Page 2 - ON BUILDING A HUMAN COMMUNITY WITH A SHARED FUTURE

ON BUILDING A HUMAN COMMUNITY WITH A SHARED FUTURE

globalization, and advance the building of a human community with a
shared future. This year a new board of directors of the Forum has been
elected. I wish to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to
outgoing members and to offer warm congratulations to new members.
The theme of this year’s conference, “An Open and Innovative Asia
for a World of Greater Prosperity,” follows the tide of the times and
reflects the hopes of all parties. I am sure your engaging discussions here
will produce many significant insights.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
There are certain historic occasions that empower us with
the wisdom and the strength to advance. This year marks the 40th
anniversary of China’s reform and opening up, and the 30th anniversary
of the establishment of the Province and Special Economic Zone
of Hainan. It could be said that reform and opening up has given life
to Hainan and enabled it to prosper. It has turned what was once a
backward and remote island into one of China’s most open and dynamic
regions, enabling it to achieve phenomenal social and economic growth.
Just as a single drop of water can reflect the radiance of the sun,
so an individual region can encapsulate the development of a country.
Hainan stands as an important historical witness to China’s reform and
opening up over the past four decades.
With Mr. Deng Xiaoping as its proponent, the Third Plenary
Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee in 1978 marked the
beginning of China’s historic journey of reform and opening up. Starting
out in rural areas before moving to cities, expanding from pilot projects
into nationwide programs, and progressing from economic restructuring
to the comprehensive deepening of reform, these past four decades
have been about forging strength from our collective will, about boldly
pressing ahead, and about continuously learning and evolving. Over
these four decades the Chinese people have written with their own hands
a magnificent chapter in the story of development of our country and
nation.
Over the last four decades, the Chinese people have significantly
unlocked and enhanced productivity in China through their hard work

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