Shanghai Forum 2014 Consensus

A new round of technological revolution and industrial change worldwide is coinciding with Asia’s rise, a transformation of historic proportions. The combined influence of economic globalization, the spread of information technology, and the demands of international innovation give us a rare opportunity, and also raises serious challenges. This year, more than 700 professionals and practitioners from government, business, and academia gathered for an engaging discussion around the theme: “Asia Transforms: Identifying New Dynamics.” Transformation is a decisive driving force for sustainable, healthy development in Asia. Only by seizing the initiative can we take the lead in realizing prosperity.

Technological innovation

In order to coordinate robust, balanced growth, we must accelerate knowledge production and technological innovation. By consolidating the benefits of the new technological revolution and industrial development we can hasten the transformation of economic development models, adjust the structure of industry, and establish new social space for production energies. Technological breakthroughs can bring new vitality to our economies, spur social advancement, and raise the quality and efficacy of development.

Open to change

Guided by changes in thinking based on practice, we can improve our conception and models for development. Emphasizing a more systematic, comprehensive, coordinated, approach requires a more organic combination of economic social, political cultural, and biological aspects. We will continue to encourage bold breakthroughs and ambitious experiments to continuously deepen reform and opening, going from the readily achievable to the more difficult, core issues. By improving production, making strategic adjustments to economic structure, and releasing the dividends of reform, we can uncover the true potential of Asia’s transformation.

Good prospects for mutual gains and win-win opportunities will be formed through our continued efforts to explore new ways of thinking, common interests, and regional openness. Regional trade facilitation will be promoted through more substantial measure to opening and active promotion of the Northeast Asia FTA; establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community will advance regional economic integration and more broadly increase the competitiveness of Asia’s transformation.

Peaceful cooperation

Asian states should persevere in their efforts to learn from the past, look towards the future, treat neighbors as friends and partners, increase political trust, cast off prejudices, and shelve disputes. They should share responsibility, pursue mutual development, resolve disputes through dialogue, and manage conflicts through negotiation. Respect for each country’s individual choices regarding development path and search socioeconomic development model is key, while the restraints of political and historical factors should be minimized. A peaceful environment for development and Asia’s transformation can further be built through common efforts to address various threats and challenges.

All nations are in the same boat together, sharing the same concerns as well as the same goal of our peoples’ well-being. Focusing on commonalities, deepening cooperation, and developing cooperative exchanges between national governments, political parties, and civil society at all levels is imperative. The road to Asia’s transformation lies in seeking common space for development and substantive cooperation in economics, politics, technology, education, and cultural areas to name a few. We will continue to explore pathways for communication, coexistence, cooperation, and mutual gains.

Environmental protection

Asia’s transformation depends on addressing the high levels of pollution, resource depletion, and emissions that threaten to derail our development. We must prioritize the environment and conservation efforts, guided by the principle “protect while developing and develop while protecting.” This principle serves to consolidate and strengthen the foundation for Asia’s sustainable, balanced economic development. In order to do so, we will utilize the most advanced technologies for developing sustainable energy sources. We will pursue strategies for economic development, resource conservation, reducing consumption, and environmental protection concomitantly. In addition, we will streamline the production-transportation-consumption process and explore renewables and resource reclamation to the fullest extent.

We must seek inclusive development, which means respecting the development rights of all countries’ people as well as the responsibilities, opportunities, and benefits that come with it. All Asian countries must persevere in taking people as the basis, and peoples’ well-being as the priority. Together, we should address food security, resource security, climate change, natural disasters and other issues. In this way, we may realize mutual gains and ensure that all people benefit from Asia’s transformation.

The delegates of Shanghai Forum 2014 universally acknowledge that, faced with the layered complexities of international development, Asia remains the driving force of global economic growth and an important source of stability. The region should strengthen development, and at the same time, increase the breadth and depth of integration between the regional transformation and global benefits. Doing so requires breaking free from tradition, answering the call of the times, adhering to the correct path, and thoroughly promoting the transformation. By innovating and transcending the already rich experiences of a transformation with Asian characteristics, the region can bring prosperity not only to all Asian countries and people, but also promote sustainable development worldwide and once again reinvigorate the global economy.