Dear Colleagues,
It is my great pleasure to attend the CICA Special Ministerial Meeting via video conference. Given the complex changes taking place in our region and around the world, it is all the more necessary and important for us, members of the CICA family, to have timely communication, build consensus, map out cooperation and chart the course forward.
Since assuming the chairmanship in September 2018, Tajikistan has successfully held the Fifth Summit in Dushanbe and other activities, contributing greatly to CICA's development. China commends Tajikistan's excellent work, and extends warm congratulations to Kazakhstan for taking over the chairmanship. Together with other member states, China will support the new Chair in further advancing CICA's development. We are confident that with the full commitment and able stewardship of Kazakhstan, this important regional security mechanism will do an even better job in fulfilling its due responsibilities and achieving greater progress in its cooperation.
Colleagues,
Countries in Asia may have different history, national realities, social systems, cultures and traditions, and are faced with multiple hotspot issues, disagreements and differences. Yet, the broader common visions and common interests have enabled us to rise above differences, enhance solidarity, build mutual trust and expand cooperation.
We all believe in diversity and equality of civilizations. As descendants of ancient Asian civilizations, we see the world as diverse, civilizations as colorful, and all countries as equals. No civilization is superior to others, and no one should intentionally provoke clashes among civilizations. Countries should transcend differences in ideologies and social systems. We should all respect, appreciate and learn from each other, and help each other succeed.
We all shoulder historic responsibilities of rejuvenation and development. Faster development, better lives for the people and national rejuvenation are the shared aspiration of all countries in Asia. We need to support each other in exploring a development path suited to our national realities, share governance experience, and foster greater synergy in our development strategies to achieve high-quality development.
We all call for peaceful solutions to disputes. The interwoven traditional and non-traditional security threats means no country can stay safe all by itself. We should value amity and cooperation, and pursue good-neighborliness and partnership with our neighbors. We all stand against the willful use of force, power politics and interference. And we are all committed to exerting Asian wisdom to seek durable political solutions through equal dialogue.
We all uphold the value of multilateralism. We support the UN-centered multilateral system, follow the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and recognize the important roles of the UN and its specialized agencies in international affairs. This is an area of greatest consensus of all CICA members, and has guided our efforts in pursuing regional and sub-regional cooperation and working for a multi-polar world and democracy in international relations.
Colleagues,
CICA is Asia's largest and most representative security forum with the greatest number of participants. Facing the once-in-a-century changes and a global pandemic, CICA should rise to the challenge, fulfill its historical mission, and make new efforts toward a secure, stable, prosperous, open and inclusive Asia featuring mutual respect, mutual trust, cooperation and innovation. Kazakhstan, as the initiator of CICA, has a special role to play. Here, I would like to propose four points.
First, we need to come together to defeat COVID-19. To suppress the novel coronavirus remains the immediate priority. We must strengthen solidarity, firmly support the WHO in playing its leading and coordinating role, and oppose politicizing the issue and stigmatizing specific countries. China will continue to support other countries' anti-epidemic efforts as much as it can, through closer cooperation on supplies, experience sharing, and vaccine development, in order to defeat the virus at an early date.
Second, we need to promote strategic trust to maintain peace and stability. Given the significant rise in tensions and confrontation in the international situation, we must stay highly alert, and firmly oppose actions to instigate and engineer a so-called "new Cold War". Countries should strengthen communication and dialogue to build up and consolidate strategic trust. We should continue to advocate and act on the new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and facilitate political settlement of hotspot issues to play our due role in promoting peace and stability in our region and beyond.
Third, we need to pursue mutual benefit to achieve common development. We should continue to synergize development strategies, leverage our strong complementarities, and advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. One of the priorities for now is to reopen economies in an orderly way, open more "fast tracks" and "green lanes" to facilitate the flow of people and goods so as to bring business and life back to normal. China is shifting to a new development paradigm featuring "dual circulations", with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. This aims to make the Chinese economy even more open, efficient and sustainable. In this process, we are willing to share development opportunities with fellow Asian countries for common development.
Fourth, we need to uphold multilateralism to defend international equity and justice. The 75th anniversary of the UN is a significant occasion for us to renew our commitment to multilateralism and oppose unilateralism and bullying; to uphold the authority and role of the UN, defend the international law and norms governing international relations, and safeguard the legitimate development rights and interests of all countries; and to further improve and strengthen the global governance system, and promote a more equitable and reasonable international order.
Colleagues,
Speaking at the high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN and the General Debate of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly, President Xi Jinping articulated China's firm support for the UN and for the multilateral system. China will continue to work with fellow Asian countries for a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, and for a community with a shared future for mankind. Together, let's make our due contribution to peace and development in Asia and beyond.
We are confident that our concerted efforts will see us through the difficulties and challenges; we will bring the coordination and trust between Asian countries to a new level, and usher in an even brighter future for our ancient continent.
Thank you.