Chinese Vice Premier Li Lanqing Wednesday told the 2002 BusinessWeek Forum held in Tianjin that China's prosperity is impossible without the world and global development.
In his keynote speech, Li said the forum has shown that the world is paying increasing attention to China and indicated the common aspiration for enhancing cooperation and seeking common development by the participating countries and entrepreneurs.
Li briefed the participants on China's progress of reform and opening up in the past two decades. He said China is confident and capable of maintaining a fast growth of its economy despite uncertainties in the world economy and the difficulties and problems that China is facing on the way to further progress.
Turning to the prospects for China in a post-WTO accession era, Li said it was an active choice of the nation to join the global trade club following the trend of economic globalization. China's accession to the WTO symbolizes that the nation has entered a new stage of reform and opening up, he said.
A peaceful and stable international environment, which is based on the balance of political multipolarization, cultural diversity and economic development, is a must for the steady growth of the world economy, Li said.
Li welcomed foreign investors to engage in the country's agriculture sector, high-tech industries, state-owned enterprises reform and the development of west China.
He stressed that China in the new century will be more prosperous and open. A more open China is willing to work together with other countries to enlarge its vision, catch the opportunities and create a better future for human beings.
Bush's speech at the forum
George Bush, former US president, also delivered a speech at the forum. He praised the immense changes that China has experienced in political, economic and other areas after its reform and opening up.
Bush stressed that US-China relationship is one of the most important bilateral relations in the world. He said he hoped Sino-US relations could advance vigorously in the future.
The 2002 BusinessWeek Forum in Tianjin was co-hosted by Tianjin Municipal Government and the US-based financial periodical BusinessWeek.
(People's Daily May 9, 2002)
