Full Text of President Jiang's Address to Second GEF Assembly

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, October 17, 2002

Full Text of President Jiang's Address to Second GEF Assembly

Following is the full text of the address to the Second Global Environmental Facility (GDF) Assembly, which opened in Beijing Wednesday, by Chinese President Jiang Zemin:

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Following is the full text of the address to the Second Global Environmental Facility (GDF) Assembly, which opened in Beijing Wednesday, by Chinese President Jiang Zemin:

Let Us Take Actions To Create A Beautiful Homeland

Address to the Second Assembly of the Global Environment

Jiang Zemin

President of the People's Republic of China

16 October 2002

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On the occasion of the grand opening in Beijing of the Second Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), I would like to extend, on behalf of the Government and people of China and also in my own name, our warmest congratulations to this gathering and our sincere welcome to all the distinguished guests present.

Protecting global environment, achieving sustainable development and building a beautiful homeland for all is not only a shared aspiration of the world's people but also a pressing task facing all the countries.

As a child of Mother Nature, mankind has acquired an extraordinary power to create through understanding and exploiting nature, and also a power of reason whereby to appreciate the need of protecting and treasuring nature. While creating a brilliant civilization through the millennium, mankind has also left behind serious problems of environmental pollution and ecological degradation. Taking the road of sustainable development and promoting harmony between man and nature, this is the profound conclusion drawn from past historical lessons and a correct choice for mankind's future development.

A sustainable development requires that we bring about harmony among economic growth, environmental protection and all-round social progress. To develop the economy and eradicate poverty is the basic prerequisite for ensuring sustainable development. A sustainable development of the economy forms the material basis for environmental protection and all-round social progress. Without a proper solution to the issue of subsistence, there can be no development to speak of, let alone sustainable development. To achieve sustainable development, it is essential for the developing countries to focus on economic development and poverty elimination. If the poverty issue of the developing countries is not properly addressed, the developed countries would find it difficult to sustain their own development.

To use the resources rationally and protect the environment effectively are the inevitable requirements for sustainable development. Development at the expense of squandering resources and undermining the environment cannot last long. Natural resources are not inexhaustible, yet the demand of human development is ever growing. If the relationship between the two is not addressed properly, it will inevitably lead to a deterioration of the ecosystem and pose serious threat to the survival and development of mankind. A recycling economy, which isbased on the most efficient use of the resources and the most effective protection of the environment, is the only way to achieve sustainable development.

To achieve all-round social progress and improve the quality of people's life are the ultimate goals of sustainable development. When the material and cultural needs of the people are constantly ignored, development cannot continue or sustain. While promoting economic development, efforts should be made to provide all citizens with equal access to development opportunities and conditions for sharing equitably the fruits of development so as to bring into fuller play their initiative and enthusiasm for economic development and environmental protection.

It is incumbent upon us all to conform to the trend of the times, cultivate an international political and economic environment favorable to sustainable development and advance the sustainable development cause with redoubled efforts. On this, I would like to make a few observations.

First, since there is only one earth for us to share, ensuring its sustainable development is the common responsibility of all countries. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities for the developed and developing countries must be upheld. When apportioning the responsibilities for sustainable development, it is necessary to take full account of the uneven development of all countries, and abide by the principles of fairness, impartiality and rationality. The developed countries should take the lead in changing the ways of production and consumption that are inconsistent with sustainable development, take a more active part in addressing the global environmental issues and help the developing countries with concrete deeds. Meanwhile, the developing countries should also work hard and promote their development in their own countries along the requirement of sustainable development.

Second, the global actions of sustainable development should give full respect for the sovereignty of countries and their independence in choosing their own path of development. The ability of each country to independently choose its own social system and development model in light of its national conditions and to retain control of its development process is the vital guarantee to effective protection of the country's environment and realization of its sustainable development. All countries should take positive steps, in keeping with their actual conditions, to rationally exploit and utilize natural resources, protect the ecosystem and promote a harmonious development of economic growth and environmental protection. While promoting economic development on their own soil, countries should also be watchful against possible harm done to the environment of other countries.

Third, the environment issue bears on the common interests of mankind. International environmental norms should be formulated through the equal participation of all countries and reflect their wills and interests. In doing so, the difficulties of the developing countries should be taken into full consideration and their actual needs respected in an effort to establish a sincere partnership with them.

Fourth, since the developing countries are faced with dual tasks of poverty eradication and environmental protection, it will be very hard for them to achieve sustainable development without a sound and supportive international economic environment. To them, a deteriorating environment is the result of poverty. Continuous efforts should therefore be made to combine poverty elimination with environmental protection. While giving continued attention to the global issues bearing on mankind's survival and development, it is necessary to help the developing countries with their own problems that have a restraining effect on their development. Reforms should be introduced to the international finance, investment and trade regimes. More transfers of funds and technology should be made to the developing countries to ensure their rights to equal development in the age of economic globalization and promote capacity building in these countries.

Over the years, GEF has made unremitting efforts in and remarkable contributions to the global cause of environmental protection. China values the positive role played by GEF in the country's environmental protection and is ready to deepen its cooperation with GEF.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Chinese Government attaches great importance to environmental protection and unswervingly commits itself to the strategy of sustainable development. We have made a series of environmental laws, regulations, policies and measures, carried out fruitful programs on environmental protection and ecological improvement and pushed forward in an all-round way the harmonious development of the economy, population, resources and the environment. In recent years, China has stepped up its investment in environmental endeavors. From 1998 to 2002, China's investment in these areas totaled 580 billion RMB yuan. While earnestly implementing the various environmental conventions it has signed, China has recently approved the Kyoto Protocol. China's successful performance in the field of the environment and development has not only led to a higher environmental quality in China, but also made an important contribution to the global efforts to protect the environment and promote sustainable development throughout the world.

I am convinced that as long as people in all countries work together, a world of lasting peace, universal prosperity and sustainable development will surely become a reality. Let us go into actions, cooperate in good faith and create a better future for the world.

May I conclude by wishing the Assembly a complete success!

Thank you.

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