Your Excellency President Lee Myung-bak,
Your Excellency Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama,
Friends from the business communities,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to meet you, joined by President Lee Myung-bak and Prime Minister Hatoyama, during the Second Trilateral Summit Meeting among China, Japan and the ROK. On behalf of the Chinese government, let me start by extending warm congratulations on the opening of the First China-Japan-ROK Business Summit and cordial greetings to friends from the business communities of our three countries.

The last decade has seen enormous growth of business cooperation among China, Japan and the ROK. Trade among us has quadrupled from over US$130 billion to US$500 billion. Today, our three economies represent 90% of the East Asian economy and 17% of the world economy. East Asia, one of the most economically dynamic regions of the world, is playing an important role in driving the growth of the Asian and world economy. At this critical moment in countering the global financial crisis, the international community is pinning high hopes on East Asia's economic recovery and steady growth.

The opening of the First China-Japan-ROK Business Summit on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of our trilateral cooperation has special significance. The establishment of this important mechanism reflects the increasingly close business ties among China, Japan and the ROK, expresses the sincere hope of business communities of the three countries for more dialogue and exchanges, and echoes the trend of our times towards deeper cooperation and common development. The China-Japan-ROK Business Summit will not only enable our three countries to respond to the global financial crisis and promote economic growth more effectively, but will also enhance mutual understanding and friendship among peoples of the three countries and have an extensive and positive impact on trilateral exchanges and cooperation in other areas.

Here, I wish to share three hopes with entrepreneurs from the three countries.

First, you must innovate. Innovation ensures competitiveness and dynamism of an enterprise. Economic competition in the world today is ultimately a competition on science and technology. Efforts to counter the global financial crisis have become a new race in science and technology. China, Japan and the ROK all have rich human resources, good research conditions, fairly strong manufacturing and service sectors and a well-established industrial foundation. While relying on independent innovation, enterprises can leverage the geographical proximity, cultural affinity as well as economic complementarity and integration of our three countries, step up joint research, development and production, and establish a system of innovation and production with distinct regional features, so as to secure a favorable position in the future economic landscape of the world.

Second, you must deepen solidarity. The global financial crisis will have extensive and profound repercussions. Enterprises are both direct victims of the crisis and a primary force in economic rebound. Enterprises can not survive and thrive without an enabling social and international environment. This requires entrepreneurs to have a broad vision and mind, and take on social and international responsibilities while surmounting their own difficulties. It is imperative for entrepreneurs to promote the spirit of cooperation in times of hardship and realize sustainable development in the process of common and harmonious development.

Third, you must not hesitate to make suggestions. At the trilateral summit this morning, I said that leaders need to listen to the voices of entrepreneurs and governments need to provide more convenient and better services to enterprises. Entrepreneurs are most sensitive to the trends of economic and technological development at national, regional and global levels. You are extensively and deeply engaged in society. You know what the people think and want, and you have unique insights into issues vital to national interest and people's livelihood. On the basis of thorough discussions and deliberations through this new platform of China-Japan-ROK Business Summit, you are most welcome to share ideas and suggestions with leaders of the three countries. This will help us obtain comprehensive, accurate and timely information, make scientific judgments and decisions, and promote fast and sound growth of trilateral cooperation.

Let me close by referring to a painting. Just now, I joined President Lee Myung-bak and Prime Minister Hatoyama in a tour of an exhibition of ink and wash paintings from the three countries. I was deeply impressed by one piece jointly created by Chinese, Japanese and ROK painters, in which the shrubalthea of the ROK, sakura of Japan and bamboo of China brave the snow and herald the spring. Each radiant in its own way, they clearly enjoy each other's company. I believe this spirit comes from the heart of the artists and the people in all three countries. And this should be the spirit of Chinese, Japanese and ROK entrepreneurs and our trilateral cooperation!

Thank you.