| The Annual
Meeting of Asian ECAs, an annual event since 1996, has played
positive roles for communication among ECAs, foreign trade, and
economic cooperation in the region. This Annual Meeting of Asian
ECAs has, as it is now, become quite a phenomenon on regional
financial meeting that has been more and more recognized by the
participating governments. Mr. Huang Ju, Vice Premier of the State
Council of P. R. China, has just met the heads of delegations
of the Asian export credit agencies. And their exchanges of information
and ideas in depth are the very illustration demonstrating the
importance the Chinese government attaches to this annual meeting
of Asian ECAs. It also reflects the positive attitude of the Chinese
Government to strengthen its cooperation with the neighboring
countries and regions at deferent layers.
The international situation has experienced profound
and complicated changes since the start of this new century. However,
peace and development remain to be the key issues of the world,
strengthening mutual cooperation and fostering mutual development
remain to be the common goal of deferent countries, so are they
the universal path towards economic prosperity. Asia has a large
population, rich natural resources and attractive market prospects.
The peace and development of Asia shall not only contribute to
the prosperity of the people in this region, but will also benefit
the whole world. In recent years, Asian countries have, through
mutual cooperation, overcome the attack of Asian financial crisis,
the negative impact of the SARS and bird flu virus, and stay as
the most economically dynamic and potential region in the world
today.
The economic developments among Asian countries
and regions are complementary to each other, which is conducive
to economic cooperation among them. In recent years, various forms
of cooperation and exchanges have been strengthening with the
joint endeavor of Asian countries, especially in the fields of
economy and trade. The trade volume among Asian countries and
with countries in other regions has been growing constantly, which
greatly contributed to the national economic development of each
Asian country, and also gives great impetus to the common prosperity
of this region. During this process the export credit agencies,
which act as effective tools to promote import and export businesses,
have played important and unique role in fostering Asian trade
development and regional economic revitalization. In facing with
the growing economic globalization and ever closer economic interaction
and cooperation among Asian countries, it is our hope that the
Asian export credit agencies could make full use of existing mutual
beneficial, healthy and open cooperation platform. We hope that
the Asian ECAs could upgrade your cooperation and make greater
contribution to the common prosperity of Asian economy.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
China is an important member of the Asian community. The Chinese
economy, for 25 years, has scored a sustained and fast development
since the implementations of the policies of reform and opening
to the outside world. From the year 1978 to 2003, the annual growth
of Chinese economy averaged 9.4%, and China’s GNP reached US$
1400 billion from 147.3 billion. In 2003, the China’s per capita
GNP passed over the milestone of US$ 1000. The national budgetary
income reached US$ 260 billion last year. The foreign trade increased
substantially, the total trade volume grew from US$ 20.6 billion
to US$ 850 billion, ranking the fourth in the world. China’s foreign
currency reserve amounted US$ 403.3 billion by the end of last
year. And China’s exchange rate remained stable. It is worth noting
that in 2003 China’s import from Asian region increased 42.4%,
which proved that China has become an important trade partner
of Asian countries and regions.
Despite all these accomplishments, we are fully
aware of the fact that China is still a developing country that,
with a large population, weak in infrastructure, under-developed
in productivity, and unbalanced in regional development. And economic
and social developments are in stark conflict with the well being
of the environment and natural resources. In addition, resources
allocation, industrial structure, foreign trade and the financing
all face problems which need to be solved urgently. The modernization
drive requires long-term and constant efforts.
For China, the construction of a well-off society
is the ultimate objective in the first 20 years of this century.
The development of China’s economy and society will therefore
experience another fast growth in the next two decades. It is
anticipated that China’s GNP will reach USD 4 trillion in this
period, three times higher than that of 2000. And the total of
export and import volumes will also increase by three times.
To reach the goal, we shall stick to the people-oriented
philosophy, developing through science and technology and opening
still wider to the outside world. We shall focus on economic development,
and push forward and deepen the reform. We shall also observe
our commitment on joining the WTO, further opening our domestic
market and improving our investment environment. At the same time,
we shall encourage Chinese enterprises of deferent ownership to
expand their business and invest outside China, and strengthening
their competitiveness in international market.
As an official export credit agency, the Export-Import
Bank of China has played very importance role in promoting the
country’s export-oriented economy, in supporting the economic
and trade cooperation between China and other Asian countries
or regions, and financing the exports of capital goods, labor,
and other products. The Bank also offers powerful policy financial
support to Chinese firms in their going international and launching
offshore investment on the global market. With the development
of the economic cooperation between China and other Asian countries
and regions, we believe that the Export-Import Bank of China will
play a more important role.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Strengthening economic and trade cooperation among
Asian countries and regions is the natural demand of Asian economic
development, that will facilitate the peace, stability and prosperity
of the whole region. China’s development could not do away with
Asia, and Asian prosperity needs the participation of China. The
Chinese government and the Chinese people will firmly stick to
the road of peaceful development; firmly push forward the reform
and opening to the outside world so as to realize the comprehensive,
balanced and sustainable development. We shall firmly endeavor
to facilitate the peace and the economic development of Asia-Pacific
regions. We shall always adhere to the diplomatic guideline of
“being friends with our neighbors”, implement the diplomatic policy
of “being peaceful with your neighbors for mutual prosperity”.
We shall attach great importance to regional and sub-regional
cooperation, actively enhance economic regionalization, and contribute
to the economic prosperity of this region. The peaceful evolution
of China would definitely inject new vitality to the development
of Asia as well as the peace and stability of the world.
Let us make our joint efforts, for the more prosperous
tomorrow of Asia.
I wish the annual meeting every success! Thank you!
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