Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 20th, by wire
Together in the same boat to overcome the difficulties, destiny and create the future together
——Video keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021
(April 20, 2021, Beijing)
Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China
Dear heads of state and government,
Dear heads of international organizations,
Dear Directors of the Boao Forum for Asia,
ladies and gentlemen,
Ladies and gentlemen, friends:
"Knowing Junyuan is not a deep sea of clouds." I am very happy to attend the 2021 annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia and meet you in the "cloud".
First of all, on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, and in my own name, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the online and offline guests attending the conference!
To all old and new friends, I would like to express my sincere greetings and best wishes!
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Forum.
Over the past 20 years, Asian countries have deeply promoted regional economic integration, worked together to promote economic and social development, and promoted Asia to become the region with the most vitality and growth potential in the global economy.
Countries in Asia and the world have joined hands to respond to traditional and non-traditional security threats such as terrorism, the Indian Ocean tsunami, the international financial crisis, and the new crown pneumonia epidemic, and strive to maintain regional stability and security.
As an important member of the Asian family, China has continuously deepened reform and opening up, actively promoted regional cooperation, progressed with Asia, and developed with the world.
The forum witnessed the extraordinary journey of China, Asia and the world, and played an important role in promoting the development of Asia and the world.
Ladies, gentlemen, friends!
This annual meeting was held under a special background.
The theme of the annual meeting is "Great Changes in the World: Participating in Global Governance, Ensemble the Strong Voice of the Belt and Road Initiative", which coincides with the time and has important practical significance.
At present, a century of changes and a century of epidemics are intertwined and superimposed, the world has entered a period of turbulent change, and the uncertainty of instability has risen significantly.
The governance deficits, trust deficits, development deficits, and peace deficits faced by human society are increasing unabated. There is still a long way to go to achieve universal security and promote common development.
At the same time, the world’s multi-polarization trend has not fundamentally changed, economic globalization has shown new resilience, and calls for safeguarding multilateralism and strengthening communication and cooperation have become stronger.
We are in an era full of challenges, but also an era full of hope.
Where should human society go?
What kind of future should we create for future generations?
Regarding this major proposition, we must proceed from the common interests of mankind and make a wise choice with a responsible attitude.
China proposes that countries in Asia and the world should respond to the call of the times, work together to overcome the epidemic, strengthen global governance, and make continuous progress towards building a community with a shared future for mankind.
——We must negotiate on an equal footing to create a win-win and shared future.
Global governance should conform to the changed world political and economic landscape, conform to the historical trend of peaceful development, cooperation and win-win cooperation, and meet the realistic needs of responding to global challenges.
We should uphold the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, adhere to true multilateralism, and promote the development of the global governance system in a more just and reasonable direction.
It is necessary to maintain an international system with the United Nations as its core, an international order based on international law, and a multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization as its core.
International affairs should be discussed and handled by everyone. The future and destiny of the world should be controlled by all countries. The rules set by one or several countries should not be imposed on others, and the unilateralism of individual countries should not give the whole world a rhythm. ".
The world must be fair, not overbearing.
A big country must look like a big country and show more responsibility.
——We must open up and innovate to create a prosperous future.
Opening up is the only way for development and progress, and it is also the key to promoting economic recovery after the epidemic.
We must promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, deepen regional economic integration, consolidate supply chains, industrial chains, data chains, and talent chains, and build an open world economy.
It is necessary to deepen the building of interconnection partnerships, promote infrastructure connectivity, and unblock the blood and meridians of economic operations.
It is necessary to seize the historical opportunities of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, vigorously develop the digital economy, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and modern energy, so that the achievements of scientific and technological innovation can better benefit the people of all countries.
In the era of economic globalization, openness and accommodation is an unstoppable historical trend. The artificial "building of walls" and "decoupling" violates economic laws and market rules, harming others and detrimental to oneself.
——We must work together to create a healthy and safe future.
The war epidemic is still going on, and victory will eventually come.
We must uphold the people's supremacy and life first, strengthen information sharing and joint prevention and control, improve the level of health and medical cooperation, and give full play to the key role of the World Health Organization.
It is necessary to strengthen international cooperation in vaccine research and development, production, and distribution, and improve the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries, so that people of all countries can truly use and afford them.
It is necessary to comprehensively strengthen global public health security governance and jointly build a human health community.
We must adhere to the concept of green development, jointly promote international cooperation in addressing climate change, and step up implementation of the Paris Agreement to address climate change.
It is necessary to adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and address the concerns of developing countries in terms of funding, technology, and capacity building.
——We must uphold justice and create a future of mutual respect and mutual learning.
Diversity is the basic feature of the world and the charm of human civilization.
Having experienced the baptism of the epidemic, people of all countries have more clearly realized that it is necessary to abandon the Cold War mentality and zero-sum game, and oppose any form of "new cold war" and ideological confrontation.
When countries get along with each other, we must put equality, mutual respect, and mutual trust in the forefront, and it is unpopular to arrogantly instruct other countries and interfere in internal affairs.
We must promote the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom of all mankind, advocate exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, and promote the development of human civilization.
Here, I announce that China will host the Second Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations as soon as the epidemic is brought under control, to play an active role in promoting dialogue between Asian civilizations and the world.
Ladies, gentlemen, friends!
I have said many times that the “Belt and Road” is a sunny avenue for everyone to move forward hand in hand, not a private path of one party.
All interested countries can join in, participate, cooperate and benefit together.
Building the "Belt and Road" together pursues development, advocates a win-win situation, and conveys hope.
Looking into the future, we will continue to work with all parties to build the “Belt and Road” with high quality, practice the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, promote the concept of openness, greenness, and integrity, and strive to achieve high standards, people's livelihood, and sustainable goals.
——We will build a closer health partnership.
Chinese companies have already carried out joint production of vaccines in partner countries such as Indonesia, Brazil, the UAE, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Turkey to jointly build the “Belt and Road”.
We will expand cooperation with all parties in the fields of infectious disease prevention and control, public health, and traditional medicine, and jointly protect the lives and health of people of all countries.
——We will build a closer interconnection partnership.
China will work with all parties to strengthen the “hard connectivity” of infrastructure and the “soft connectivity” of rules and standards, unblock trade and investment cooperation channels, actively develop Silk Road e-commerce, and jointly open up a bright future for integrated development.
——We will build a closer green development partnership.
Strengthen cooperation in the fields of green infrastructure, green energy, and green finance, and improve multilateral cooperation platforms such as the “Belt and Road” green development international alliance and the “Belt and Road” green investment principles, so that green can effectively become the background color of the joint construction of the “Belt and Road”.
——We will build a closer open and inclusive partnership.
According to relevant World Bank reports, by 2030, the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” is expected to help 7.6 million people around the world get rid of extreme poverty and 32 million people out of moderate poverty.
In the spirit of openness and tolerance, we will work together with all interested parties who are willing to participate to build the “Belt and Road” into a “road to poverty reduction” and a “road to growth”, and make positive contributions to the common prosperity of mankind.
Ladies, gentlemen, friends!
2021 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.
Over the past 100 years, the Chinese Communist Party has made great strides, striving for the happiness of the Chinese people, rejuvenating the Chinese nation, and seeking great unity for the world. Not only has the Chinese nation ushered in a great leap from standing up, getting rich to becoming strong, but also for mankind. The cause of civilization and progress has made outstanding contributions.
China will continue to be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of international order.
China will always hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and win-win, expand friendly cooperation with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and actively promote the building of a new type of international relations.
China will continue to carry out anti-epidemic cooperation with the World Health Organization and other countries, adhere to the promise of vaccines as a global public product, and provide more help for developing countries to overcome the epidemic.
No matter how far it develops, China will never seek hegemony, expand, seek spheres of influence, or engage in an arms race.
China will actively participate in multilateral cooperation in trade and investment, fully implement the "Foreign Investment Law" and related supporting regulations, continue to reduce the negative list of foreign investment access, promote the construction of Hainan's free trade port, and promote the construction of a new higher-level open economic system.
All parties are welcome to share the huge opportunities in the Chinese market.
Ladies, gentlemen, friends!
Set sail together, sail through the wind and waves.
Although there are sometimes turbulent waves and high tides, as long as we work together and keep track of the course, the giant wheel of human social development will surely move steadily and farther, and sail for a better future!
thank you all.