Speech by Chairman Wu at the Opening Ceremony of the 5th ASEP Meeting

Beijing, 19 June 2008

Dear Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to meet so many new and old friends here in Beijing. First of all, on behalf of the National People's Congress of China and the Chinese people, I would like to extend our warm congratulations on the opening of the Fifth Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP) in Beijing, and express our sincere welcome to the new members: parliaments of India, Pakistan, Mongolia, Romania and Bulgaria. I would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to all the speakers and parliamentarians for attending the meeting.

To strengthen Asia-Europe cooperation and promote common development is an issue of mutual interest to people of all countries in Asia and Europe. By choosing this as its theme and focusing on the role of parliamentary partnership in this regard, this meeting has followed the trend of the times and the popular aspirations of all Asian and European countries and is of great significance to enhancing mutual understanding, facilitating pragmatic cooperation and promoting common prosperity.

Dear Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A massive earthquake measuring a magnitude of 8.0 and intensity of 11 struck Wenchuan county of Sichuan province of China on 12 May, causing tremendous loss of life and property and huge damage to economic and social development. This earthquake has been the most destructive one and affected the largest area since the founding of the new China, making rescue and relief work most difficult. In face of the disaster, the Party and Government of China led the whole country and the military in a tenacious fight against one difficulty after another. No time was lost and more than 6,500 people trapped in the rubble were rescued. Over 1,700,000 injured received prompt treatment and more than 15 million affected people were transferred and resettled, including over 1.4 million who had been stranded. Transportation routes to the quake zones were reopened and communications and the power grids were restored in the shortest possible time. Hazards posed by serious secondary disasters such as quake lakes have been effectively defused. No major epidemic has broken out in the wake of the devastating disaster. People are engaged in production and post-disaster reconstruction in an orderly manner to provide for and help themselves. The quake zones enjoy social stability and people feel stable and secure. This is significant achievement for the current stage of our rescue and relief efforts.

Earthquake relief is a common challenge to mankind. A few days ago I had meetings with several foreign political leaders. They all applauded the effectiveness of China's relief efforts and asked the same question: in such a short period and faced with so many difficulties, what has made China so effective in its disaster rescue and relief efforts? I think there are three most important reasons.

First, the advantage of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. China is a socialist country under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. China's state system ensures that people are the masters of the country and the interests of the people prevail over everything else. Governance is based on the lofty philosophy of putting people first and governing for the interests of people. This system has ensured unity among all ethnic groups. As a powerful cohesive force that draws together the 1.3 billion Chinese people, it has mobilized to the greatest extent the enthusiasm, initiative and creativity of the people. It has made concerted national efforts possible to concentrate on major tasks with high efficiency. One important reason that we have been so effective in handling the aftermath of this severe earthquake is that we have brought into play the advantage of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. With a keen sense of responsibility toward our people, we have done whatever is takes to save people's lives and minimize casualties as long as there is a gleam of hope. We mobilized the whole nation and ensured that policies and decisions made at the central level are followed through and acted upon at all local levels. We organized as quickly as possible more than 139,000 soldiers and officers from the People's Liberation Amy and the Armed Police, over 28,000 police officers, fire fighters and special police officers, 75,600 militia and reservists, 96,800 medical workers and over 5,200 Chinese and foreign professional earthquake rescue workers in an unprecedented endeavor to race against time to save people's lives in the disaster regions. More than 200,000 volunteers from across the country rushed to the quake zones to join the rescue and relief efforts. President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other state leaders went personally to the frontline and fought side by side with the affected people. At such a critical juncture, officials at various levels in the affected regions, those at the grassroots in particular, were the first to rush to the scene at the risk of their own safety. They have won the trust of the people and become their backbone in the relief and reconstruction efforts.

Second, the foundation laid by 30 years of reform and opening up. China has been growing fast. During the last 30 years, we have been focused on growing the economy and taken development as the Party's top priority. This has brought historic changes to China. Between 1978 and 2007, China's GDP grew by 9.6% per annum from US$216.5 billion to US$3,230 billion, contributing substantially to China's enhanced overall national strength. In the same period, per capita GDP increased more than eight-fold from US$226 to US$2,100, resulting in significantly higher living standards. Meanwhile, fiscal revenue grew over 44-fold from 113.2 billion yuan to 5,130 billion yuan, greatly swelling the nation's coffers. We have been able to respond effectively to the recent devastating earthquake mainly because of the strong material foundation laid by 30 years of reform and opening-up. By 17 June, governments at all levels had allocated over 53.9 billion yuan for the rescue and relief effort, including over 49 billion yuan from the central government. More than 1.4 million tents and over 360,000 prefabricated houses had been sent to the quake-hit areas. More than 4.8 million cotton-padded quilts and over 14 million items of clothes had been sent to the quake zones, together with large amounts of grain, food and medicine. These relief materials have met the needs of the relief effort and the affected populations. In view of the special nature of the disaster, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has decided to promptly adjust the national budget for 2008 and establish a rehabilitation and reconstruction fund to fully meet the financial needs of the relief and reconstruction operations.

Third, the unyielding character of the Chinese nation. China is a highly cohesive nation. In its long history, the Chinese nation has emerged stronger from all kinds of trials and tribulations and forged a great national spirit centering on patriotism. The Chinese people have never been daunted by disaster; instead, they have pulled together and pressed forward in the face of every disaster. This time, we have again risen to the grave challenge posed by the earthquake by marshalling a soul-stirring relief effort. Our national spirit of fortitude, unity and perseverance has again shone through. The affected population showed tremendous courage in face of danger. They acted swiftly and heroically to help each other out. Since the earthquake struck, assistance has been pouring in from all quarters. The entire nation has come together to make contribution to the rescue and relief effort in various ways. Overseas Chinese communities have also been greatly concerned and made generous donations. The rescuers have fought with remarkable courage, firm conviction and strong resolve. The heroic accounts of their rescue effort have touched all people. Upon the initiative of the more developed provinces, we have established a twinning program under which 19 provinces would support the worst-hit counties and cities in Sichuan and neighboring provinces in their reconstruction effot.

Here, I want to stress that we have received all strong support and assistance of the international community including the governments and people of many Asian and European countries in our relief operations. Several countries have sent rescue and medical teams to work side by side with Chinese rescuers and doctors, which has fully demonstrated the friendship of the international community towards the Chinese people. On behalf of the Chinese Government and people, I want to once again express our sincere gratitude for the international outpouring of support.

The disaster rescue and relief operations have made the Chinese people more united. We are more committed than ever to the pursuit of reform and opening-up, promotion of scientific development and progress along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Although there will be various difficulties and challenges ahead, we have the confidence, resolve and capability to overcome all difficulties, strive for new victories in building a moderately prosperous society in an all-around way, and achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Dear Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Asia and Europe, once cradles of ancient civilization, are important forces in today's world and playing a very important role in upholding peace and promoting human development. Asia, with its large population and rich resources as well as a broad market and a vibrant economy, is one of the regions with the greatest development potentials. Europe is the largest developed economy with advanced technologies, abundant capital and a high degree of economic integration. With the easing of overall situation in today's world, Asian and European countries face rare development opportunities and a host of challenges as well. As important forces in the trend towards multi-polarization and players in economic globalization, Asia and Europe have become more interconnected and interdependent than ever before, thus giving Asia-Europe cooperation unprecedented urgency and strategic significance. Since ASEM was inaugurated 12 years ago, its members have improved cooperation mechanism, expanded areas of cooperation, enriched the contents and produced more results, giving a strong boost to political and security dialogue, business cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges among Asian and European partners. We applauded the progress ASEM has made and believe that, in this new era, to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe is not only in the fundamental interests of the two sides, but also conducive to peace, development and cooperation of the whole world.

Parliamentarians represent the people, and parliaments represent the popular will. Inter-parliamentary exchanges are an important part of state-to-state relations, and multilateral parliamentary cooperation plays a unique role in international cooperation. Since its inception, ASEP membership has increased from 26 to 43. We have held four meetings, and issued declarations expounding our common position on some important international and regional issues. This has promoted inter-parliamentary dialogue, exchanges and cooperation among ASEM members, and played an active role in promoting ASEM process. It is fair to say that ASEP is maturing and becoming an important platform to strengthen dialogue, increase mutual trust and advance cooperation among parliaments of ASEM members. ASEP Has tremendous cooperation potentials and promises a bright future. Concerning its future growth, I wish to share with you the following questions:

First, uphold the framework of ASEM. ASEM is a trans-regional dialogue and cooperation process covering a wide range of areas. ASEP is an important channel and component of Asia-Europe exchanges. Guided by the purposes of ASEP, we should develop closer links with ASEM and strengthen cooperation and coordination with other cooperation mechanisms, work towards the fundamental goal and major tasks of ASEM and give full play to the positive role of the multilateral parliamentary exchanges in advancing multilateral cooperation process. We should draw up the theme of the ASEM with reference to the agenda and priority cooperation area of the ASEM Summit, actively and effectively participate in the ASEM process and push it forward, and jointly advance the new type of Comprehensive Asia-Europe Partnership.

Second, strengthen dialogue on the basis of equality and mutual trust. Despite their different national conditions, member states of ASEP, large or small, populous or otherwise, strong or weak, are all equal members of the international community. It is important that large countries respect smaller ones, strong countries support weaker ones and rich countries help poorer ones. The diversity of civilization, state sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the development paths chosen by different countries according to their respective national conditions should all be respected, and no country should interfere in the internal affairs of others. It is necessary to take into account the major concerns of each member, conduct sincere dialogue and patient exchanges, properly settle differences through equal consultation in the spirit of seeking common ground while shelving differences, try to maximize consensus and constantly expand common interests.

Third, advance cooperation with the unique strengths of ASEP. The parliaments of members should fully play their functions and roles, approve relevant multilateral agreements signed by their governments in time and supervise their implementation so as to put the work of ASEM on a strong legal footing. The parliaments should also step up domestic legislation and supervision, support their governments in taking effective measures to reduce trade and investment barriers, promote open trade and increase mutual investment, so as to push for the fulfillment of the cooperation goals set by the ASEM Summit. Parliaments enjoy extensive links and a rich pool of human resources and information. Such strengths should be given full play to give useful advice on deepening practical cooperation and facilitate cooperation between enterprises and between localities. Cultural and people-to-people exchanges should be vigorously promoted with a view to deepen understanding of each other's history and cultural traditions, enhance the friendship and mutual trust among different peoples and increase the public support for cooperation.

Dear Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China, as a member of ASEM, supports Asia-Europe cooperation and takes an active part in the process. China's National People's Congress would like to strengthen cooperation with all members of ASEP, and work together for the sound growth of ASEP. We are ready to make unremitting efforts to deepen friendship between the peoples of Asia and Europe and promote mutually beneficial cooperation for prosperity and harmony of the two continents.

In conclusion, I wish the Fifth ASEP every success!

Thank you.