|
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon. It is a great pleasure for me to be here with you today.
After ten days, China's National day will come and we are going to celebrate the founding of the People' Republic of China for her 57th Birthday.
Looking back upon history, we are very proud of what China has achieved in the past 57 years, especially after the policies of reform and opening-up were introduced at the end of the 1970's.
In the span of less than thirty years, China has successfully embarked on a road of peaceful development.
Along this road, China has made world-acclaimed achievements:
---- Today our GDP is more than 2 trillion USD.
----Foreign trade volume is 1.4 trillion USD, the third place in the world.
----Express motorway network is 34,000 Kms, the second place in the world.
----The output of crude steel production is 340 million tons, the first place in the world.
----Power generation is almost 2500 billion kilowatts, the second in the world.
----Telephone users are half of the population.
In the next ten years, we are trying to double all those figures again, except the figure of the population.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Early this year, the Outlines of the National Economic and Social Development Plan for 2006 to 2010 were approved by our National People's Congress.
In the next five years, China aims to pursue a scientific outlook on development and build a harmonious society.
It is an endeavor to promote all round and integrated progress in economic, political, cultural and social fields.
In pursuing development, China strives to achieve balanced growth in urban and rural areas, coastal and inland areas and economic and social fields.
By paying more attention to resources conservation and environmental protection, China pursued the goal of sustainable development and of building a resources-conserving and environmental-friendly society.
At the same time, we make sure that China's development is backed and driven by reform and opening up and by independent innovation.
China's development endeavor, both at present and in the future, will be guided by these concepts, approaches and measures.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
While striving for scientific, sustainable and harmonious development domestically, China pursues peace, opening-up and cooperation externally.
In the circumstances of faster economic globalization and greater interdependence of all economies, China cannot develop itself in seclusion, and the world cannot develop without China's development as well.
Since China joined WTO, China has imported about US$ 500 billion of goods every year, creating about 10 million jobs for other countries and regions concerned.
Overseas investment by Chinese Companies has increased by over 20% annually, with 80% of it made in Asia.
China's economic integration into East Asia has contributed to the shaping of an Asian Community that may rise as a whole.
A more open and prosperous China will not only benefit its 1.3 billion people, but also provide considerable opportunities and vast market for other countries, serving as a powerful engine for world economic growth.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Ad a large and responsible country, China is politically committed to building a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity, a world of harmony without uniformity.
We recognize that there is diversity in Asia and in the world. There is diversity in human cultures and differences of interests.
We seek harmonious coexistence in diversity and common development despite these differences.
China is a part of Asia. Asia's harmony and prosperity go hand in hand with China's peaceful development.
We will continue to pursue the principle of building good relationship and partnership with neighbors and stick to the policy of fostering a harmonious, secure and prosperous neighboring environment.
We will actively participate in Asian regional cooperation, explore effective ways of achieving mutual benefits and win-win outcomes.
We will continue to pursue a new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation.
We will strengthen political dialogue on the basis of the UN charter and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to enhance mutual trust, resolve disputes, narrow differences, expand common ground and promote peace, security and stability of the region.
China, like India, is a large developing country and Asia is the largest developing region. In the course of promoting peace and common development, China will seek closer mutual support and partnership with other Asian countries.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In recent years, China-India relationship has enjoyed a steady and sound development. It was highlighted by the establishment of the Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to the India in April of 2005.
During the visit, China and India signed the Agreement on the Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the India-China Boundary Question.
This is the first political guiding document for the boundary question signed by both sides since the negotiation on the boundary issue was resumed in 1981, indicating that the negotiation on the boundary question between China and India entered a new stage.
We have jointly worked out the Five-year Plan for Comprehensive Economic and Trade Cooperation, identifying the objective of enabling bilateral trade volume to surpass 20 billion US dollars in 2008 and to US$30 billion by 2010.
Today I am very happy to say that in 2005,our bilateral trade has reached US$ 18.7 billion. China is already India's second major trading partner. In the first half of this year, the trade volume is to reach US$ 10 billion. Based on present trends, two-way trade of 2006 will surpass the target figure of US$ 20 billion envisioned for the year 2008.
During the visit, Premier Wen and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh also declared the year 2006 as the "Year of China-India Friendship".
It is the first time for us to jointly launch such an activity in the 2,000-year history of exchanges between China and India.
Within this year, you will witness 40-50 programs to be respectively or jointly held by both sides.
These programs have a wide coverage in political, defense, economic and trade, culture and tourism, education, science and technology fields.
Here I would like to specifically mention some of the programs:
The leaders of China and India have exchanged messages to commemorate the Friendship Year on the first day of this year.
The exchange of high-level visits between the two countries is currently under planning.
A high-level business seminar will be held.
The border trade market through Nathula Pass has been opened.
An Indian-style Buddhist temple in Luoyang and a Xuan Zang Memorial Hall in Nalanda are to be inaugurated.
The exchange of visits of youth delegations will be realized very soon.
Exchanges of culture performances and art exhibitions are also among the list.
Next week we are going to hold ShaanXi Cultural Week in Delhi with a grand opening ceremony on the evening of September 25th. . All of you present today are most welcome to join us.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
China and India are close neighbors and friends.
There won't be any other countries sharing so many common points like us.
China hopes to see a developed, prosperous and strong India.
We share your delight in your achievements in various fields.
We appreciate your efforts in safeguarding the rights and interests of developing countries.
And we are happy to see you are playing an independent and more active role in international and regional affairs.
China and India pose no threat to each other.
Instead, we share important responsibilities for peace and security in Asia as well as in the world.
Looking ahead into the future, there indeed exists great potential and unprecedented opportunities in our bilateral relations.
I fully believe that, with our concerted efforts, the potentials and opportunities will be converted into concrete and fruitful results, and China-India relationship will be raised to a new high.
Thank you.
|
