Hello, welcome to visit Shanghai Forum
While the shadow of the Westernfinancial crisis still lingers, global economic recovery faces manydifficulties and the pattern of international development is highly intricate.In the face of a complex and severe macro-environment and increasing pressuresof competition, Asia shows remarkable vitality and spectacular potential fordevelopment. Drawing on Asian wisdom, converting challenges into opportunitiesand pressure into impetus has become an important engine and source ofstability for global economic growth. Meeting challenges together, Asiancountries have made impressive achievements, shoring up the confidence andstrength of countries all over the world.
Going from good to better! With wisdomand hard work, billions of Asians are walking onto the center of the worldstage; peace, development, and win-win cooperation is and will continue to bethe major theme of this era. However, there is still a long way to go instriving for greater development in Asia and pushing for better mutualdevelopment with other regions of the world. Currently, the global economy isundergoing a process of profound re-structuring, risks in international financeare still high and protectionist barriers are adding in number. Improvement ofglobal governance mechanisms is urgently needed and the demand for atransformation and upgrade of the economic system is clear and inescapable.Without transformation, Asia will neither be able to follow the pace of newscientific and technological revolutions, nor to fully drive forward theprocess of industrial innovation and produce favorable prospects fordevelopment. And without transformation, Asia will neither be able to make upfor the ruptures in foreign markets, nor to completely escape Westernprotectionism which stifles the upwards momentum of development.
Nothing ever ceases to transform! Asiahas a long lasting spirit and tradition of transforming itself. In order tobreak down the existing hindrances of development and allow Asia’s vitality toburst forth, it is necessary to change the model of economic growth andincrease efforts to adjust the economic structure; there should be more focuson the quality of development and the betterment of people’s livelihood.Meanwhile, it is indispensible to actively participate in the adjustment andreform of global governance structures and the international financial system,as well as to promote the deepening of regional and sub-regional collaborationbetween emerging economies of Asia and other parts of the world. The strengthsof Asia’s reform and development must be employed in order to bring about a newrise and firmly ensure the ability of the world economy to realize healthy,strong and sustainable growth.
Looking at the past, Asia abounds withthe histories of glorious civilizations and has made countless remarkableachievements. With a modern history full of trials and tribulations, Asiacontinues to develop in the midst of stormy weather.
At present, Asian countries are in aperiod of economic restructuringand social changes happen at an accelerated pace.Factors such as rapid urbanization, population aging and pressure onenvironmental resources bring about huge challenges to traditional models ofsocial governance and welfare institutions. Asia stands at a new starting pointand in the face of new circumstances and new problems, the experiences ofdeveloped countries are no longer adequate for dealing with those challenges.Asian countries must make use of Asian wisdom, constantly strive to becomestronger, and break new ground to move ahead. In the context of globalization,Asian countries should use new concepts of development, innovative systemdesign and effective policy measures to identify and make the most of the new dynamicsfor development.
The next decade will be a crucial period of transformation and development for Asia.To share opportunities and meet challenges together, cooperationshould be taken into new domains while new forms and functions of collaborationshould be explored. In order to emphasize security-related and pragmatic cooperation,the establishment of solid networks for interconnection and communication inmultiple areas should be promoted. More opportunities forcooperation should be created while the standard ofcooperation should be raised. The results of developmentshould benefit each country’s populations, and the breadth and depth ofintegration between Asia’s transformation and the interests of the world shouldreach a new level.
The twenty-first century is Asia’scentury. Asia’s development is no longer based on imitating and catching up,but on surpassing and innovating. Asia will dispense withthe traditional development path and explore a roadwhich is different from Western modernization. Asia will fully absorb new ideasof institutional mechanism reform, seize the command of scientific andtechnical revolution and foster new points of economic growth. Innovation will beAsia’s way to overcome the difficulties of transformation and to show the wayfor economic and social progress.
Asia’s transformation holds bothopportunities and challenges, and hopes and hardships. To realize itstransformation, Asia has to adhere to open regionalism: engage in equaldialogue on the economy, strengthen cooperation and promote regional economicintegration. Political disputes should be put aside through mutual compromises anda common voice should be sent out on global governance. Cultural trust andmutual respect should be improved, while conflicts and divergences should besolved with solidarity. The Asian countries share a common destiny and Asia’stransformation is an important strategic direction of the Asian countries’joint self-improvement and moreover the strong impetus for win-win cooperationamong all the Asian countries. Answering the call of our times, keeping theright direction and supporting each other, Asia’s transformation will benefitall Asian people and people all over the world. A successfully transformed Asiawill enter a new stage of leapfrog development and create a better future forthe world.
