H.E. Liu Yunshan 
Member of the Political Bureau and the Secretariat of the
Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 3rd ICAPP

 

Fellow Delegates, Honored Guests and Friends,

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Third International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) is coming to its conclusion in an atmosphere of friendship, enthusiasm and harmony. Asian political parties have come together at this conference to discuss the important issues of Asian cooperation and development. In a spirit of respecting each other, conducting exchanges on an equal footing, increasing consensus and working together for development, the participants focused on the objective of promoting exchanges, development and cooperation and on the issues of regional security and multilateral cooperation, economic growth and social progress, party building and national development in today’s new conditions. They achieved broad consensus through frank, in-depth discussions and exchanges, and they contributed to increasing understanding and trust between countries and between political parties throughout Asia, promoting peace, stability and unity in Asia, and fostering regional cooperation and common development. On behalf of the Communist Party of China which sponsored this conference, and the conference’s Organizing Committee, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and highest regards to the delegates to and honored guests of this conference as well as to other attendees from all walks of life.

Four years ago, the First ICAPP, held in Manila under the auspices of such farsighted politicians as the Honorable Jose de Venecia, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, introduced a new form of cooperation among Asian political parties and opened a new chapter in their cooperation. The Second ICAPP, held in Bangkok in November 2002, unequivocally proposed that Asian political parties should constitute a new channel for promoting regional cooperation. The Beijing conference is a continuation and development of those two conferences, it builds on their successes and promotes further progress. It constitutes another successful effort Asian political parties made to play their unique role in these new circumstances and to promote regional cooperation. This conference has further clarified the direction in which international cooperation among Asian political parties will develop in the future and has laid a firmer foundation for this development.

At this conference, the participants expressed many original views and made many constructive suggestions from different perspectives on all areas of the conference’s concerns. They gave expression to Asian political parties’ fervent hope to strive for exchanges, cooperation and development and to the deep thought Asian political parties and politicians have in the presence of opportunities and challenges. The following three ideas were most prominent in their thinking.

First, promoting the sound development of the ICAPP and giving full play to the unique role of Asian political parties in promoting regional cooperation are the common goal of all Asian political parties and politicians. Since it was established, the ICAPP has already become an important forum in which different countries and political parties with different ideologies in the region exchange political ideas, search for political consensus and increase mutual understanding and trust, as well as a platform for promoting international cooperation. At every session of the ICAPP, the resolve of all the participating political parties of various countries have to strengthen their international exchanges and cooperation and the universal agreement among them on fostering good-neighborliness and friendship among Asian countries, safeguarding regional peace and security, and promoting regional cooperation and common prosperity are clearly revealed. The ICAPP has a clear purpose, a focused topic, a democratic form and a harmonious atmosphere. All participants respect each other and interact as equals. The ICAPP embodies a spirit of seeking consensus and common development and constitutes a new model for promoting Asian regional cooperation by utilizing the unique role of political parties. All countries should work together to keep the ICAPP on the right track and preserve its fine traditions and to continually enrich the content and tap the potential of international cooperation among political parties so as to support Asian regional cooperation and spur its development.

Second, strengthening regional cooperation, safeguarding regional security, and promoting sustained development and common prosperity in Asian countries are beneficial to all Asian countries and political parties and are their common responsibility. Multilateral cooperation is an effective way to preserve regional security, and the final objective of Asia’s security is common security. Every country should act constructively, trust other countries, and establish and uphold a new conception of security based on mutual trust and benefit, equality and cooperation. They should resolve their differences through dialogue, consultation and cooperation. They should explore new models for regional cooperation on security issues and create a regional and international environment of peace, stability and security beneficial for the development of all countries. Every country should choose its own road of development and development models on the basis of its own national conditions. They should be constantly innovative, open new avenues of development and expand the scope of development. They should follow a path of sustainable development that promotes both economic and social development, both urban and rural development, and the development of both human beings and nature. Asian countries should conform to the trend of the times and make the best of opportunities that present themselves. They should consolidate and deepen presently existing mechanisms for cooperation, explore new forms of cooperation, expand the scope of their cooperation and raise its level on the basis of the principles of equality, mutual benefit, gradual progress and openness. This will raise the entire region’s level of development and competitiveness and facilitate the common development and prosperity of the countries in it.

Third, the Asian political parties share the hope of further deepening their international exchanges and cooperation in the 21st century on the basis of the spirit of respecting each other, conducting exchanges on an equal footing, building consensus and working together for development. At present, international competition is fierce. Strengthening international exchanges and cooperation between political parties and learning from other countries’ and parties’ development experience and political wisdom is an important way in which political parties in all countries can maintain their political vitality and become better able to run or participate in deliberation and administration of their state affairs. Ideological differences between political parties in different countries are a reflection both of the nature of the parties themselves and the real diversity that exists in Asia. These differences are a motivation and basis for us to increase exchanges and develop cooperation. They are not and should not be an obstacle to mutual contacts. In contacts between parties, all parties should respect other countries’ and parties’ independence to choose development paths and political systems and deal with internal affairs as well as their different cultural traditions, political idea and benefits concerns. No matter whether large or small, in power or out, all parties should treat other parties with an attitude of equality and friendship and strive to achieve mutual understanding and trust through consultation, interaction and discussion. At the same time, they should strive to overcome differences and focus on finding areas where their interests converge. They should constantly build consensus, reduce or temporarily set aside differences, avoid confrontation and argument, learn from each other, and work together for common development.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,

Asia is our common home. It is one of the places where human civilization began and one of the regions of the world developing most vigorously in the 21st century. Faced with opportunities and challenges, Asia must unite and become stronger if it is to develop and prosper. In the great historical process of furthering peace, cooperation and common development in Asia, every political party and politician throughout Asia has an important and unique role to play. We firmly believe that if the political parties of all Asian countries adhere to the spirit of respecting each other, conducting exchanges on an equal footing, building consensus and working together for common development, their international exchanges and cooperation will certainly constantly break new ground, enter a new phase, and make a greater contribution to creating a peaceful, stable, developed, prosperous and vigorous Asia.

Thank you very much.