Keynote Address by H.E. Xi Jinping Beijing, 1 December 2017 Leaders of political parties from around the world, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends, Good afternoon! Today, I am delighted to have you, leaders of political parties and organizations of other countries, with us at the Communist Party of China in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting. We are all busy as the year is drawing to an end. Yet we still gather in Beijing for this important meeting to enhance our cooperation, and this fully demonstrates that we share a common interest in the development of mankind and the future of the world. On behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and in my own name, I extend our warm welcome to all of you who have traveled long distance to China. I also take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation to all the political parties, organizations and their leaders for sending letters and messages of congratulations when the 19th National Congress of the CPC was convened. At its 19th National Congress, the CPC drew up a blueprint for China's development from now through the middle of this century and reaffirmed China's genuine desire to work together with the rest of the world to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Political parties play an important role in the political life of our countries and progress of human civilization. Here, I would like to share with you, leaders representing nearly 300 political parties and organizations of various countries, our view on this issue. Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends, Throughout the ages, to live a better life has always been the longing of mankind. Mankind has created splendid civilizations over the past several thousand years. However, wars and conflicts have never ceased. They have, together with various natural calamities as well as diseases and plagues, inflicted untold sufferings on us mankind and cost us dearly. Today, thanks to the rapid development of the internet, big data, cloud computing, quantum satellite and artificial intelligence, we the human beings are connected as never before. On the other hand, we also face global challenges unprecedented in terms of number, dimension and severity. The destiny and future of all of us across the world are increasingly intertwined. This presents mankind with two choices. One is vicious competition or even armed conflict for power and self-interest, which may well lead to disastrous crisis. The other is for us to go along with the tide of the times and rise to challenges through global collaboration. This, in turn, will create favorable conditions for building a community with a shared future for mankind. We must seize the historic opportunity and make the right choice so as to deliver an even brighter future for mankind. The Chinese nation has a long history and a splendid civilization, yet it was ravaged by turmoil and upheaval of blood and fire since modern time began. But we Chinese never yielded to fate. We rose up and fought our way ahead with perseverance and, after protracted struggles, we have embarked on the broad road to national rejuvenation. History shows that it is the cultural genes in our blood that have sustained the growth of this ancient nation to this day and the uninterrupted development of its civilization over 5,000 years. Since ancient times, we Chinese have always held these beliefs dear: "All people under the heaven are of one family", "all the people are my brothers and I share the life of all creatures" and "all nations should live in harmony". We have always aspired to create a better world in which "a just cause is pursued for the common good". |