Singapore, March 27th—Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), attended here today the FutureChina Dialogue co-organized by Business China, Lianhe Zaobao, Future China and Think China upon invitation and delivered a speech themed on Challenges and Vision: Asia's Future Amidst Changes. Over 400 people from all walks of life of Singapore were present, including Chee Hong Tat, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance, and Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and Ministry of Manpower.

Liu said, the world today is witnessing transformation and turbulence. Changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace. Asia accounts for nearly 60 percent of the world's population, nearly 40 percent of the world's total economic output and more than 30 percent of international trade, and it has become a high ground of development and an engine of growth for the world economy. Every choice Asia makes will have a significant impact on the world. Asia needs peace instead of war, interconnectivity instead of "decoupling", technological empowerment instead of technological suppression, and exchanges among civilizations instead of clashes of civilizations. We must adhere to the Asian approach of friendly consultation to properly handle sensitive regional issues and jointly guard the bottom line of the region's peace and stability. We must resolutely oppose protectionism and "building barriers and walls", pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and jointly promote regional integration. We must deepen the integration of development strategies, seize the new opportunities brought by the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, and realize high-quality development together. We must firmly pursue the development path with Asian characteristics featuring independence, mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, openness and inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation, and jointly advance the modernization process in Asia.  

Liu said, China has played an important role as an engine in the development of the region. China's economy has established, after years of development, sound and solid fundamentals and internal growth drivers. The overall trend of long-term growth has not changed and will not change. Recently, China held the annual Two Sessions and announced that it would introduce a slew of new policies to further stabilize economic growth, boost the quality and quantity of its foreign trade, increase its appeal to foreign investors, and facilitate the entry of foreign nationals into China. We are confident that we can make China's economy even better, so that China's development can better benefit the countries in the region.  

Liu said, in a world where the future and destiny of countries are closely linked, no country can develop solely on its own. General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, providing Chinese solutions for safeguarding world peace, promoting common development, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, and strengthening mutual learning among civilizations. China is willing to work with countries in the world to implement the concept and initiatives. The CPC maintains contacts of various forms with more than 600 political parties and political organizations in more than 160 countries around the world. We are willing to strengthen contacts and exchanges with Singapore's political parties, think tanks, media, enterprises and youths, so as to make new contributions to China-Singapore relations and the common development of Asian countries.  

During an interactive session, Liu elaborated on issues such as how to enhance foreign investors’ confidence in China’s economic development, how China will better communicate with the world, how to view the role of overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, the prospects of the Asian century, and China-US relations.  

Lee Yi Shyan, Chairman of Business China, delivered a welcome speech. Lee Huay Leng, Editor-in-Chief for the Chinese Media Group, moderated a chat and a Questions-and-Answers session. Cao Zhongming, Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, was present.