Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 14th
Intersect with the world and connect with the times
Stride forward on the road of sustainable development
——Keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference
(October 14, 2021)
Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China
Dear Secretary-General Guterres,
Dear colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen, friends:
It is a great pleasure to attend the second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference and discuss global transportation and development plans with you.
First of all, on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, and in my own name, I would like to extend my warm congratulations on the convening of the conference and my warm welcome to the guests present at the conference!
Transportation is the context of economy and the link of civilization.
Throughout the history of the world, from the shadow of camel bells on the ancient Silk Road, to the chopping waves of the sea age, to the modern transportation network extending in all directions, transportation promotes economic integration and cultural exchanges, making the world a closely connected "global village".
At present, a century of change and the superimposition of the epidemic in the century have brought serious challenges to the development of the world economy and the improvement of people's livelihood.
We must follow the general trend of world development, promote global transportation cooperation, and write a new chapter in infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade and investment, and integration of civilizations.
First, adhere to open linkage and promote interconnection.
Small rivers have water and big rivers are full, but big rivers have no water and small rivers are dry.
Only when countries are open, inclusive, and interconnected, can they help each other and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.
We must promote the construction of an open world economy, non-discriminatory and exclusive rules and systems, and promote economic globalization toward a more open, inclusive, inclusive, balanced, and win-win direction.
It is necessary to strengthen the “hard connectivity” of infrastructure and the “soft connectivity” of system and rules, and promote the “four in one” interconnection of land, sea, sky, and network.
Second, adhere to common development and promote fairness and benefit.
Real development is the development of all countries together, and the prosperity of everyone is real prosperity.
Under the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the gap between the rich and the poor has worsened, and the North-South gap has widened.
Only by solving the problem of unbalanced development can we open up broader prospects for the common development of mankind.
It is necessary to give play to the leading role of transportation, increase investment in transportation in poor areas, and let the economy and people's livelihood in poor areas flourish.
It is necessary to strengthen North-South cooperation and South-South cooperation, provide more support for the construction of transportation infrastructure in the least developed countries and landlocked developing countries, and promote common prosperity.
Third, persist in innovation-driven and strengthen development momentum.
The world today is undergoing a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. New technologies and new business formats such as digital economy and artificial intelligence have become powerful technical support for economic and social development.
It is necessary to vigorously develop smart transportation and smart logistics, and promote the in-depth integration of new technologies such as big data, the Internet, artificial intelligence, and blockchain with the transportation industry, so that people can enjoy the journey and the flow of things.
Fourth, insist on giving priority to ecology and achieve green and low-carbon.
Establishing an economic system for green and low-carbon development and promoting a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development is the long-term strategy for achieving sustainable development.
It is necessary to accelerate the formation of green and low-carbon transportation methods, strengthen the construction of green infrastructure, promote new energy, intelligent, digital, and lightweight transportation equipment, encourage and guide green travel, and make transportation more environmentally friendly and travel more low-carbon.
Fifth, uphold multilateralism and improve global governance.
In today's world, the future and destiny of all countries are closely linked, and the integration of interests has never been seen before.
It is necessary to practice the global governance concept of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, pool wisdom and strength, mobilize global resources, respond to global challenges, and promote global development.
It is necessary to maintain the authority and status of the United Nations, center on implementing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and comprehensively promote cooperation in poverty reduction, health, transportation and logistics, and infrastructure construction.
Not long ago, I put forward the Global Development Initiative, which aims to accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, promote stronger, greener, and healthy global development, and build a community with a shared future for global development. I hope that all parties will actively participate.
Ladies, gentlemen, friends!
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, generations of people have opened roads in mountains and built bridges when encountering water. They have built a great transportation country and are accelerating the construction of a transportation power country.
We insist on transportation first, and have built the world's largest high-speed railway network, highway network, and world-class port cluster. Aviation and navigation reach the world, and the comprehensive transportation network has exceeded 6 million kilometers.
We adhere to innovation and lead. Major breakthroughs have been achieved in the manufacturing of equipment such as high-speed rail and large aircraft. New energy vehicles account for more than half of the global total. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Beijing Daxing International Airport have been completed and put into operation. Transportation has become a way for China's modernization. pioneer.
We adhere to the world of transportation and have become the economy with the highest maritime connectivity and the largest trade volume in the world.
During the new crown pneumonia epidemic, China-Europe freight trains and ocean freighters shuttled day and night to ensure the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain, reflecting China's responsibility.
Ladies, gentlemen, friends!
China will continue to hold high the banner of true multilateralism, persist in intersecting with the world and being connected with the times, and while achieving its own development, it will make greater contributions to global development.
I would like to reiterate that China’s direction of building a new higher-level open economy will remain unchanged, and China’s determination to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation will remain unchanged.
China's door to opening will only open wider and wider, and will never be closed!
China will continue to promote high-quality co-construction of the “Belt and Road”, strengthen infrastructure connectivity with other countries, and accelerate the construction of the Green Silk Road and the Digital Silk Road.
I announce that China will establish the China International Sustainable Transportation Innovation and Knowledge Center to contribute to the development of global transportation.
Ladies, gentlemen, friends!
Let us join hands to follow the human right path of interconnection, mutual benefit and win-win, and jointly build a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness and tolerance, clean and beautiful world, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind!
I wish the conference a complete success!