Joining Hands to Enhance Friendship between China and Latin America
Distinguished Your Excellency Mr. Jose Sarney, President of the Brazilian Senate,
Distinguished Your Excellency Mr. Joao Laulo Cunhna, President of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies,
Members of the Parliament,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
I am very glad to have the opportunity to meet all the friends here in Brazil. First of all, I'd like to extend my deep appreciation to Mr. Sarney, President of the Brazilian Senate and Mr. Cunhna, President of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies for their cordial invitation.
It is the second time for me to visit your beautiful country. I am deeply impressed by the vast territory and brilliant development achievements of Brazil and the overflowing enthusiasm of the Brazilian people. Here, on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people and in my own name, I'd like to express sincere greetings and good wishes to all the friends here and through you to the industrious and brave Brazilian people.
Thirty years ago, China and Brazil, the two largest developing countries in the east and west hemispheres, joined hands historically to establish diplomatic relations. Today, thirty years later, we are building a strategic partnership with increasingly rich connotations. We two countries cooperate closely with each other and support each other in international affairs and are committed to pushing forward the establishment of a fair and reasonable international political and economic new order. We have become the most important trade partner of each other in our respective regions and witness our economic cooperation getting increasingly prosperous. Our successful cooperation in satellite and regional aircraft can be said as the model of South-South cooperation. The cultures of China and Brazil blossom in a riot of colors and add radiance and beauty to each other. The Brazilian football and samba are widely known in China, while the Chinese martial art and delicious cuisine are most popular among the Brazilian people. With the joint efforts of the two countries, the traditional friendship between the two peoples is getting deepened increasingly.
2004 is a significant year in the history of relations between China and Brazil. President Lula and I realized the exchange of visits on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two countries. Based on reality and looking into the future, we have jointly defined the four principles guiding the development of bilateral relations: (I) adhering to consultation on an equal footing and increasing political mutual trust; (II) insisting on mutual reciprocity and mutual benefit and expanding economic and trade contacts; (III) maintaining consultations and coordination and strengthening international cooperation; (IV) promoting non-governmental exchanges and increasing mutual understanding. We agree that to strengthen the strategic partnership between China and Brazil not only benefits the prosperity and progress of both countries but also contributes to maintaining world peace and promoting common development. I am convinced that so long as the two sides work together the China-Brazil ties will surely enjoy an even brighter future.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Brazil is the first stop of my visit to the Latin American countries. This visit enables my colleagues and me to appreciate once more the magnificence and fertility of the mountains and rivers of Latin America and the diversification and glory of Latin American history and culture and the brilliance of modern development.
Over years, on this marvelous land the Latin American people have not only created splendid civilization but also made great contributions to maintaining world peace and promoting common development. Wonders from the Maya pyramid to the Inca City and from the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Station to the Havana Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology have all witnessed the outstanding creativity of the Latin American people. Historic figures from Bolivar to Jose Marti and from Neruda to Borges have all demonstrated the admirable pioneering spirit of the Latin American people. The lofty causes from the just fight for the 200 sea miles of maritime right to the establishment of Latin America Nuclear-Free Zone and from the exploration of Latin America development road to the promotion of Latin America integration have all illustrated the unyielding spirit of the Latin American people. The exploration process of the Latin American people surges forward with great momentum and the diversified cultures sparkle with inspirations and long-lasting charms. The great civilization created by the Latin American people is shining like a pearl in the garden of human civilizations.
Looking around the world, the governments and peoples of Latin America are pushing forward reforms and seeking development in spite of difficulties and challenges and have made earthshaking achievements and won the respect of all countries in the world. Looking into the future, Latin America which boasts vast territory, rich resources, galaxy of talented people and a solid economic foundation enjoys great potential and promising prospects of development. I firmly believe that on this great land with a glorious history the Latin American people will definitely write down a brighter page in its history.
Ladies and gentlemen,
China is an ancient civilization with more than five thousand years of history. During the historical evolution the Chinese people have always been fighting relentlessly for a good life. During the past century, for the first fifty years the Chinese people fought with sublime heroism for national independence and liberation and ultimately founded a new country ? the People's Republic of China in which they are their own masters. In the latter fifty years, all the nationalities of China work together relentlessly to explore the development road fitted to its own national conditions, work hard to build a prosperous life and have scored great achievements.
25 years ago, under the leadership of Mr. Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese people launched the historical process of reform and opening up and building a socialist society with Chinese characteristics. Over the past 25 years, the Chinese economy has maintained rapid growth, various social undertakings gained long-term development, social productivity and comprehensive national strength realized historical leap, and people's living standards generally reached the requirements of a well-off society. From 1978 to 2003, China's GDP increased from US$147.3 billion to over US$1.4 trillion, with an average annual increase rate of 9.4%; its total foreign trade volume grew from US$20.6 billion to US$851.2 billion, with an average annual growth rate of 16.1%; and the poverty-stricken population in the rural area dropped from 250 million to about 29 million. 25 years ago there was hardly any project in China actually utilizing foreign investment, but by the end of 2003 the accumulated foreign investments actually utilized in China have amounted to US$679.6 billion.
China has made widely acclaimed development achievements, but we keep a sober mind that China has a large population, weak economic foundation and unbalanced development and still faces various restrictions in terms of environment, resources, technologies and education. Although China's GDP has ranked among the leading countries in the world, its per capita GDP stands after the 110th worldwide. China still has a long way to go to realize modernization and enable its entire people to live a well-off life.
China has defined its objective for the first 20 years of this century, i.e. to pool all the available resources to build a well-off society at a higher level which will benefit hundreds of million of people, raise its GDP in 2020 to US$4 trillion, doubling that of 2000, increase per capita GDP to more than US$3,000 and make the rapid economic growth, sound democracy, advanced science and education, prosperous culture, harmonious society and better-off life of the people in China come true.
To realize that objective, the 1.3 billion Chinese people will unswervingly follow the road of peaceful development. Under the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents and following the requirement of the sustainable scientific development philosophy of focusing on people and comprehensive coordination, we will concentrate on economic construction and devote wholeheartedly to seeking development. We will make overall plans for the development of rural and urban areas, regional development, economic and social development, harmony between man and nature, domestic development and opening up, adhere to the civilized development road with focus on production and growth, prosperity and sound ecology and constantly promote economic and social progress and overall development of people.
China upholds the independent foreign policy of peace with the purpose of maintaining world peace and promoting common development. To strengthen solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries is a basic principle underlying China's foreign policy. China is, as always, the good friend and partner of other developing countries in the world and will forever stand on the side of the developing countries. To constantly strengthen solidarity and cooperation among the developing countries is not only the logical choice to seek common development but also the major way to push the establishment of a fair and reasonable international political and economic new order.
Here I'd like to specially point out that the peaceful development of China which has the one-fifth population in the world will never constitute threat to any country or any people, but contributes to world peace and development and will surely bring about important development opportunities for most countries in the world. China has initially established the socialist market economy and is pushing forward the opening up in an all-round way, which will definitely drive China's economic and technological cooperation with various regions in the world including Latin America to enjoy increasingly prosperous future.
Since the 1990s, except in a few years, the bilateral trade between China and Latin America has retained the rapid growth rate of two digits. During the 10 years from 1993 to 2003, China-Latin America trade volume increased by six times, and the trade volume from 2000 to 2003 doubled. The growth margins of last year and this year exceed 50% continuously. In recent years the export of Latin America to China increases rapidly, growing by 79% last year and 45.6% from January to September this year. From an overall perspective Latin America has a trade surplus with China. Currently China's industrial investment in Latin America has numbered almost US$1.6 billion, and taking into account financial investment the figure will exceed US$4 billion. As the Chinese economy continues to grow, China is very optimistic about investing in Latin America. The report of the Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean (ECLAC) also points out that the economic growth of China clearly fuels the economic development in Latin America. I firmly believe that with the joint efforts of both sides the road of economic and technological cooperation between China and Latin America will undoubtedly become increasingly broad.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
China and Latin America are geologically far from each other but enjoy a long history of friendly contact. We have similar experiences of fighting for national liberation, safeguarding national independence and building our own national causes, which enables us to hold interlinked feelings and same language in many major issues and become good friends "even we are thousands of miles apart". China attaches great importance with the positive role of Latin American and Caribbean countries in maintaining world peace and promoting common development and sincerely hopes to strengthen comprehensive cooperation at multiple sectors with those countries and build long-term stable friendly relations to enrich and push forward South-South cooperation.
A good piece of news is that with the support of Latin American countries, not long ago China became the observer of the Parlamento Latinoamericano (PARLATINO) and the Organization of American States (OAS), which creates a new arena for strengthening China-Latin America friendship and expanding bilateral cooperation.
China is developing, so is Latin America. To further promote such development raises new requirements for both sides to enhance cooperation and create new conditions for such cooperation. China-Latin America cooperation is facing unprecedented historical opportunities. When Mr. Sarney visited China years ago as the President of Brazil, Deng Xiaoping told him that the 21st century should be the century of both the Pacific and Latin America. We both sides should seize opportunities and work together to drive the China-Latin America friendly cooperation to increasingly new levels.
I hope that with our joint efforts China-Latin America relations can reach the following development objectives in the near future.
- Supporting each other politically and building all-round friendship. Both sides should further strengthen communications, coordination and collaboration in major issues concerning world peace and development, promoting democracy in international relations, pushing forward the establishment of a fair and reasonable international political and economic new order and safeguarding the due rights and interests of developing countries.
- Complementing each other economically and building mutually beneficial and win-win partnership at new starting points. Both sides should take active actions to try to raise bilateral trade volume to more than US$100 billion in 2010, doubling the current level and at the same time make great progress in the field of investment, with the total investment volume doubling and both sides becoming the partners of each other of greater importance.
- Enhancing cultural exchanges and serving as the model of dialogue among different civilizations. Both sides should hold diversified cultural exchanges to enable both peoples, especially the young generations to get more communications of souls and mutual understanding and thus contribute to the diversified development of world cultures.
To reach the above objectives, I'd like raise the following three initiatives.
First, deepening strategic common consensus and enhancing political mutual trust. On the basis of the existing dialogue mechanism between China and the major regional organizations of Latin America, a cooperation platform with wider coverage should be established gradually to complement the mechanism. We sincerely hope to build normal country relations with all the Latin America and Caribbean countries in a bid to create better conditions for China to conduct comprehensively and mutually beneficial cooperation with all countries in this region, which not only complies with the trend of our times but also serves the interest of all parties concerned.
Second, focusing on practical work and innovation and tapping cooperation potential. The trade structure should be optimized constantly, and attention should be paid to the cooperation in developing new and high-tech and industries with high added value. Meanwhile, the expansion of mutual investment should be taken as the priority of raising bilateral economic cooperation level in the short and medium term. Once conditions get mature both sides can establish a free trade zone or reach other mutually beneficial arrangements through negotiations. In line with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and following the principle of justice and rationality, both sides should strengthen communications, cope with trade fractions rationally and actively maintain the overall momentum of bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
Third, valuing cultural exchanges and enhancing mutual understanding. The friendship between the peoples of the two sides can be strengthened through establishing cultural centers mutually, promoting tourism cooperation, strengthening exchanges of the mass media and holding activities like exchange of students abroad and organizing China-Latin America Youth Festival, etc.
I'd like to stress that the Taiwan issue is an internal affair of China. The Chinese government and people have the confidence, determination, wisdom and capability to ultimately realize the complete national reunification. We will adhere to the basic principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" and stand ready to solve the Taiwan issue through peaceful means with the greatest sincerity and efforts. However, we will never tolerate "Taiwan independence" or allow any people to separate Taiwan from China in whatever form. To solve the Taiwan issue and complete the lofty cause of national reunification are the common aspiration of the 1.3 billion of Chinese people and all the Chinese compatriots. We thank the Latin American people for their support on this issue over years and hope that they will continue to extend full support to the just cause of the Chinese people.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
Distance can never separate true friendship. The relations between China and Latin America have never been as close as today and tomorrow we both sides will surely come even closer. Let's join hands and seize the historical opportunities to open new fronts in the friendly cooperative relations between China and Latin America, bring about benefits to both peoples and enhance the lofty cause of promoting world peace and development.
Thank you.
携手共创中拉友好新局面——在巴西国会的演讲
尊敬的萨尔内参议长先生，
尊敬的库尼亚众议长先生，
各位议员，
女士们，先生们，朋友们：
很高兴有机会来到巴西国会同各位朋友见面。首先，我谨对萨尔内参议长先生、库尼亚众议长先生的盛情邀请表示衷心的感谢。
这是我第二次访问你们美丽的国家。巴西广袤的国土和辉煌的建设成就，巴西人民的热情奔放，给我留下了难忘的美好印象。在这里，我代表中国政府和中国人民，并以我个人的名义，向在座的朋友们，并通过你们向勤劳勇敢的巴西人民，致以诚挚的问候和良好的祝愿。
30年前，中国和巴西这两个东西半球最大的发展中国家历史性地走到了一起，建立了外交关系。30年后的今天，我们正在发展内涵日益丰富的战略伙伴关系。我们在国际事务中密切合作、相互支持，共同致力于推动建立公正合理的国际政治经济新秩序。我们已互为各自地区最重要的贸易伙伴，经济合作蒸蒸日上。我们在卫星和支线飞机方面的成功合作，堪称南南高新技术合作的典范。中巴文化争奇斗艳、交相辉映，巴西足球和桑巴舞在中国家喻户晓，中国武术和美食佳肴也为巴西人民所津津乐道。在双方共同努力下，两国人民的传统友谊日益加深。
今年是中巴关系史上具有重要意义的一年。我同卢拉总统在两国建交30周年之际实现了互访。我们在立足现实的基础上放眼未来，共同确立了指导双边关系发展的四项原则：（一）坚持平等协商，增强政治互信；（二）坚持互惠互利，扩大经贸往来；（三）保持磋商协调，加强国际合作；（四）推动民间交往，增进相互了解。我们一致认为，中巴加强战略伙伴关系，不仅有利于两国繁荣进步，而且有利于维护世界和平、促进共同发展。我坚信，只要双方共同努力，中巴关系一定会迎来更加美好的明天。
女士们、先生们！
巴西是我这次访问拉美国家的第一站。通过此次拉美之行，我和我的同事们再次领略到拉美山河的瑰丽雄奇和丰饶多姿，也深深感受到拉美历史文化的多彩辉煌和现代发展的恢宏壮阔。
在这片神奇的土地上，长期以来，拉美各国人民不仅创造了灿烂的文明，而且也为维护世界和平、促进共同发展作出了重要贡献。从玛雅金字塔到印加古城，从伊泰普水电站到哈瓦那遗传工程与生物技术研究中心，都见证了拉美人民非同凡响的创造活力。从玻利瓦尔到何塞·马蒂，从聂鲁达到博尔赫斯，都反映了拉美人民令人敬佩的开拓勇气。从争取200海里海洋权的正义斗争到创立拉美无核区，从开拓拉美发展道路到推进拉美一体化，都体现了拉美人民不屈不挠的奋斗精神。拉美人民的开拓进程波澜壮阔、可歌可泣，拉美地区的多样文化灵感激扬、风情隽永。拉美人民创造的伟大文明，在世界文明的百花园中绽放出独特的光彩。
放眼今朝，拉美各国政府和人民不畏艰难、勇对挑战，推动变革、谋求发展，取得了举世瞩目的成就，赢得了各国人民的尊重。展望未来，地域辽阔、资源丰富、人才济济、经济基础坚实的拉美地区，发展潜力巨大，发展前景美好。我坚信，在这块有着光荣历史的土地上，拉美各国人民必将写下更加壮丽的历史新篇章。
女士们、先生们！
中国是一个有着五千多年悠久历史的文明古国。在漫长的历史演进中，中国人民为创造美好生活始终自强不息、顽强奋斗。在上个世纪的100年中，前50年，中国人民为争取民族独立和自身解放而顽强斗争、浴血奋战，终于建立了人民当家作主的新国家——中华人民共和国；后50年，中国各族人民万众一心、埋头苦干，努力探索符合自己国情的发展道路，为建设自己的美好生活而不懈奋斗，取得了巨大成就。
25年前，在邓小平先生领导下，中国人民踏上了改革开放、建设中国特色社会主义的历史征程。25年来，中国经济持续快速增长，各项社会事业全面发展，社会生产力和综合国力实现了历史性跨越，人民生活总体上达到小康水平。从1978年到2003年，中国国内生产总值从1473亿美元增长到14000多亿美元，年均增长9.4%；进出口总额从206亿美元增长到8512亿美元，年均增长16.1%；农村贫困人口从2.5亿减少到2900万左右。25年前，中国实际利用外资的项目基本没有，2003年底利用外资累计已达到6796亿美元。
中国取得了世所公认的发展成就，但我们清醒地认识到，中国人口多、底子薄、发展不平衡，环境、资源、科技、教育等方面的制约因素还不少。中国国内生产总值虽然已居世界前列，但人均却在世界110位以后。中国要实现现代化，使全体人民都过上富裕生活，还需要长期艰苦奋斗。
中国已经确定了本世纪头20年的奋斗目标，这就是集中力量全面建设惠及十几亿人口的更高水平的小康社会，到2020年实现国内生产总值比2000年翻两番，达到40000亿美元左右，人均超过3000美元，使中国的经济更加发展、民主更加健全、科教更加进步、文化更加繁荣、社会更加和谐、人民生活更加殷实。
为了实现这一目标，13亿中国人民将坚定不移地走和平发展的道路。我们将在邓小平理论和“三个代表”重要思想指引下，按照以人为本、全面协调可持续的科学发展观的要求，聚精会神搞建设，一心一意谋发展。我们将统筹城乡发展、统筹区域发展、统筹经济社会发展、统筹人与自然和谐发展、统筹国内发展和对外开放，坚持走生产发展、生活富裕、生态良好的文明发展道路，不断推动经济社会进步和人的全面发展。
中国坚持奉行独立自主的和平外交政策，宗旨就是维护世界和平、促进共同发展。加强同广大发展中国家的团结合作，是中国外交的基本立足点。中国始终是发展中国家的好朋友、好伙伴，将永远站在发展中国家一边。发展中国家不断增强自身的团结合作，既是我们谋求共同发展的必然选择，也是推动建立公正合理的国际政治经济新秩序的重要途径。
在这里，我要特别指出的是，拥有世界人口五分之一的中国实现和平发展，绝不会对任何国家、任何人构成威胁，而是对世界和平与发展的贡献，必将给世界众多国家带来重要发展机遇。中国已初步建立起社会主义市场经济体制，正在继续推进全方位的对外开放。这必将使中国同包括拉美在内的各地区的经济技术合作越来越好做、越做越红火。
上个世纪90年代以来，除去个别年份，中拉贸易一直呈两位数高额增长。从1993年到2003年这10年里，中拉贸易增长了近6倍，其中2000年至2003年这3年里翻了一番多，去年和今年又连续以超过50%的幅度增长。近些年来，拉美对华出口迅猛增加，去年增长了79%，今年1月至9月增长了45.6%。从整体上看，拉美在对华贸易中处于顺差地位。中国目前在拉美实业投资统计数字已近16亿美元，加上金融性投资，则超过40亿美元。随着中国经济的发展，中国对到拉美投资的前景十分乐观，拉美经委会的报告也指出，中国经济增长对拉美经济发展起到了明显的拉动作用。我坚信，在双方共同努力下，中拉经济技术合作的道路必然越走越宽广。
女士们、先生们！
中拉虽相距遥远，但友好交往源远流长。我们在争取民族解放、捍卫国家独立、建设自己国家的事业中有着相似的经历。这使我们在许多重大问题上都有着相通的感受和共同的语言，使我们成为“万里尚为邻”的好朋友。中国高度重视拉美和加勒比各国在维护世界和平、促进共同发展方面所发挥的积极作用，衷心希望同这些国家进一步密切全方位、多领域的合作，建设长期稳定的友好关系，以充实和推进南南合作。
值得高兴的是，在拉美各国支持下，中国不久前相继成为拉美议会和美洲国家组织的观察员。这为加强中拉友谊、扩大中拉合作提供了新的舞台。
中国在发展，拉美在发展。更好地促进各自的发展，向我们双方提出了加强合作的新要求，也为我们创造了加强合作的新条件。中拉合作正面临着前所未有的历史性机遇。当年，萨尔内先生作为巴西总统访华时，邓小平先生就向他谈到21世纪应同是太平洋世纪和拉美世纪。我们双方应该抓住机遇，携手并肩，共同推动中拉友好合作不断取得新的进展。
我希望，通过我们共同努力，中拉关系在不远的将来能够实现如下发展目标。
——政治上相互支持，成为可信赖的全天候朋友。双方在事关世界和平与发展、促进国际关系民主化、推动建立公正合理的国际政治经济新秩序以及捍卫发展中国家正当权益等重大问题上进一步加强沟通、协调和配合。
——经济上优势互补，成为在新的起点上互利共赢的合作伙伴。双方采取积极行动，争取双边贸易额在现有基础上到2010年再翻一番半，突破1000亿美元，同时力争在投资方面取得较大进展，实现总量翻番，相互成为更重要的投资对象。
——文化上密切交流，成为不同文明积极对话的典范。通过丰富多彩的文化交流活动，使双方人民特别是青年一代从中得到更多的心灵沟通和思想理解，共同为世界文化的多元发展增光添彩。
为实现上述目标，我想提出以下三点倡议。
第一，深化战略共识，增强政治互信。在中国同拉美主要地区组织现有对话机制的基础上，逐步建立涵盖范围更广的合作平台，同原有机制互补互益。我们真心希望同所有拉美和加勒比国家都建立正常的国家关系，从而为中国同这一地区各国开展全面互利合作创造更加良好的条件。这既符合时代潮流，也符合各方利益。
第二，着力务实创新，挖掘合作潜力。不断优化贸易结构，着力发展高新技术和高附加值产业方面的合作。同时，把扩大相互投资作为近中期提高双方经济合作水平的优先方向。在条件成熟时，通过谈判建立自由贸易区或达成其他互惠安排。按照世贸组织规则，秉承公正合理原则，加强交流沟通，理性应对贸易摩擦，积极维护双边经贸合作的大局。
第三，重视文化交流，增进相互了解。通过互设文化中心、促进旅游合作、加强大众传媒交流、交换留学生和组织中拉青年节等活动，不断增进中拉人民友谊。
我想特别指出，台湾问题是中国的内政，中国政府和中国人民有信心、有决心、有智慧、有能力最终实现祖国的完全统一。我们将坚持“和平统一、一国两制”的基本方针，愿以最大的诚意、尽最大的努力争取以和平方式解决台湾问题。但是，我们绝不会容忍“台湾独立”，绝不会允许任何人以任何方式把台湾从中国分割出去。解决台湾问题，完成祖国统一大业，是13亿中国人民和全体中华儿女的共同心愿。我们感谢拉美人民长期以来在这个问题上对我们的支持，并希望拉美人民继续全力支持中国人民的这一正义事业。
女士们、先生们、朋友们！
千山万水隔不断真挚友情。中国和拉美从来没有像今天这样接近，明天我们双方必将更加接近。让我们携起手来，抓住历史契机，为开创中拉友好合作关系新局面、造福中拉人民和促进世界和平与发展的崇高事业而共同努力。
谢谢各位。
