President Hu Jintao
made a three-point proposal in Jakarta Thursday on strengthening
cooperation between Asia and Africa.
Having arrived in Jakarta Thursday afternoon, Hu said in a
speech at the official dinner reception of the Asian-African
Business Summit 2005 that Asian and African countries must seize
opportunities, strengthen cooperation to cope with challenges in a
globalized world and seek common development.
He said that the nations should share their experiences and draw
upon the achievements of civilization to develop their economies
against a background of expanding globalization, which offers both
rare opportunities and severe challenges.
"We should open up our markets to one another, actively work for
free trade arrangements, and coordinate our economic and trade
policies. We should work together to raise funds for development,
deepen industrial cooperation and guard against financial risks,"
said Hu.
He noted that contacts between regional organizations with a
view to improving South-South cooperation are equally
important.
"A fair and rational new international economic order featuring
mutual benefit is not only the common aspiration of all developing
countries, but a prerequisite for sustainable development," he
stated.
He proposed that developing countries coordinate their efforts
in urging developed countries to show more concern for the
interests of those that are less developed with such concrete steps
as debt alleviation and no-strings-attached development
assistance.
The president also discussed promoting North-South dialogue and
cooperation and supporting the coordinating role of the United
Nations on development issues.
(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2005)