Ladies and Gentlemen,

Over the past 60 years since the founding of New China, particularly since reform and opening-up, China's economy has grown fast, the Chinese people's livelihood has improved significantly, and China's international standing has risen steadily. Yet China remains a developing country. There is no change in this basic feature about China. Nor is there any change in China's commitment to an independent foreign policy of peace and to good-neighborliness and cooperation with ASEAN countries.

How do we Chinese see ourselves? And how do we view our relations with the world? I want to say we are both confident and clear-headed. We are confident about the development path we have chosen and about our future. We are clear-headed because we know full well the difficulties and risks we face. True, China's economic aggregates are growing year by year, yet when divided by 1.3 billion, they only rank around 100th in the world. Much remains to be done if China is to meet the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. We still have a long way to go before we can achieve modernization.

Lao Tzu, the great ancient Chinese thinker, once observed in his well-known work, the Tao Te Ching, "He who knows others is intelligent; he who knows himself is wise." I am now in my ninth year as Chinese Premier. I am heartened by the development and progress of my motherland. Yet at the same time, I often find it difficult to eat or sleep with ease as I have to think long and hard about the ways to counter the various difficulties and challenges facing China. It is true that some regions and some people in China have become rich. But there are still those who have not come out of poverty and face pressing difficulties in education, medical care and social security. We have encountered all the difficulties that many other countries came across in their industrialization and urbanization process. We have even run into challenges that others never experienced. We cannot afford to slacken our efforts in the slightest if we are to live up to the people's trust and expectations. We must be receptive to the good experience of other countries. More importantly, we must make bold experiment and exploration in keeping with China's national conditions. To advance national development and meet the needs of the 1.3 billion people represent hefty responsibilities on our shoulders and call for long and arduous efforts. China has no reason whatsoever to be complacent.

With a cultural heritage running several thousand years, the Chinese nation values peace more than anything else. We keep good faith, build amicable ties, and treat others with respect. The ancient Silk Road was used to transport exquisite textiles, tea and porcelain to faraway countries. And Zheng He did not take a single inch of foreign land on his seven voyages to the Western Seas. China cannot develop itself in isolation from the world. Nor can the world achieve prosperity without China. The Chinese people cherish their friendship and cooperation with other countries and peoples, and value even more deeply their hard-won independence. I believe this is a shared feeling among people in Southeast Asia and in China. China's development will not stand in the way of any country, nor will it ever pose a threat to any country. China is firmly committed to an independent foreign policy of peace and will always pursue peaceful development for generations to come.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As an Indonesian proverb reads, "jauh di mata, dekat di hati (Though living afar, it is close to my heart)." The Chinese people cherish beautiful impression of Indonesia. They are enchanted by its unique island landscape, diverse culture, and exotic atmosphere. Half a century ago, China, Indonesia and many other newly independent Asian countries came onto the international political stage, announcing the birth of a new Asia. Today, we are witnessing the all-round rise of Asia and a great rejuvenation of the Oriental civilization. The dream of our forefathers for a thriving Asia is coming true in our time. And China and Indonesia are important forces driving this epoch-making change. Similar historical experiences brought us together, and a shared historical mission will link us even more closely. Let us join hands to strengthen our good-neighborly relationship, deepen comprehensive cooperation, create a bright future, and usher in an Asian century.

Terima kasih. (Thank you.)

(Source: www.fmprc.gov.cn)