Hello, welcome to visit Shanghai Forum
These are times of profound change, filledwith challenges and opportunities which inspire reflection on the future ofAsia. As the world’s most dynamic developing region, Asia must gather wisdomand pursue harmony within a diverse world in order to achieve comprehensiveprosperity, generate social progress, and contribute to human civilization.
Looking forward to Asia’s future, werealize that the rise of Asia will be profoundly significant to worlddevelopment. While Europe and the U.S. are afflicted with continuing economiccrises, Asia is increasingly undertaking important responsibilities commensurateto its growing influence. The expression that the 21st century belongs to Asiais no longer a mere catchphrase but a real, global trend. Asia boasts a richhistory, plentiful resources, tenacious peoples and exceptional wisdom, all ofwhich have bestowed a singular vitality on the region and created economic andsocial “miracles.” As the world marvels at Asia’s achievements – from the rapideconomic recovery in postwar Japan to the prosperity of the “Asian tigers”,from the reform and opening of China to the recent development of India –history shows that the rise of Asia would not be possible without combinedefforts. In other words, Asia must seek harmony in its diversity so as tocontinue developing apace. Strengthening regional cooperation and integrationis an important force for achieving healthy and sustainable development ineconomy, politics, society and culture. Different Asian economies must fullyutilize existing potential while respecting, negotiating, and collaboratingwith each other through a regional cooperative system. Seeking harmony indiversity will not only strengthen collective security in a regional context,but also lead to strong, sustainable and balanced development in globaleconomy, finance and trade.
The long history of Asian civilization hasgiven rise to the diverse cultures of this continent. The essence of harmoniousadvancement is peaceful co-existence, win-win cooperation and jointdevelopment. Due to asymmetric growth and complicated histories, Asiancountries can only realize peace, cooperation and development through bold,positive efforts. Specifically, Asia should establish shared values based on acooperative mechanism, and requires an agenda for effective action in additionto innovative institutions. We must promote deeper mutual trust and cooperationwhile appreciating other countries’ culture. We cannot accomplish this goalwithout passion, wisdom and concrete action. While differences are unavoidable,peaceful coexistence comes from proactive hard work. Endowed with a brilliantcivilization, when Asian countries are ready to unite, embrace theirdifferences, and seek harmony together, a new Asia will emerge.
The core of Asia’s wisdom is: unity throughtolerance, prosperity through harmony. Thanks to long-term efforts toliberalize trade and investment, regional integration has become the generaltrend in Asia. In order to continue with harmonious development, countries mustput their ideas, strategies, institutions and policies concerning economic and socialdevelopment into practice with mutual respect and wisdom. At the same time,they must manage conflicts with tolerance and respect for the preservation ofunity, deepen regional economic and trade cooperation, and ensure that allcountries and regions, as well as the whole society benefit from the resultingeconomic growth — thus realizing a sustainable, harmonious, and prosperousfuture for Asia.
