By Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, The Sixth Asia-Europe Meeting, Helsinki, 10-11 September 2006

Mr. Chairman,

This year marks the 10th anniversary of ASEM. Over the past decade, guided by the principles of mutual respect, conducting dialogue on an equal footing, making gradual progress and building consensus through consultation, Asia and Europe have carried out extensive and diversified cooperation and deepened political dialogue. We enjoy closer economic links, rapidly growing cooperation in social areas and expanding cultural and people-to-people exchanges. ASEM has become a strategic platform for Asia and Europe to strengthen coordination, further cooperation and pursue common development.

The world today is moving towards multi-polarity and economic globalization is gaining momentum, accompanied by rapid progress in science and technology and ever-closer regional cooperation. Peace, cooperation and development are the general trend of our times. On the other hand, there is growing instability and discord, as seen in mounting traditional and non-traditional security threats, unbalanced global economic development and a widening gap in wealth. Facing these new developments, people naturally place higher expectations on the ASEM summit, and it is imperative that we adopt a long-term strategy to plan our future cooperation. We should set the following goals for ASEM: Making Asia and Europe more influential in addressing major global issues through expanding dialogue and cooperation; promoting diversified development of culture and civilization through enhanced mutual political trust; furthering economic cooperation in substantive terms on the basis of equality and mutual benefit; advancing institutional building for cooperation that meet long-term needs as called for; and maintaining ASEM's openness by increasing its outreach. To consolidate and further develop the new Asia-Europe partnership in the interest of global peace and prosperity, I wish to propose the following:

1. Enhancing political dialogue and better responding to security threats. Safeguarding peace and security and promoting prosperity and development is the common responsibility of Asia and Europe. We ASEM members should increase consultation in multilateral mechanisms and support the leading role of the United Nations in international affairs. We should strengthen coordination on international and regional issues and intensify our effort in solving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, the Iranian nuclear issue, the Middle East crisis and other regional issues. We should also intensify cooperation in practical terms in fighting terrorism and proliferation, and combating transnational crimes in a joint effort to maintain global peace and security. China is ready to increase consultation and coordination with other ASEM members through our respective missions to the United Nations and other international agencies, and such channels as the ASEM Conference on Counter-terrorism.

2. Deepening cultural exchanges to promote harmonious co-existence. The ASEM Declaration on Dialogue among Cultures and Civilizations adopted at the 5th ASEM Summit is of guiding importance in promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogues. We ASEM members should respect the diversity in our cultural traditions, values and development models, conduct candid exchanges on an equal footing and make joint progress by drawing upon each other's strengths and expanding common understanding while setting aside differences. We should also expand educational and cultural interactions to build an Asia-Europe partnership of peace, amity and harmony. China calls on ASEM to give more support to the Asia-Europe Foundation so as to help it play a greater role in promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Asia and Europe.

3. Intensifying financial cooperation to promote balanced economic development. Financial security is crucial for ensuring steady economic development in Asia and Europe. ASEM members should strengthen fiscal and financial policy coordination, promote the reform and improvement of the international financial system and give developing countries greater say in the system. We should work for the reform of the international monetary system, enhance regional monetary cooperation and improve the capacity to ward off risks. We should also work to steadily improve the investment environment and encourage two-way investment. High priority should be given to boosting cooperation in human resources development and capacity building in the financial sector, especially financial capacity building for developing countries. China supports exploring the possibility of setting up a new financing mechanism for cooperation on the basis of the Asia-Europe Trust Fund to provide funding for future financial dialogue and capacity building.

4. Expanding dialogue and cooperation to ensure energy security. Energy security has become an increasingly pressing issue directly affecting global economic stability and prosperity. ASEM members should, through enhanced dialogue and cooperation, work to improve the global energy market mechanism, develop traditional energies in a rational way and vigorously develop renewable energies to ensure globalized and diversified energy supply and maintain stability in the global energy market. We should boost the research, development and application of advanced energy technologies to enhance energy conservation and energy efficiency. A proper technology transfer system should be set up to help developing countries use energy more efficiently. Moreover, we should ensure a sound political environment for energy security and stability. Geopolitical disputes should not stand in the way of global energy supply and energy issues should not be politicized. China calls on ASEM to conduct more dialogue on energy security.

5. Supporting the multilateral trading system to achieve common development. Maintaining order in global trade is in the interest of both Asia and Europe. A healthy and stable multilateral trading system is critical to ensuring economic prosperity of all countries, developing countries in particular. The suspension of the Doha Round is in no one's interests. Countries concerned should reflect upon their respective negotiation positions. Major developed members are urged to show their political will and demonstrate greater flexibility in cutting agricultural subsidies and tariffs in order to create conditions for the resumption of the negotiations. Asian and the European economies enjoy respective strengths and complement each other. We should deepen policy dialogue and coordination, further open market to each other, share experience of regional integration and expand intra-regional and inter-regional economic cooperation. China calls on all ASEM members to fight protectionism, properly handle trade disputes, refrain from politicizing trade issues, improve trade and investment environment, enhance economic cooperation and realize common development.

6. Encouraging business participation and expanding channels of cooperation. As the importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Asian and European economies is increasing, there is a growing call for more government support. We ASEM members should enhance inter-governmental cooperation and give key support to SMEs in international exchanges. We should bring into play the role of non-governmental institutions and encourage the Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF) to serve as a bridge for SME cooperation. We should provide better public services to SMEs and expand channels of consultation and cooperation between governments and the business community. China proposes to host the ASEM Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting and Trade and Investment Fair in 2007.

7. Addressing non-traditional security issues and effectively preventing and controlling avian influenza. Communicable diseases and other non-traditional security threats greatly undermine the economic and social development of all countries. We ASEM members should take part in extensive international cooperation, promote the building of a global communicable diseases surveillance and early-warning system and further enhance the international community's capacity in early-warning and emergency response. We should also support the initiatives taken by the United Nations and the World Health Organization, strengthen policy coordination and provide greater financial and technical support for developing countries. China proposes to host the ASEM Workshop on Avian Influenza Control next year to further promote Asia-Europe cooperation in this field.

8. Narrowing the urban-rural gap to realize balanced economic development. Underdevelopment in rural areas is a problem in quite a number of Asian and European countries. We ASEM members should formulate comprehensive strategies for rural development in light of our national conditions to meet targets set for the Millennium Development Goals. Developed countries should adopt measures more favorable to developing countries in agricultural trade policies. We should draw upon each other's successful experience and devise new modalities of cooperation through exchanges on food security and poverty reduction. China also proposes to host the ASEM Forum on Rural Development at an appropriate time to share experience in achieving coordinated development between urban and rural areas.

Mr. Chairman,

China attaches great importance to and has taken an active part in the process of Asia-Europe cooperation. Over the past 10 years, China has carried out many follow-up activities in counter-terrorism, the judicial sector, economy and trade, finance, science and technology, customs, environment and cultural exchanges. We have actively promoted multilateral cooperation, economic exchanges and dialogue between different cultures and civilizations. In 2008, China will host the 7th ASEM Summit, and we are ready to make greater contribution to peace, cooperation and development of Asia and Europe.

China firmly pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and strictly adheres to the purposes of the UN Charter and universally recognized norms of international relations. We are committed to pursuing peace, cooperation and development. China's development of relations with other countries is not based on consideration of ideology or social system, and differences in the modes of development do not affect our cooperation. We are guided by the principle of mutual respect and equality in developing relations with other countries, and we endeavor to develop friendly relations and cooperation with all the other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence.

China is committed to making the international political and economic order fairer and more equitable. We honor in good faith our international obligations and are assuming greater responsibility in the United Nations, the WTO and other multilateral institutions. China handles international issues in a responsible way. China has mediated in the Korean nuclear issue and the Iranian nuclear issue and urged the parties involved to reach peaceful solutions through negotiations. China has taken an active part in international peacekeeping operations to safeguard world and regional stability. China strictly honors its WTO commitments and observes WTO rules, and is opening its market in phases. It supports free trade based on equality and makes positive efforts to promote progress in the Doha Round multilateral trade talks. China calls for the settlement of trade disputes through consultation on an equal footing within the framework of the multilateral trading system.

China has actively participated in international cooperation against terrorism. We are opposed to associating terrorism with a particular nation or religion and are against applying double standard. We should take a comprehensive approach in fighting terrorism and address both symptom and root causes. In particular, high priority should be given to alleviating poverty and resolving regional conflicts so as to remove the causes of terrorism.

China pursues a transparent defense policy. The policy is defensive in nature, and it is aimed at safeguarding China's national security and unity. China is firmly committed to international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. It is a party to relevant international conventions on non-proliferation and supports their implementation. Moreover, China has put in place a comprehensive export control legal regime covering all aspects of non-proliferation and has taken effective steps to enhance law enforcement in this regard.

China is committed to meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals. While not a rich country itself, China has provided selfless assistance with no political strings attached to other developing countries. In the fight against SARS, avian influenza and natural disasters, China has participated in international cooperation in a responsible manner. And we have provided financial and technical assistance to countries struck by the Indian Ocean tsunami and the South Asian earthquake and to the international cooperation programs on combating avian influenza.

Mr. Chairman,

One thing we in China have learned from the reform and opening-up drive in the past 20 years and more is that China cannot develop itself in isolation from the world. Only by actively participating in international cooperation can China make greater progress in its development endeavor. We will continue to develop friendly relations and cooperation with our Asian and European partners and other countries in the world and work with them to build a world of harmony, durable peace and common prosperity. I look forward to seeing you again in China at the 7th ASEM Summit in 2008.