Zhuhai Declaration shows world's common aspiration for development

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, November 08, 2003

Zhuhai Declaration shows world's common aspiration for development

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The World Economic Development Declaration, also known as the Zhuhai Declaration, fully expresses the common aspiration of the people across the world to push forward the establishment of th e new world economic order on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, observers here say.

The two-day World Economic Development Declaration Conference (WEDDC) ended here on Friday, held against the backdrop of the intensification of the economic globalization.

The Zhuhai Declaration was co-drafted by Nobel Prize laureates and Chinese economists and examined by dozens of countries and regions worldwide.

The document, the first of its kind initiated by China, underlines that peace and development are the common aspiration of people of all countries and are the main themes of today's world.

It highlights nine points as the major factors affecting the development of the world economy -- interdependence, scientific and technological progress, efficient use of resources, sustainable development, distribution, competition, financing of economic development, economic development and education, and human factor in economic development.

Besides the declaration, three forums -- Forum for Global Leaders of Industry and Commerce, Forum on World Economic Development and Enterprise Credit, and Forum on the World Economic Development and China -- and a promotion fair for tapping investment and trade potentials in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao were also held during the WEDDC.

Around 2,000 participants from around the world focused on the improvement of the market environment, fair competition, poverty alleviation, enterprise credit, China's development, China's further industrial and commercial cooperation with the rest of theworld, and the development of the Big Pearl River Delta.

The Chinese government has attached great importance to the WEDDC and taken positive measures to ensure the event was a great success.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the WEDDC, Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi noted mutual benefit and cooperation have become themost featured characteristic in the economic globalization tide, adding that no single economy can achieve economic development because the increasing flow of international capitals, cargoes andenergy sees no geographic boundaries.

"Equality, credibility, cooperation and development," the theme of the WEDDC, should be the principle guiding the world's sustainable economic development in the 21st century, Wu said.

Wu's comments were echoed by the delegates to the WEDDC. They said the Zhuhai Declaration not only shows China's determination and eagerness to integrate its economy with the rest of the world, but also highlights that every country in the global village has the right to seek economic development.

The WEDDC "is an opportunity to forge the partnerships... that are essential if we are to bring real, positive change into the lives of the poor," according to a message from United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan delivered by his special representative Khalid Malik.

The partnerships should be established "in particular among governments, private sector enterprises and civil society groups,"Annan said in the message.

Jemal-ud-din-Kassum, vice president of the World Bank, said the declaration demonstrates the importance of interdependence among world economies, and is the cornerstone for the future development of the global economy.

Any single country in the world, no matter how powerful its economy is, cannot tackle the problems brought about by the speeding economic globalization process, said World Economic ForumPresident Klaus Schwab, adding that the WEDDC provides a platform for the international community to deal with all these challenges.

Eric Bergeat, representative of the secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, viewed "equality and credibility" as the two "key words" in the declaration. He stressed that no country or corporation can achieve economic development unless equality and credibility are achieved.

The Zhuhai Declaration, in line with the spirit of the United Nations Charter and the Millennium Development Goals engraved in the Millennium Declaration, will have a far-reaching effect on theworld economic development in the 21st century, observers here say.

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