coast of the East China Sea and from its northern borders to the islands in the South China Sea. Today's China is teeming with vigor and vitality, enjoying economic development, social progress, national unity and strengthened national defense, something that fills every Chinese with great pride. The Chinese people are marching toward the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation along the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics with a brand-new vision.

While recognizing the achievements, we should be keenly aware that China has to make long-term, arduous efforts to become a modernized country given its huge population, humble start and uneven economic development. China has set the goal for the first two decades of the 21st century. In this period, we need to concentrate on building a well-off society of a higher standard in an all-round way to the benefit of well over 1 billion people. We will further develop the economy, improve democracy, advance science and education, enrich culture, foster social harmony and upgrade the texture of life for the people.

The 17th CPC National Congress is to be held next month. It will be an important meeting at a critical junction of China's reform and development. We will take the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents" as our guidelines, implement the scientific concept of development in earnest, persist in liberating the mind, uphold the policy of reform and opening up, seek scientific development, promote social harmony and focus our efforts on achieving new progress in building a well-off society in an all-round way and creating a new situation in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

China will, as always, hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation. It will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy of peace. While developing relations with neighboring countries, it will adhere to the principle of taking neighbors as friends and partners. It will also uphold the new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation. It seeks to develop rapport with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and shape a bright future for Asia and the world in collaboration with them. The Chinese Government and people will stay on the path of peaceful development. China will develop itself by securing a peaceful international environment and uphold world peace and promote common development with its own development. China's development does not pose any threat to others but presents the world with more opportunities for development.

China attaches great importance to the issue of climate change. While pursuing sustainable development, it is willing to take part in international cooperation and undertake its obligations in line with the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities." It will develop sophisticated technology for energy saving and environmental protection, enhance its capability of mitigating and adapting to climate change and make due contributions to efforts to address climate change.

China always attaches great importance to product quality and safety. It takes a responsible attitude toward processes including the production, distribution and import and export of its products and areas including legislation, law enforcement, supervision and management. It has committed great efforts to ensure product quality and safety. Over 99 percent of China's food exports since 2004 have been found to be up to standard. Facts have shown that China's product quality and safety are ensured. We will continue to improve the product quality and safety supervision and administration system and strengthen international cooperation in the spirit of enhancing China's product quality and safety.

China and Japan are close neighbors separated only by a strip of water. We both are highly influential countries in Asia and the world. Long-term, stable and neighborly relations between the two countries are not only in the fundamental interests of the Chinese and Japanese people but also are conducive to peace, stability and development in Asia and the world at large. Friendly exchanges between China and Japan date back to more than 2,000 years ago. We also had an unfortunate history of 50 years. The war of aggression against China launched by Japanese militarists inflicted disasters on the Chinese people, as well as the Japanese people. Since we normalized diplomatic relations 35 years ago, China-Japan relations have made strides, bringing about concrete benefits to the two countries and peoples and contributing to peace and development in Asia and the world. The history of China-Japan relations has proven that peace benefits both countries, whereas conflicts harm both.

At present, China-Japan relations are in a critical stage of improvement and development. Last year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made an "ice-breaking" tour of China, during which Chinese President Hu Jintao reached important consensus with him on the larger goals of peaceful coexistence, long-term friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development between our two countries.

During Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's "ice-melting" visit to Japan this year, the two sides decided on the basic features and framework of the mutually beneficial strategic relationship between China and Japan. Under the new circumstances, we will continue to uphold our friendly policy toward Japan, observe the spirit of "taking history as the mirror and looking to the future" and honor the principles of the three joint political documents, including the China-Japan Joint Statement. We would like to work together with Japan to implement the consensus reached by the two countries' leaders in an all-round way, expand communication and cooperation, properly deal with outstanding problems, consolidate the political, economic and social basis for China-Japan relations, press ahead with shaping a mutually beneficial strategic relationship and ensure the constant, healthy and stable advancement of our bilateral relations.

China-Japan friendship comes down to the friendship between the two peoples. In the final analysis, the people are the driving force for the development of China-Japan relations. We should redouble our efforts to promote the traditional friendship between China and Japan and create a climate for maintaining the two countries' people-to-people friendship. We should build a bridge to mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between the two nations through diverse cultural and sports exchange programs and increasingly frequent exchanges between Chinese and Japanese people and between the two countries' friendly cities. Convened on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations, this year's World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention has presented a good opportunity to showcase the Chinese culture and China's development before the Japanese and promotes friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation with them. I hope that the two nations further deepen mutual understanding, foster friendly feelings and move China-Japan friendship to a new height through the World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention as well as the series of programs marking the 35th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan.

Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China's reform and opening up, said, "We have tens of millions of overseas compatriots, and they want to see China grow strong and prosperous. We are unique in that respect." Over the years, generations upon generations of overseas Chinese have worked hard to build their careers, taken the initiative in integrating themselves into the countries where they live and made important contributions to these countries' stability and prosperity and to the development of relations between China and these countries. They have been active in international economic cooperation and competition with a global view and strong entrepreneurship. In this process, Chinese entrepreneurs have shaped an inclusive and open international business network, making unique contributions to the world's economic development. They should also be credited for their remarkable contributions to China's national independence and prosperity and the well-being of the Chinese people, as they cherish a deep love for the motherland and take the independence, rejuvenation and development of the Chinese nation as part of their responsibilities. Their contributions have gone down in the annals of the Chinese history. The Chinese Government and people will never forget their achievements.

The overseas Chinese have achieved remarkable progress over the past years. Looking into the future, I believe that they are highly promising. The progress in China's reform and opening up and modernization calls for fresh contributions from overseas Chinese and has presented them with a major opportunity and a broad platform to seek development. I'd like to take this opportunity to voice my five-point hope for overseas Chinese.

First, I hope overseas Chinese live in rapport with native people and contribute to the development and progress of the country they live in. As they live outside China, efforts to properly handle relations with the country they live in and cement friendly ties with native people have a direct bearing on their fundamental interests. I hope overseas Chinese abide by local laws, respect local social and ethnic customs and get along well with local residents. With an open, inclusive mindset, they can further integrate themselves into the local society, gain trust and respect with their labor, creation and devotion, foster a good image of the overseas Chinese, raise their status and influence and promote local economic prosperity and social progress.

Second, I hope overseas Chinese take an active part in China's modernization to show their love for the motherland. The overseas Chinese, numbering several dozen million, own plenty of capital, a large pool of hi-tech talent and business networks throughout the world. They are deemed as major promoters of China's reform and opening up and participants in China's economic development. Investment from Chinese entrepreneurs accounts for over half of the foreign direct investment the Chinese mainland has received since 1994. I hope overseas Chinese can give full play to their advantages, participate in China's modernization in various forms and make even greater contributions to China's development and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Third, I hope overseas Chinese join hands to promote China's reunification. It is the common aspiration of the Chinese people at home and abroad to achieve the complete reunification of the motherland. It calls for the joint efforts of all Chinese the world over. Taiwan authorities led by Chen Shui-bian are clamoring for "Taiwan independence" secessionist programs such as a referendum on Taiwan's participation in the United Nations and the island's application to join the United Nations under the name of Taiwan. Their attempts to split Taiwan from China severely endanger peace across the Taiwan Straits. We will continue to implement the Chinese Government's policy toward the Taiwan issue. We will not waver on the one-China principle, will never give up our efforts to achieve peaceful reunification, will never change our principle of pinning our hopes on the people of Taiwan, and will never come to terms with secessionist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence." In this spirit, we will move cross-straits relations in the direction of peace and stability. I hope overseas Chinese are closely united to safeguard the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, oppose "Taiwan independence" activities in any form, and continuously promote personnel, economic and cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Straits so as to push for an early realization of China's reunification.

Fourth, I hope overseas Chinese, while learning from other countries, promote the Chinese culture. The time-honored, profound Chinese culture is the strong moral support that has enabled the Chinese people to overcome difficulties, survive domestic trouble and foreign aggression and create happy lives over the past thousands of years and serves as a firm spiritual bond that binds Chinese people across the world. I hope overseas Chinese draw on and carry forward the fine traditions of the Chinese culture. At the same time, they can learn from advanced foreign civilizations with a board vision and a liberal mind. They are expected to promote the cultural exchange between China and other countries, introduce the Chinese culture to more countries and people and enhance the influence of Chinese culture in the world.

Fifth, I hope overseas Chinese help promote people-to-people friendship between China and other countries while underlining credibility and neighborliness. The overseas Chinese are an important bridge through which China conducts cooperation and exchanges with foreign countries and regions as well as a major force that helps strengthen China's good external relations. I hope overseas Chinese make the most of their extensive contacts to make known the achievements of China's reform and opening up and modernization, showcase China's positive image and serve as a go-between to promote China's economic and cultural exchanges with foreign countries. They can also help people in other countries better understand China and enhance the friendship between the Chinese people and people in other countries.

White Dew (one of the traditional Chinese seasonal division points that falls on September 8 or 7) has just passed, and the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming. At this moment, I cannot help recalling the lines of the great Chinese poet Du Fu (712-770): "Dews begin to chill as from tonight. No place like home where moon is as bright." Scattered in all corners of the world, the overseas Chinese are all imbued with love for their hometown and motherland despite vast geographic divides. At the new starting point of history, let us join hands with people from all over the world to create a bright future.