On November 28th, 2017, the “2017 Asia-Pacific International Economic Cooperation Annual Meeting” hosted by Beijing Association for the Promotion of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation was successfully held at the APEC International Convention and Exhibition Center in Yanqi Lake. In the keynote speech of the conference, Annan’s best partner, the United Nations Mr. Chen Jian, the Deputy Secretary-General, delivered a keynote speech on “New Opportunities in Asia and the Pacific”. The following is the full text of the speech –

New opportunities in Asia Pacific

Chen Jian, former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the opening ceremony of the 2017 Asia-Pacific International Economic Cooperation Annual Meeting, which was held after the world-famous 19th National Congress successfully held the APEC Leaders’ Informal Meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam. It was held after the summit of the East Asian leaders held in the Philippines. It should be said that the timing was very good, at the right time, so I wish this meeting a complete success.

In fact, it is not only the timing of this conference, but also the Asia-Pacific economic cooperation is also at the right time. It is also the right time for China to promote Asia-Pacific economic cooperation. Today I want to talk about the platforms of Asia-Pacific economic cooperation and China.

The Asia-Pacific economic cooperation is at the right time because it is a diversified structure. There are a series of platforms that are being promoted at the same time. From small to large, the smallest ones have negotiations on the China-Japan-Korea Free Trade Area, and the next level is the ASEAN 10 plus China’s “10+1” negotiations, the third level is the framework of the 13 countries of the 10 ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea, the framework of the 4th ASEAN plus 10 countries, China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. Another point to expand is the scope of the East Asia Summit and APEC, which is the concept of the so-called Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.

It should be said that with the withdrawal of the United States from the TPP, the international community is exploring the use of these platforms to promote economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and promote the rapid expansion of the “Asia-Pacific regional economic integration”, in which everyone can see at the just-concluded APEC meeting. A huge boost in Asia-Pacific economic cooperation, the Manila Declaration was adopted at the just-concluded Manila East Asia Conference. “10+1” and “10+3” have further plans, especially regarding “10+6”. The RCEP, the negotiation of the regional economic partnership agreement, has seen a new turn. The meeting reached a consensus that a modern, comprehensive, high-level and mutually beneficial agreement should be established, and this marks a new situation in such a new situation. Underneath, our regional cooperation has received more attention from everyone than in any past period of history. It has received more attention from all parties and more has the power to move forward. So I said that Asia-Pacific economic cooperation is at the right time.

China’s promotion of Asia-Pacific economic cooperation is also at the right time. The overall attitude of China’s various platforms for Asia-Pacific economic cooperation is an open attitude. As long as it is open, non-exclusive and non-discriminatory, we all adopt one with supportive, optimistic and positive attitude. Of course, we are also measured. I personally understand that we have different interpretations of our Chinese government's key considerations, such as China and ASEAN's "10+1". We mentioned the China-ASEAN destiny community and mentioned The community of destiny is such a height that transcends the scope of economic and trade, and the East Asian Economic Community is just saying "10+3". We are referring to the East Asian Economic Community and have put forward six suggestions, specifically promoting China, Japan, South Korea, Together with the 10 ASEAN countries, how to build an economic community, six directions of development, but its concept is the economic community. The third is “10+6”. The positioning of “10+6” is a comprehensive regional partnership. Therefore, from this perspective, we can see that China is generally open-minded in considering various regional structures. However, our focus and our depth of cooperation are self-consideration. The main central point is to increase the investment based on the scope of our own strength and influence. Some institutions, such as APEC, but after all, It is transatlantic, especially in the case of the United States abandoning multilateralism and not advocating multilateral agreements. APEC should soon reach a new structure of trade liberalization, which is still more difficult in the foreseeable future.

I have said that China's promotion of regional cooperation has its own special advantages and special needs. First of all, China's series of concepts on regional cooperation have been widely accepted by the international community. Minister Ding mentioned President Xi Jinping's annual meeting in Davos at the beginning of this year. At that time, it clarified China’s views on economic globalization, social informationization, and the diversified situation of civilization and China’s attitude. After this meeting, President Xi Jinping went to the United Nations headquarters in Geneva and made a speech on the establishment of a community of human destiny. The speech marks that Xi Jinping’s diplomatic thought has set a bright red banner in the multilateral arena. It is reported that China has taken over the banner of the United States and has become a defender of multilateralism and the United Nations. At the meeting, President Xi Jinping put forward a series of ideas. The concept has been adopted by relevant UN agencies. The resolution adopted has already adopted the community of human destiny as the consensus of the international community. The United Nations has also participated in the “Belt and Road” summit mentioned by Minister Kyrgyzstan. Several UN World Bank Monetary Funds have also participated. Our AIIB has cooperated with the World Bank to finance the financing. This shows that in many respects, China’s ideas have already been To become the consensus of the international community, China’s initiative has become a common action of all countries in the world. This is a powerful theoretical basis and ideological basis for China to promote regional plans.

Second, the economic foundation, a series of cooperation platforms I just talked about, involves trading partners in almost all countries and regions. The biggest trading partner is China. Their most important source of investment is China, so on this basis, China and various countries constitute a foundation for closer multilateral cooperation. I just talked about the construction of the “Belt and Road” and the construction of the “Belt and Road”. From the Silk Road Economic Belt, the road at sea is exactly the same as the series of platform geography concepts I just talked about. The “Belt and Road” construction the process is objectively a process of maturing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Framework. With such a “One Belt, One Road” initiative, we have the conditions to play a leading role in the process of actually forming an economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region.

Third, the attitude of the United States and Japan, the attitude of the United States I have already said, the attitude of Japan I personally have personal feelings. The earliest concept of cooperation in this region was proposed by Japan, when the former foreign minister of Japan proposed The idea of Asia-Pacific economic cooperation, he initiated the establishment of a (PECC), I had the honor to accompany China's senior diplomat (Fu Hao) to attend two PECC annual meetings, when Japan was the leader of the Asia-Pacific economy, there was a saying Asia The four little dragons formed the shape of a geese. The leading geese of this geese were Japan, so at that time Japan took a very positive attitude towards the Asia-Pacific economic cooperation and hoped that Japan could take the lead in building a framework for Asia-Pacific economic cooperation.

As Japan’s economic situation has gone from bad to worse, especially in recent years, after China’s catching up with Japan, Japan’s apparent enthusiasm for Asia-Pacific economic cooperation is declining. This is why RCEP has not been able to make substantial progress for quite some time. China has an opportunity to say that the United States and Japan cannot play a leading role in regional economic cooperation. China adopts such an attitude. After the introduction of Xi Jinping’s diplomatic thinking, we will adopt a more positive and effective attitude. At the same time, we insist on a leading role played by ASEAN. I have had the privilege of participating in the East Asia Summit many times. We have repeatedly stressed that ASEAN is the driver, so we hope that under the joint efforts of China and ASEAN, we will promote a series of structures. +3", "10+3", "10+6", RCEP, go hand in hand and make substantial progress.

Finally, let me talk about my views. Although there are many regional cooperation structures in the Asia-Pacific region, considering China’s actual strength and actual interests, I advocate that we focus on the four structures just mentioned, “10+1” and “10+3”. "10+6" and "RCEP" have formed East Asia-Pacific economic cooperation and become an important bridgehead for China to further move into the world. Our "Belt and Road" actually built two bridgeheads, one is the bridgehead of the mainland, and the other is the sea. The bridgehead of the mainland will surely be strengthened with the development of China's European relations. Now Premier Li Keqiang is attending the summit of leaders of China and Central and Eastern European countries in Hungary. Asian countries also have a summit, plus our “Belt and Road”. Through such an ambitious strategic deployment, China will certainly strengthen the establishment of a bridgehead for external expansion through land. If there are such two bridgeheads in the bridgehead at our sea, China will surely realize the "Chinese Dream" in the new century. To integrate the realization of the "Chinese Dream" with the realization of the world dream, and at the same time, to provide the most expansive opportunities in the history of China's economic development, unprecedented opportunities, entrepreneurs present here, I hope to use this unprecedented opportunity to expand your horizons and achieve better results, thank you.