To Further Cooperation among Political Parties of
Various Countries and Join Hands in Building A New Asia
H.E. Dr. Cai Wu
Vice Minister,International
Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
(November
23, 2002)
Your Excellency Mr. Chairman,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends,
I am most honored to attend the 2nd
International Conference of Asian Political Parties and make a speech here on
behalf of the Communist Party of China. Allow me to begin with my heartfelt
thanks to His Excellency Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, Deputy leader of
Thai-Rak-Thai Party and Foreign Minister of Thailand, and his party, for their
preparation for this grand event. In addition, I would like to take this
opportunity to convey my best wishes and greetings to the delegates of parties
from various countries.
The 1st International Conference of Asian
Political Parties was held in Manila two years back. It helped to create a new
pattern of exchanges and cooperation among Asian political parties in the new
international context. As developments of international and Asian situation in
the last two years have proved, furthering cooperation among Asian political
parties and safeguarding the common interests fully fitting with the development
of the situation, people¡¯s expectation on political parties, and the parties¡¯
needs for self-development.
Today, a series of profound changes have
taken place or are taking place in the regional and international situation. The
trend towards multipolarity and economic globalization brings opportunities and
favorable conditions to world peace and development. However, it also brings
severe challenges to all countries. Peace and development remain the themes of
the times. People over the world are still longing for a better life. It is
their common aspiration to ensure lasting peace and stability, and enjoy common
prosperity and sustainable development. The calls for treating each other on an
equal footing and living together in amity are getting louder and louder. The
pursuit for peace, cooperation and development has become an irresistible trend
of the times.
Compared with the world situation, the
situation in Asia is quite unique. Most countries in the region enjoy good
momentum of economic growth, and are faced with new opportunities. Regional,
sub-regional and inter-regional cooperation is forging ahead more vigrously.
However, there is still a long way to go to fight againt terrorism of all forms.
It remains imperative to most Asian countries to ensure regional peace and
stability, and pursue a just and rational new political and economic order.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On its 16th National Congress, which
concluded with a complete success just one week ago, the Communist Party of
China reiterated that, despite changes in international situation, we will
unswervingly uphold the independent foreign policy of peace. The purpose of our
foreign policy is to safeguard world peace and promote common development. We
are ready to work with the people in the rest of the world, push the lofty cause
for world peace and development forward. Upholding the principles of
independence, complete equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each
other¡¯s internal affairs, we will further develop our exchanges and cooperation
with the political parties and organizations in various countries and
regions.
For Asian political parties, it is an
unshakable historical obligation to ensure lasting peace and stability, strive
for economic growth and prosperity, and promote dialogue and cooperation among
the countries in the region. This is also the theme of this conference.
Here, I would like to put forward several
proposals on further cooperation among Asian political parties.
1. To keep pace with the trend towards
globalization and regional cooperation, and continue to push cooperation among
Asian political parties towards the orientation of deepened and sustained
development
In spite of major differences from each
other, Asian political parties share wide-ranging common interests and common
tasks on the overriding issues regarding overall development of Asia. It is true
that we should adhere to development paths that suit the realities of our
respective countries, and always make it the purposes of the parties to serve
the welfare of their people. But we should also regard it our duty to further
regional cooperation and promote common development. The two international
conferences of Asian political parties have given full expression to such common
pursuits. We should define the orientation for further cooperation among Asian
political parties and constantly inject fresh vigor into inter-party
cooperation.
2. To seek common ground while reserving
differences, and enhance cooperation on the basis of full respect for the
diversity in history, culture and the ways of development in different countries
and political parties
Diversity is an outstanding feature of the
world today. It is more so here in Asia. The differences and diversity among
countries and political parties in Asia represent an advantage of this region,
and serve as a basis for further cooperation. Over the last decade and more, the
Communist Party of China has been conducting extensive and fruitful exchanges
and cooperation with the political parties in various countries. It shows that
in the inter-party exchanges, the political parties from various countries could
well transcend differences and disagreements while enhancing understanding and
cooperation. We would like to suggest that Asian political parties should seek
common ground while reserving differences, respect each other, seek cooperation
instead of resorting to confrontation, work for consensus through consultations
instead of imposing one¡¯s will upon others. We may share the benefit of each
other¡¯s complimentarily through competition and comparison, and strive for
common development through seeking common ground while reserving
differences.
3. To keep pace with the requirement of
the times and that of the people, promote regional cooperation in Asia, and
press ahead with the establishment of a just and rational new international
political and economic order
The essence of the new international
political order is peaceful coexistence and non-interference in each other¡¯s
internal affairs. The essence of the new international economic order is
equality and mutual benefit. In the current world, it is a pressing task that
requires an unyielding effort to work for the establishment of a new
international political and economic order. Efforts should be made for an equal,
mutually beneficial, gradually advancing, open, wide-ranging and multi-level
regional cooperation in the region. The countries in Asia should be mobilized to
extensively participate in and promote the multi-lateral cooperation in the
region in an effort to establish a new international political and economic
order.
4. To Attach importance and give full
play to the unique role of the political parties in promoting regional economic
cooperation, and constantly enrich the content of party cooperation
To rejuvenate Asia, countries need to open
to each other and carry out mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to promote
common development and comprehensively improve the level of development and
competitiveness of Asia. As we have noticed, Asian political parties all put
developing national economy and improving their competitive edges at the top of
their agenda. To further our regional cooperation, we would like to suggest
that, political parties should give play to their own advantages, try to make
unique effort and contribution to liberalizing and facilitating trade and
investment in the region, steping up economic and technological cooperation as
well as security cooperation in the non-traditional fields, developing human
resources, and pursuing balanced development.
5. To give high importance to
safeguarding regional peace and stability, advocate new security concept, and
enable regional economic and security cooperation to grow from strength to
strength
Although it has become a general trend to
facilitate mutual understanding and trust, and safeguard regional peace and
stability through dialogues and cooperation, there still exist some factors that
affecting peace and stability in the region. Regional wars and conflicts keep
cropping up. International terrorism, national separatism and religious
extremism are quite active. Military alliances of various forms tend to be
strengthened. Geo-strategic strives among some countries are more intense. All
these are not in the aspirations and interests of the people in this region to
maintain peace, seek stability and promote development. Therefore, it is the
responsibility of Asian political parties to represent people¡¯s fervent desire
for stability, development and prosperity, by calling for establishment of a new
security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and
collaboration. We should carry on the campaign against terrorism by firmly
upholding the UN Charters and the universally acknowledged international norms.
The traditional concept of ¡°reconciliation is gold¡± in Asian culture should be
advocated to help resolve the disagreements, disputes and issues left over by
history among various countries through peaceful means and dialogues.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Communist Party of China attaches great
importance to our external relations, especially the contacts and exchanges with
Asian political parties. On the basis of the four principles governing
inter-party relations, the CPC has so far established relations of various forms
with over 400 parties and political organizations in more than 140 countries.
That has played an important role in promoting state-to-state relations and
strengthening friendship among the people of various countries. The
just-concluded 16th CPC congress has resolved that, the Communist Party of China
should represent the requirements of the development of China¡¯s advanced
productive forces, the orientation of the development of China¡¯s advanced
culture, and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the
people in China. In the first two decades of this century, the CPC is ready to
concentrate on building a well-off society of a higher standard in an all-round
way to benefit over one billion Chinese people. The CPC will further develop
economy, improve democracy, advance science and education, enrich culture,
foster better social harmony and upgrade the texture of life for the people.
I believe that, with the knowledge of the
16th national Congress of CPC, our friends can understand the direction where
CPC is heading for, and envisage the prospects of China¡¯s development in this
century. Perhaps we can say that a powerful Communist Party of China that keeps
pace with the times constitutes the fundamental political guarantee for China¡¯s
stability and development. A stable, growing and prosperous China will be
conducive to peace, stability and development of Asia and the world at
large.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have fully confidence in the bright
future of cooperation among Asian political parties. I fully believe, as long as
we forge ahead with the spirit of ¡°seeking common ground while reserving
differences¡±, we will surely be able to contribute to the new chapter in the new
century for strengthening friendship, deepening understanding, enhancing trust
and expanding cooperation.
To strive for the great rejuvenation of Asia
in the 21st century, and build an Asia of peace, stability, development and
prosperity, let¡¯s join hands together!
Thank you all!
