Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the business summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, expounding China's views on building a sustainable future.

In his speech entitled "Advancing Comprehensive Cooperation in Pursuit of Sustainable Development," Hu said the Chinese government attaches great importance to sustainable development and will follow the path of a new type of industrialization.

China will quicken the pace of developing a circular economy and building a resource-efficient and environment-friendly society, he told the gathering of APEC business leaders.

China will ensure that production and consumption meet the requirement of sustainable development and is working to promote the sustainability of the eco-system and socio-economic system to advance comprehensive economic and social progress and all-round development of the people, he said.

Hu is on a state visit to Australia and will attend the 15th Economic Leaders' Meeting of the APEC forum scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Five-point proposal on building a sustainable future

The Chinese president said the world economy is undergoing profound changes and offering rare development opportunities. On the other hand, problems such as growing imbalances in the world economy, mounting pressure on energy resources and the increasingly acute issue of climate change pose grave challenges to all countries and regions which are endeavoring to build a sustainable future.

Hu raised the following five-point proposal on building a sustainable future.

First, to promote balanced world economic growth is an important basis for building a sustainable future.

All countries should work to make the international economic order more equitable so as to create conditions for ensuring balanced growth of the world economy and sustainable development in the future, he said.

Second, to set up a sound multilateral trading regime is a primary guarantee for building a sustainable future.

A fair, open, equitable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading regime contributes to the sustainable growth of the world economy and development of international trade and serves the interests of all, he said.

All parties should work to ensure that the Doha Round will attain the goal of a development round and that developing members can truly benefit from it, he added.

Third, to ensure stable energy supply is a major factor contributing to building a sustainable future.

The international community should pursue a new approach toward energy security that calls for mutually beneficial cooperation, diversified development and ensures energy supply through coordination, Hu said in the speech.

An equitable technology transfer system should be established to help all countries, developing countries in particular, use energy in a more efficient, economical and convenient way, he added.

Fourth, to maintain a sound natural environment is the key condition for building a sustainable future.

"We should, within the context of sustainable development, uphold the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol as the core mechanism and main avenue of cooperation, follow the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities' and tackle climate change proactively through extensive international cooperation," he added.

Fifth, to advance scientific and technological innovation and education is an important driving force for building a sustainable future.

"We should increase input in education, enhance educational cooperation and intensify human resources training to provide strong human resources and intellectual support to all countries, especially to developing countries, in their development and inject new vitality into world economic growth," the Chinese president urged.

China committed to pursuing development in an open environment

In his speech, Hu briefed the business leaders on the achievements China has made since it adopted the policy of reform and opening up 29 years ago as well as China's trade policies.

Since its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), China has honored its commitments in good faith, he said. It has adjusted its trade policy in keeping with the WTO rules, Hu said.

China is committed to pursuing development in an open environment and achieving common prosperity of all countries through mutually beneficial cooperation, said the Chinese president.

Hu said China takes an active part in regional economic cooperation and promotes trade and investment liberalization and facilitation in the Asia-Pacific region.

"We are ready to forge closer business ties with other APEC member economies and non-APEC countries and regions on the basis of equality and mutual benefit," said the Chinese president.

China will continue to transform the pattern of trade growth, increase import and strengthen protection of intellectual property rights to ensure coordinated and balanced growth of import and export and contribute to the sustainable growth of global trade, he added.

China takes product quality and safety very seriously

China takes quality and safety of its export products very seriously and follows a highly responsible approach toward it, he said.

"From product manufacturing to transportation and import and export, we are making every effort to ensure product quality and safety," he said.

China is willing to step up cooperation in product quality and safety with other parties to improve quality and guarantee safety in international trade, he added.

China takes responsible position on climate change

China takes a responsible position regarding climate change and will increase exchanges and cooperation with other countries to jointly tackle the issue, Hu said.

The Chinese government has formulated a national program on addressing climate change and taken a series of steps, including enhancing energy efficiency, improving energy mix, strengthening environmental protection, slowing down population growth and improving judicial framework, he said.

China has set the targets of bringing down energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20 percent, cutting the total discharge of major pollutants by 10 percent and increasing forest coverage from 18.2 percent to 20 percent between the end of 2005 and 2010, he added.

The two-day APEC business summit, which opened on Thursday, is an important forum of the APEC meetings. It will focus on trade, market and structural issues as well as energy, clean development, climate change and education.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2007)