Remarks at the 19th East Asia Summit

中华人民共和国国务院总理 李强

H.E. Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China

2024年10月11日，万象

Vientiane, October 11, 2024

（图源：新华社）

尊敬的宋赛总理，

各位同事：

Your Excellency Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone,

Colleagues,

很高兴出席第19届东亚峰会。感谢宋赛总理和老挝政府为这次会议举办所做的大量工作。

It gives me great pleasure to join you at the 19th East Asia Summit. I wish to thank Prime Minister Sonexay and the Lao government for the tremendous work in hosting this summit.

当前，世界进入新的动荡变革期，全球经济复苏动能不足。对东亚乃至亚太而言，如何更好维护和平稳定发展，成为我们必须面对的重大问题。今年是和平共处五项原则发表70周年。我们中国人常讲，温故而知新。70年来，五项原则得到国际社会广泛认同，时至今日不仅没有过时，反而是大道至简、历久弥新，更加彰显出其时代价值和世界意义。

The world today has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, and global economic recovery lacks momentum. To better maintain peace, stability and development is a major task for all of us in East Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. As we Chinese often say, “Reviewing the past leads to new insights.” Over the past seven decades, the Five Principles have garnered widespread recognition of the international community. Though simple in formulation, these fundamental principles have not lost their relevance but gained new meaning with the changing circumstances. This further underscores their value to our times and significance for the world.

第一，变乱交织的世界需要更好坚守五项原则。现在一些地区陷入战火，许多民众还在遭受苦难。“和平共处”四字看似简单，却是知易行难、更显可贵。我们要继续不懈追求，真正心向和平，以实际行动共建安宁祥和的地球家园。

First, a stronger commitment to the Five Principles is required in our changing and turbulent world. At present, some regions are mired in conflict and the people there continue to suffer. Understanding the simple words of “peaceful coexistence” may be easy, but to put the notion into practice is anything but, which makes it even more precious. We must work tirelessly toward this goal, truly strive for peace, and take concrete actions to make Planet Earth a peaceful and harmonious home for us all.

第二，专注发展的亚洲需要更好坚守五项原则。过去数十年亚洲保持快速发展，得益于地区国家践行正确相处之道，始终平等相待、互尊互利、共促稳定。未来亚洲要实现更大发展，我们仍要坚持与邻为善、与邻为伴，反对阵营对抗、“小院高墙”，更多汇聚发展合力。

Second, a stronger commitment to the Five Principles is required in a development-focused Asia. Over the past decades, Asia has maintained rapid development, because countries in the region have always followed the right way to get along. We have treated each other as equals, fostered mutual respect and mutual benefit, and jointly promoted stability. For Asia to achieve even greater development, it is imperative that we continue to pursue friendship and partnership with our neighbors, oppose bloc confrontation and “small yards with high fences,” and increase the synergy for development.

第三，公平正义的实现需要更好坚守五项原则。今天，发展中国家对完善国际治理体系、维护自身正当权益的呼声日益强烈。五项原则的出发点就是维护弱小国家的利益和诉求。我们要继续从中汲取智慧，坚持真正的多边主义，推动国际秩序朝着更加公正合理的方向发展。

Third, a stronger commitment to the Five Principles is required for the realization of equity and justice. Today, developing countries are voicing a stronger call for improving the international governance system and protecting their legitimate rights and interests. The Five Principles were initiated with the purpose of safeguarding the interests and pursuits of smaller, weaker countries. We should continue to draw wisdom from these principles, uphold true multilateralism, and work toward a more just and equitable international order.

中方愿同各方一道，进一步弘扬和平共处五项原则，聚焦推动构建人类命运共同体，更好凝聚共识、深化互信、加强合作。一是坚决守护和平安宁。继续支持以东盟为中心、开放包容的区域架构，走共商共建共享的区域安全治理之路。高度警惕、坚决抑止那些危害地区稳定、推高冲突风险的行为。二是始终坚持互利共赢。中方愿同各方积极落实习近平主席提出的全球发展倡议，发挥好各自的互补优势，在地区国家需要的绿色转型、数字经济等领域加大投入，更好实现普惠包容发展。三是坚定推进开放合作。全面高质量实施《区域全面经济伙伴关系协定》，加快亚太自贸区建设，推进区域经济一体化，避免把经贸问题泛政治化、泛安全化。

China is ready to work with all parties to carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and push for the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Together, we should forge stronger consensus, deepen mutual trust and strengthen cooperation. First, we should resolutely safeguard peace and tranquility. This entails continued support for an ASEAN-centered, open and inclusive regional architecture, pursuit of a path of regional security governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, and increased vigilance and firm preemption against actions that undermine regional stability and heighten the risk of conflict. Second, we should stay committed to pursuing mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. China is ready to work with all parties to actively implement the Global Development Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping. We should leverage our respective and complementary strengths, step up input in green transformation, digital economy and other areas where regional countries have needs, and endeavor to realize universally beneficial and inclusive development. Third, we should steadfastly promote opening up and cooperation. We should work on full and high-standard implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), speed up the building of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), advance regional economic integration, and avoid mixing trade and economic issues with politics and security.

地区发展繁荣离不开南海的和平稳定。中方始终致力于遵守包括《联合国海洋法公约》在内的国际法，始终恪守《南海各方行为宣言》，坚持同当事国通过对话协商妥处分歧，积极开展海上务实合作。南海的航行和飞越自由不存在任何问题。当前，中国和东盟国家正积极推进“南海行为准则”磋商，争取早日达成。我想强调，中国在南海的领土主权和海洋权益具有充分的历史和法理依据。中方采取必要措施，维护自身主权权益，合理合法。有关域外国家应当尊重和支持中国与地区国家共同维护南海和平稳定的努力，切实为地区和平稳定发挥建设性作用。

Peace and stability in the South China Sea is critical to the development and prosperity of our region. China has all along committed itself to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), consistently honored the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), opted for dialogue and consultation with countries directly concerned in properly handling differences, and actively engaged in practical maritime cooperation. There are no obstacles whatsoever to freedom of navigation or overflight in the South China Sea. At present, China and ASEAN countries are actively advancing consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) and will strive for its early conclusion. I wish to underscore that China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea have solid historical and legal grounds. It is legitimate and lawful for China to take necessary measures to safeguard its sovereign rights and interests. Relevant countries outside the region should respect and support the joint efforts of China and regional countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, and truly play a constructive role for peace and stability in the region.

循道而行，方能致远。中方愿同各方一道，循着和平共处五项原则的大道，携手开创地区和世界更加光明美好的未来。

As the saying goes, only by following the right path can we go far. In this spirit, China is ready to work with all parties to uphold the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and create a brighter future for the region and the wider world.

谢谢大家！

Thank you.

来源 | 新华网制作｜绢生审核｜肖英 / 万顷

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