Your Excellency Prime Minister Karim Massimov,
Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my great pleasure to attend this summit in Astana. Let me thank the Kazakh government for the excellent preparations and thoughtful arrangements made for this meeting. I also wish to extend, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, sincere congratulations to the Kazakh government and people on the 23rd anniversary of independence of Kazakhstan.
Since last year's heads of government meeting in Tashkent, the SCO member states have,
acting1 in the Shanghai Spirit, scored new achievements in cooperation in various fields. At the Dushanbe Summit last September, Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of other SCO member states put forward a number of significant initiatives to advance practical cooperation of the SCO. Currently, the international situation is complicated, development of various economies is becoming
differentiated2 and certain regional turbulences have
intensified3. Given this backdrop, we need to further strengthen cooperation in the security and economic fields as well as in cultural and people-to-people exchanges so that we could seize opportunities and rise up to challenges.
First, we need to forge a strong shield for regional security and stability.
The international political and economic situation is undergoing complex changes. China will stay committed to the path of peaceful development and be firm in its efforts to safeguard regional peace, stability and development. And China will work to increase synergy and
collaboration4 with other countries to
jointly6 promote world prosperity and stability. Security cooperation
mechanisms8 need to be improved to oppose terrorism in all its
manifestations9. It is important that countries give support to the government of Afghanistan in its efforts to achieve early national
reconciliation10 and economic
reconstruction11, as this is
conducive12 to regional stability and serves the common interests of all countries.
Second, we need to foster new highlights in regional cooperation.
As global economic recovery faces difficulties and economic and trade growth of member states gets slowing down, we need to work together to realize industrial cooperation, trade and investment facilitation and financial cooperation, all at higher levels. We need to speed up regional economic
integration13, create new highlights for regional cooperation and foster new growth areas so as to ensure more dynamic economic growth.
SCO member states are all at critical stage of development, when
stabilizing14 growth and achieving
structural15 adjustment and upgrading becomes important. Cooperation between various parties is now expanding from trade in natural resources and primary products to in-depth cooperation that involves equipment manufacturing and building of industrial parks. Countries in the region have a huge market demand and China, on its part, is rich in experience in
infrastructure16 construction, has a strong equipment manufacturing
capability17 and could provide cost-effective products. China wants to enhance cooperation with other SCO members in metallurgy, construction materials, transport, power generation, telecommunications,
automobile18 assembling and food processing to
complement19 each other's advantages and achieve win-win outcomes. China has reached agreement with Kazakhstan on conducting cooperation in production capacity and is open to similar cooperation with other parties of the SCO. Dialogue among SCO members could be stepped up on the platform of the SCO energy club so that we could deepen cooperation in energy processing, including oil refining, refined oil processing and in the coal chemical industry. At the same time, we may also encourage new energy projects such as wind, solar and hydro power projects, so as to jointly safeguard energy security. China's initiative to build a Silk Road Economic Belt has much in common with the development strategies of relevant SCO members. China hopes to strengthen
consultation20 and cooperation with various parties to jointly promote industrial
transformation21 and upgrading.
To establish a trade and investment facilitation
mechanism7 that is results-oriented represents a general trend of economic development and regional cooperation of this region. The Program of multilateral trade and economic cooperation and the List of Activities on further development of
joint5 projects signed by SCO member states need to be
implemented22 in real earnest. China is ready to enhance policy
coordination23 with other parties, reduce trade and investment barriers, widen market access and raise efficiency of customs
clearance24 to ensure better flow of goods, technology, information and personnel. China will launch
negotiations25 with Kazakhstan on a new investment protection treaty and is ready to increase imports from other member states to improve the trade balance. Different trade institutions and arrangements in the region may well complement each other, and China supports the SCO in setting up a dialogue with the Eurasian Economic Commission to jointly study how to tackle new problems occurring under new conditions of regional integration.#p#分页标题#e#
Funding support is necessary for both development and construction projects. China will officially start selection of the first
batch26 of projects under the China-Eurasian Economic Cooperation Foundation, and China is open to the establishment of
bilateral27 underlying28 funds to support the
implementation29 of economic projects within the region. At the same time, it is necessary to bring into better play the role of such funds as the Silk Road Foundation. We hope that SCO member states will reach
consensus30 to
steadily31 advance the process of establishing an SCO development bank, which will serve as a long-term and stable financing platform of the region. China supports the Kazakh proposal of increasing currency
swap32 and trade settlement in local currencies between SCO member states.
Third, we need to focus more on cooperation for people's livelihood33 and in cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
The ultimate purpose of deepening security, trade and investment cooperation is to make life better for our peoples. China proposes that the SCO pay more attention to people's livelihood, promote cooperation in projects related to people's livelihood and create more job opportunities to deliver real benefits to the people. China is ready to deepen agricultural cooperation with other member states, explore the establishment of a
unified34 information platform for food and agricultural products and work for an SCO food security cooperation mechanism to be launched. China plans to
allocate35 US$50 million for the SCO's popularization of agricultural technologies and personnel training and hopes that such cooperation will bring more benefits to farmers and herdsmen of various countries. China is now working on a plan of green Silk Road
envoys36 and will be happy to offer training in environmental protection to countries along the Silk Road. Cooperation in public health needs to be stepped up and efficient joint prevention and control mechanisms for infectious diseases need to be set up. As far as this is concerned, China stands ready to provide health assistance to Central Asian countries within its capability.
As we Chinese often say, when watering flowers, make sure that water goes down deep to the roots; and when making friends, remember that best friends are those whose hearts are close. Countries need to
intensify37 cultural and people-to-people exchanges to increase communication and
mutual38 understanding among the people. Heart-to-heart communication will bring us closer to each other, enhance popular support for the SCO and make the concept of win-win cooperation a consensus of people of all member states. I hope that member states will
actively39 foster friendly exchanges between various
sectors40, especially between our young people. Measures could be taken to simplify procedures for the application of visas and work and residence permits so as to facilitate people-to-people exchanges.
Dear Colleagues,
As it stands today, the SCO has become an important force for peace, development and cooperation on the Eurasian land bridge. Member states need to bear in mind their common responsibilities and mission, make joint and solid efforts and contribute more to safeguarding regional security and stability and promoting common prosperity and development. China supports Russia in all the work it undertakes as chair of the SCO in 2015. As host of the 14th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the SCO, China would like to invite all the leaders to go to China to attend the meeting next year.
Thank you very much.