Xi calls for strengthening cooperation in Northeast Asia for regional peace, prosperity

　　VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept. 12-- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on countries in Northeast Asia to seize the historical opportunity and conform to the trend of the times to strengthen cooperation in the Russian Far East and Northeast Asia for a better future of the region.

　　He made the remarks while addressing the plenary session of the fourth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok in Russia's Far East.

　　"Under new circumstances, we should join hands and strengthen cooperation to promote peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region," Xi told the forum, which was also attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon.

　　Xi proposed that countries in Northeast Asia should build up mutual trust to safeguard regional peace and tranquility; deepen cooperation to achieve mutually-beneficial and win-win outcomes; learn from each other to consolidate their traditional friendship; and take a long-term perspective to realize integrated and coordinated development.

　　"A harmonious, united and stable Northeast Asia with mutual trust conforms to the interests of all countries and the expectations of the international community, and is also significant for safeguarding multilateralism and promoting a more just and equitable international order," Xi said, noting that the international situation is now undergoing profound and complicated changes with rising power politics, unilateralism and protectionism.

　　The Chinese president said that the six Northeast Asian countries account for 23 percent of the global population, and their gross domestic product make up 19 percent of the global economy.

　　As a member of Northeast Asia, China has always upheld the concept of peaceful development to create a harmonious and friendly neighboring environment; participated in regional cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect and in a constructive manner; and endeavored to promote exchanges and dialogues while taking into consideration the concerns of all parties, Xi said.

　　"The Chinese side is willing to continue to work with all other sides to constantly consolidate unity, build up mutual trust, explore effective ways to maintain lasting peace and stability in Northeast Asia, and make unremitting efforts to achieve peace, stability and development in the region," he said.

　　Xi said the regional countries should actively align their development strategies, strengthen policy communication and coordination, improve cross-border infrastructure connectivity, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, jointly build an open regional economy, and boost sub-regional cooperation to benefit the people in the region.

　　"In this regard, the Chinese side supports the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund in playing a greater role by guaranteeing the project fund," he said.

　　Xi expressed the hope that the regional countries can expand ways of communication, innovate forms of cooperation, and facilitate the exchanges among the people of all age groups.

　　The president also called on the regional countries to explore new models for coordinated development in Northeast Asia, speed up scientific and technological innovation, foster a resource-saving and environment-friendly industrial pattern and way of life, and jointly tackle the regional environment issues that all countries are facing.

　　Xi said that China stands ready to work with all the other regional countries to strengthen cooperation in the Russian Far East and Northeast Asia to push for the diversified and sustainable development of the region, and make the pie of common interests ever bigger, thus allowing the people in the region to share cooperation opportunities and development achievements and jointly creating a better tomorrow for the Far East and Northeast Asia.

　　In his address, Xi also elaborated on the achievements China and Russia have made in their Far East cooperation over the past years.

　　During the question and answer session, Xi talked about the Belt and Road Initiative and the Korean Peninsula situation.

　　In his speech, Putin extended his welcome to businesses of all regional countries to invest in Russia and share the development opportunities of the Far East, saying the region is now a priority in the country's development.

　　The leaders of the other countries also expressed their willingness to participate in the development of the Russian Far East and promote cooperation in Northeast Asia.

　　After the plenary session, the leaders attended an award ceremony for the first race of the SCF Far East Tall Ships Regatta 2018.

　　The EEF was launched in 2015 on the personal initiative of Putin. Xi's attendance is the first by a Chinese head of state at the forum.

　　This year's forum, with the theme of "The Russian Far East: Expanding the Range of Possibilities," kicked off on Tuesday and will last till Thursday.

　　当地时间2018年9月12日，第四届东方经济论坛全会在符拉迪沃斯托克举行。中国国家主席习近平、俄罗斯总统普京、蒙古国总统巴特图勒嘎、日本首相安倍晋三、韩国总理李洛渊等出席。

　　习近平发表了题为《共享远东发展新机遇开创东北亚美好新未来》的致辞，强调中方愿同地区国家一道，维护地区和平安宁，实现各国互利共赢，巩固人民传统友谊，实现综合协调发展，促进本地区和平稳定和发展繁荣。

　　习近平指出，在普京总统亲自倡议下，东方经济论坛已经成功举办3届，成为各方凝聚智慧、共商合作的重要平台。中国一直是俄罗斯远东合作的积极支持者和参与者。双方合作地缘优势独特，政治基础牢固，政策保障有力，机制完备高效。在双方共同努力下，近年来，中方参与俄罗斯远东合作成果显著。今明两年是我和普京总统确定的中俄地方合作交流年，为双方远东合作开辟了更加广阔的空间。中方愿同俄方一道努力，优势互补，互利共赢，推动中俄远东合作取得更多成果。

　　习近平强调，新形势下，我们要携手并肩，加强合作。

　　第一，增进互信，维护地区和平安宁。一个和睦、互信、团结、稳定的东北亚符合各国利益和国际社会期待。中方始终努力营造和睦友好的周边环境，以建设性姿态参与地区合作，致力于推动地区各国交流对话，愿继续同各方一道，探索维护东北亚持久和平安宁的有效途径，为实现本地区的和平、稳定与发展不懈努力。

　　第二，深化合作，实现各国互利共赢。要积极开展发展战略对接，加强政策沟通和协调，把握合作大方向；重点提升跨境基础设施互联互通、贸易和投资自由化便利化水平，共同建设开放型区域经济；大力推动小多边合作、次区域合作，推动更多实实在在的项目落地实施，给地区人民带来更多实惠。

　　第三，互学互鉴，巩固人民传统友谊。要拓宽交流渠道，创新合作形式，努力为各国、各年龄段民众开展交流创造便利，打造平台。

　　第四，着眼长远，实现综合协调发展。要积极探讨建立东北亚地区协调发展新模式，加快科技创新，转变发展理念，加大环境综合治理力度，形成节约资源和保护环境的产业格局和生活方式，携手应对共同面临的区域性环境问题。

　　习近平强调，中方愿继续同地区国家一道，抓住历史机遇，顺应时代潮流，加强在俄罗斯远东和东北亚地区合作，推动实现本地区多元化、可持续发展，不断做大共同利益蛋糕，使本地区人民共享合作机遇和发展成果，携手开创远东和东北亚更加美好的明天！

　　普京感谢习近平主席和有关国家领导人出席第四届东方经济论坛，称赞俄中在俄远东地区合作发展势头良好。普京表示，远东是俄罗斯发展优先方向。当前，远东地区经济增长、吸引外资速度都超过俄罗斯全国平均水平。远东发展是开放的发展，俄罗斯政府欢迎各国企业前来投资兴业，分享远东发展机遇。俄方愿同地区各方深化务实合作，实现互利共赢，推动东北亚地区合作取得更加丰硕成果。

　　其他与会领导人表示，俄罗斯远东地区开发成效显著。各方愿积极参与远东开发，并共同促进东北亚地区合作，造福各国人民。

　　在互动交流环节，习近平还就共建“一带一路”、朝鲜半岛局势等问题回答了全会主持人提问。

　　全会后，与会各国领导人共同出席第三届“远东杯”国际帆船拉力赛第一赛段颁奖仪式。

　　丁薛祥、杨洁篪、王毅、何立峰等参加有关活动。