This is the speech delivered by Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong at the opening ceremony of the third International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) on Friday:

The ICAPP, established in September 2000, is an undertaking in which Asian political parties adjust to contemporary trends of peace and development, keep up with deepening regional cooperation in Asia, and widen their international exchanges and cooperation.

Over the past four years, two successful sessions of the ICAPP have been held.

I believe that with its theme "Exchange, Cooperation and Development," this session of the ICAPP will surely be a great occasion to discuss these great issues, explore paths to cooperation, increase regional cooperation, and exchange experiences in building our parties and governing our countries.

I'm sure this session will also raise the level of exchanges and cooperation among Asian political parties and their joint efforts to seek development to a new high.

Asia has a long history and magnificent civilizations. Although Asian countries have different social systems, histories and cultures and different levels and models of economic development, these differences are not obstacles to our increasing exchanges, building consensus and strengthening cooperation on a foundation of common respect for diversity. Our Asia's history and culture has unique charm and grace.

It was in Asia in the 1950s that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Ten Principles of Bandung were born. These principles have become the basis on which countries with different social systems respect each other, seeking common ground while shelving differences and discussing issues as equals.

The Five Principles have, will and are generating an impact on promoting the establishment of a just and equitable new international political and economic order.

Throughout modern times, Asians have tasted the bitterness of aggression and war. So what they understand best is the value of peace and the importance of development. Exchanges and cooperation are essential for bringing peace and stability to Asia, and striving together is the only way in which Asian countries can prosper and develop. It is gratifying to see that since the end of the Cold War and especially since the 1997 Asian financial crisis, through the concerted efforts of Asian governments and political parties, a new kind of equal, pluralistic, open and mutually beneficial regional cooperation has been gradually taking shape, and many kinds of Asian regional organizations and mechanisms for multilateral cooperation have been developing continually.

Asia's current overall situation is generally stable, with the economy maintaining sound growth and regional cooperation steadily expanding. Asia's share of the world's economy and its influence and role in international affairs are on the increase. Asia is the most energetic economic entity, and has emerging markets with the greatest potential and largest energy resources in the world.

In the 21st century, Asia's peace and development are confronted with rare opportunities and difficult challenges. In the world today, peace and development remain the themes of the times, but the world is far from tranquil. Hegemonism and power politics are manifesting themselves in new ways; terrorist activities are still at a serious level; and violence and local wars break out over ethnic conflicts or religious disputes. This all threatens Asia's security and stability.

Population explosion, waste of resources and environmental pollution as well as the ever-increasing disparity between the rich and the poor and the digital divide are all hindering the development of Asian countries.

With these new opportunities and challenges, hope and difficulty coexist. Asian governments and political parties need to use their political wisdom, formulate policy measures and take real action to make the most of the situation while avoiding its dangers.

The laws of human development tell us that peace is a prerequisite for development, development is an important guarantee for peace, and win-win cooperation is necessary for peace and development. Increasing exchanges, dialogue and cooperation among Asian countries; promoting peace, stability and development in the region; and working for the well-being of its people are not only explicit themes of this session but also historical duties of all Asian governments and political parties. I would like to take this opportunity to put forward the following four proposals.

First, we should seize opportunities to continually expand the new channels for regional and multilateral cooperation. The trends of deepening economic globalization and increasing regional cooperation provide Asian countries opportunities for multilateral cooperation. We should improve the mechanisms for dialogue, cooperation and discussion on the basis of the principles of diversification and gradual progress. We should also pay a lot of attention to and make full use of the unique role of political parties, parliaments and mass organizations in the various countries. If they all make their best efforts and each does what it can do best, we can bring about wider, deeper and more enduring and effective regional dialogue and cooperation in Asia.

Second, we should continue to seek common ground while shelving differences, and constantly open new avenues to find more common ground. We believe that neither differences in ideology and social systems nor lingering historical problems should be obstacles to increasing regional dialogue and cooperation. We hope that Asian governments and political parties will continue to be oriented to the world and the future, take responsibility for their history, be responsible to their people, respect each other's interests and concerns, and seek common ground in a constructive way. We hope that they will seek accord through consultation instead of imposing their will on others, reconcile differences instead of causing trouble, and work together to become stronger instead of profiting at others' expense.

Third, we should constantly strengthen mutual trust and work hard to find new models for regional security and cooperation. We can dispel suspicion only by building mutual trust; we can all enjoy peace only through cooperation. We hope that in response to the complicated and profound international changes, all Asian countries will set common security as their goal and develop a new conception of security based on mutual trust and benefit, equality and cooperation. We hope that on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, they will resolve conflicts through dialogue on an equal footing and work hard to create a political and security environment for our regional development that is peaceful and harmonious.

Fourth, we should focus on working together to become stronger in order to usher in a new stage of reciprocity and common development. Shutting our countries to the rest of the world only leaves us behind; we can achieve common development only by working together to become stronger. To promote the development of the regional economy, all Asian countries should expand mutual investment, increase the flow of technology and personnel, progressively open their markets to each other, gradually eliminate trade barriers, solve problems arising in the course of economic cooperation and resource exploitation and work to raise regional economic and technological cooperation to a new level of institutionalization and standardization.

Political parties play an extremely important role in Asian countries' politics, economy, culture and foreign relations. In the past, many of them have led their people in fighting for national liberation, defending national independence and opposing foreign interference. Today, Asian political parties are working hard to develop their national economies, promote modernization and revitalize their countries. Their experiences are well worth learning and drawing upon.

At this point, I would like to briefly introduce the CPC's history and the present circumstances to you. The CPC ascended the stage of history at the beginning of the 20th century at a time when China was in a national and social crisis and the people of all China's ethnic groups rose in a torrent of opposition to imperialism and feudalism. After 28 years of difficult struggle and sacrifice, our Party completed its mission of the new democratic revolution and achieved national independence and liberation for the Chinese people. After New China was established, our Party set up a people's democratic dictatorship as China's form of government. It set up a basic socialist system and established an independent and relatively complete national economic system on top of a foundation of poverty and ignorance bequeathed by Old China. China entered a new historical period of reform. The CPC united and led the people through difficult times onto a new road of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. The country's economic and scientific strength increased, and its population of nearly 1.3 billion people made the historic leap from subsistence living to having a moderately well-off standard of living. In 2002, the 16th National Congress of the CPC set the objective of concentrating our efforts to raise this standard even higher in all respects and ensure all of China's 1 billion plus people can enjoy life at this standard. To achieve this objective, we formulated the following policies to give impetus to all aspects of this work: first, to unwaveringly carry out economic and political restructuring with the basic goals of developing the socialist market economy and socialist democracy to provide institutional guarantees for building a moderately well-off society in all respects; second, to steadfastly carry forward the outstanding traditions of the Chinese culture and widely absorb the beneficial fruits of world culture to provide intellectual support for building such a society; and third, to comprehensively coordinate relations between all kinds of interests, including coordinating urban and rural development, regional development, economic and social development, the harmonious development of man and nature, and coordinating domestic development with opening up to provide social conditions for building such a society. Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the socialism that domestically develops socialist productive forces and that internationally advocates peace.

As a socialist country, China is resolved to develop itself while safeguarding world peace when peace and development are the themes of the times.

Peace and development in China are beneficial to peace and development in Asia and the whole world. Our friends can all see that China's vigorous development over the last 20 years has not only brought happiness to the Chinese people, but also played a constructive role in promoting the sound development of the regional economy.

The CPC summarizes its main tasks in the 21st century as constituting three tasks: to carry the modernization drive forward, to complete the reunification of the motherland, and to safeguard world peace and promote common development. The CPC's efforts to bring about both the unity of socialism with patriotism and the unity of self-development with the common development of all people are embodied in these tasks.

Asia occupies nearly one-third of the world's land area, and it has more than half of the world's population. Peace and stability in Asia not only will benefit the people of Asia but will also be favorable to the whole world. We will always hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace and take the road of peaceful development. China will never seek hegemony or expansion. We will always focus on achieving peace, security, cooperation and prosperity in Asia, seek friendship and partnership with our neighbors, and carry out a foreign policy of living in harmony with our neighboring countries, sharing security with them and helping them prosper. Practice has proven that a strong, progressive and innovative CPC is the basis for guaranteeing that China will remain stable and keep developing. Practice will prove that a stable, developing and prosperous China will surely help promote peace and development in Asia and the world over. Ladies and Gentlemen, Promoting cooperation among Asian political parties in the 21st century, conducting exchanges as equals on the basis of mutual respect, building consensus while setting aside differences, pursuing common development by increasing cooperation, and working hard to develop diverse and vigorous Asian civilizations are our common historic responsibilities. Let us work hard together to build an Asia that enjoys political stability, economic prosperity, cultural diversity and social harmony.

(China Daily September 4, 2004)