At the invitation of the Malaysian foreign ministry, Chairman Wu Bangguo of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) delivered an important speech entitled Deepening Good-neighborly Friendship and Joining Hands to Build Asia Prosperity in Kuala Lumpur

On May 30, 2005, at the invitation of the Malaysian foreign ministry, Chairman Wu Bangguo of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) delivered an important speech entitled Deepening Good-neighborly Friendship and Joining Hands to Build Asia Prosperity in Kuala Lumpur.

After reviewing the development of China-Malaysia good-neighborly and friendly relations, Wu made a comprehensive elaboration on China's Asia policy.

Wu said that Asia enjoys a long history and glorious culture. In the history of human civilizations, the Asian people have made outstanding contributions. Since the mid-20th century, a majority of Asian countries have won peace and stability and many realized the leapfrogging economic growth. New industrial countries and regions are emerging one after another and an increasing number of Asian people enjoy a happy life. Asia has become a region with dynamic development and great potential and plays an increasingly important role in promoting the lofty undertaking of peace and development of human being.

Wu noted that China is a member of the Asian family. As a player committed to promoting Asia's peace, cooperation and development, China knows well that it shoulders major responsibilities for peace and development in Asia. Without Asia it is impossible for China to develop and Asia's progress needs China. Persisting in building good-neighborly relationship and partnership with the neighboring countries, we pursue a policy of bringing harmony, security and prosperity to neighbors. He stressed that whether in the past, at present or in the future China is always committed to developing friendly and cooperative relations with the rest of Asian countries, jointly building a peaceful and stable regional environment and promoting the common development of Asian countries.

During the speech Wu listed a large number of facts and detailed data to further elaborate China's consistent position of being committed to developing friendly and cooperative relations with the rest Asian countries mainly from the four perspectives of political dialogue, economic and trade cooperation, multilateral process and security cooperation.

Wu also pointed out that economic globalization is accelerating. Asian countries face not only rare development opportunities but also severe challenges. He emphasized that Asian countries should seize the opportunities, meet the challenges, strengthen cooperation and seek common development. They should firmly follow the mainstream of development, focus on their own affairs and promote the prosperity of Asia while realizing their own development. They should promote the bilateral and multilateral cooperation of equality and mutual benefit in an all-round way, work hard to forge a development pattern of complementarities with each other's advantages and striding forward together and push forward the economic globalization in a balanced way with mutual benefit and win-win result. They should firmly build the sense of Asian family, respect each other, consult with each other friendly, properly handle differences and conflicts and jointly maintain and promote Asia's peace and stability.

Wu's speech ended amid a long period of warm applauses. The event is organized by Malaysia Foreign Affairs University. More than 300 guests including senior officials of the Malaysian government and parliament, businessmen, experts and scholars, leaders of overseas Chinese communities and some foreign diplomats listened to the speech of Chairman Wu.

Zhang Ruizhen, wife of Chairman Wu Bangguo and Re Di, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of NPC were present at the event.