Remarks by H. E. Yang Jiechi
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China
At the Fourth Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
Of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation
Tokyo, 16 January 2010

Mr. Chair,
Dear Colleagues,

It is a real pleasure to be here in Tokyo for the Fourth Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC). Let me first thank our host Japan for the thoughtful arrangements. China warmly welcomes Mongolia to FEALAC.

A massive earthquake hit Haiti a few days ago and has inflicted heavy casualties and property losses. I wish to take this opportunity to once again express, on behalf of China, condolences and sympathies to the people of Haiti. The Chinese government has decided to provide Haiti with 30 million RMB yuan of humanitarian emergency supplies, and the Red Cross Society of China has decided to provide one million US dollars in humanitarian emergency assistance to Haiti. China’s international rescue team, including medical workers, has arrived in Haiti and started rescue work on the ground. China is ready to work with the international community and do what it can to help Haiti overcome the immediate difficulties and rebuild its homeland at an early date.

The world is undergoing profound and complex changes. The process towards a multi-polar world and economic globalization is gathering momentum, and major transformation and adjustments are taking place in the international landscape. The world economy, seriously battered by the financial crisis, has started to turn for the better, but the recovery is yet to be put on a solid footing and the deep-seated problems remain unsolved. Climate change, food security, public health security, natural disasters and other global issues are becoming increasingly acute. In the face of these grave challenges, countries have become all the more interdependent and made an even stronger appeal for peace and development. It is our shared hope to increase consultation, build consensus, deepen cooperation and tackle challenges together.

It is against such a backdrop that we, foreign ministers and representatives from the 34 FEALAC members, are gathered here today for an in-depth exchange of views on issues of common interest, including the international financial crisis, the environment, sustainable development and social progress. We will jointly explore ways for stronger cooperation and development. Our meeting, which coincides with FEALAC’s 10th anniversary, will be of far-reaching significance. China wishes to take this opportunity to propose the following:

First, step up cooperation to achieve a full global economic recovery. The worst part of the financial crisis is behind us. The world economy is stabilizing and picking up, and global economic outlook this year is likely to be better than that of last year. However, we are still under the impact of the financial crisis. This is a moment of truth. We must maintain the consistency and stability of our macroeconomic policies and take further forceful measures to boost our economic growth, consumption and demand. We must press ahead with the reform of the international financial system, improve the global economic governance regime, firmly oppose and reject all forms of protectionism, and work for a full economic rebound worldwide. The international community should pay real attention to the enormous difficulties and crises facing developing countries, the least developed countries in particular, take quick steps to fulfill the commitments on development aid, trade finance and concessional loans, and help developing countries bring stability to their financial markets, raise the level of economic growth and attain the UN Millennium Development Goals at an early date.

As a big developing country, China has played an active and responsible part in the international effort to confront the financial crisis. We will continue to work vigorously with the rest of the international community to steer the world economy out of the crisis.

Second, step up coordination to promote environmental protection and sustainable development. Environmental protection and sustainable development are vital to the long-term interests of all countries. We should all cultivate a resource-efficient and environment-friendly model of production, way of life and pattern of consumption and achieve a balance among economic growth, social development and environmental protection. While restoring growth, we should optimize energy mix, upgrade industries and develop a green economy. We should reinforce international cooperation on new industries and nurture new growth areas in the world economy. China has identified environmental protection and sustainable development as a strategic priority and adopted a development strategy that puts people’s interests first and emphasizes comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development. China will work closely with all other parties to share experiences and promote sustainable development regionally and globally.

The Copenhagen conference last December produced positive outcomes. China maintains that it is imperative to uphold the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol as the basic framework, follow the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”, stick to the dual-track negotiation mechanism under the Bali Roadmap, and actively push forward the ensuing consultations and the process of international cooperation. China subscribes to the consensus shown in the Copenhagen Accord. We will honor our commitment and continue to firmly support the negotiation process under the Convention and the leading role of the United Nations. We are ready to join all other parties in an unremitting effort and make positive contribution to the fight against climate change.

Third, step up overall planning to bolster cooperation in social fields. People of all countries and regions should share the benefits of economic globalization and development. This is the objective of economic and social progress and a hallmark of advances in civilization. As part of a broader response to the financial crisis, we should upgrade the industrial structure, raise the quality of economic growth, increase overall employment, and enhance the capacity to weather crises and risks. We need to strengthen the social safety net and focus on issues that concern people’s well-being such as education, health care, old-age support and housing. This is the way to ensure that our development is for the people and by the people and its benefits are shared among the people. With people’s well-being high on its agenda, China has been working hard to promote social progress and harmony. It is our sincere desire to exchange experiences and deepen cooperation with other countries so that together, we will build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.

Dear Colleagues,

Recent developments in the international environment and progress in East Asia-Latin America cooperation have presented new tasks for FEALAC. The forum should follow the trend and advance with the changing times. We should enhance mutual understanding — the cornerstone of our cooperation. We should increase the all-dimensional exchanges among East Asian and Latin American countries, enrich and share the success stories in our development, solidify the foundation of our friendship and cooperation, and reinforce the awareness of an East Asia-Latin America family. We should focus on practical cooperation. We should bring into full play the complementarities between the two regions in economy, trade, culture, science, technology and other sectors to achieve mutual benefit and common progress. We should make countering global challenges our shared objective. We should, through intensified communication and coordination, broaden consensus and converging interests, make our common stand heard and play a bigger part in global cooperation. We should strengthen the forum’s institution building. We should adhere to the principle of consensus, integrate our resources, and steadily implement the reform measures to make our forum a more efficient and pragmatic platform for exchanges and cooperation.

As a member of the East Asia-Latin America family, China values and has actively participated in FEALAC exchanges and cooperation in various fields. Over the past decade, China has hosted diverse forms of cooperation projects in many areas, which have contributed to mutual understanding and practical cooperation. China is ready to work with other members and make new contribution to the cooperation between the two regions and the development of FEALAC. I would like to announce here that China will, under the framework of the forum, undertake a number of new programs, including a biomass energy forum, a forum on East Asia-Latin America SMEs cooperation, a symposium on comparative studies on regional financial systems in East Asia and Latin America, an agro-technology training course and an Oriental cultural research program. Meanwhile, we will continue to host the China Tour for Senior Diplomats from Latin America and Caribbean Countries and the Workshop for Young Diplomats from Latin America and Caribbean Countries. We look forward to welcoming participants from your countries to these programs.

Dear Colleagues,

Ten years of experience, a stronger desire for cooperation and better developed mechanisms have put FEALAC at a new historical starting point. Let us join hands to intensify exchanges and cooperation, advance the development of the forum and write a new chapter in East Asia-Latin America cooperation.