“Fruits of development must reach all people”

Meet in China for achieving social equity and justice

Sustainable development is not possible without a twinning of focus on economic and social development. This was the dominant theme at an International Conference of Asian Political Parties' Conference on Development and People's Access, which was inaugurated here on Sunday.

Zhou Yongkang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in his keynote address, called for striking a balance between economic and social development, and ensuring that the fruits of economic development went to all people.

The pace of economic reforms must take into account the stability of society. Otherwise, “we can't achieve; we will lose what we have already achieved,” he told delegates representing governments and political parties from across Asia.

Asia's role

While noting that Asia occupied an important position in the global political and economic landscape, he underscored the importance of narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor and achieving social equity and justice.

Xi Jinping, Vice-President of China, whose speech was read out by Wang Jiarui, Chairman of the Conference Organising Committee and Minister of the International Department of the CPCCC, said sharing the fruits of development was not only the common aspiration of the people from Asian countries, but also a historical responsibility of Asian political parties. Development must be for the people and by the people and its fruits shared among the people.

President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos Horta said key decisions that had an impact on the economies of small countries were being taken at the board rooms of financial institutions with a global reach. His country had put “all its eggs in one basket” by investing in the United States' treasury bonds, only to find their value being eroded in the recent financial crisis. He said he expected much improved behaviour on the part of the sole global power in managing the economic crisis.

Asian economies, notably that of China, India and the Asean, had become a life jacket of the global economy, growing at 7 to 10 per cent for sustained periods. Asia can, and should, lead the world, but to do so it must inspire. It would have to form partnerships with Brazil, South Africa, and also the U.S. and the European Union.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in his message telecast at the conference, said investing in people and social protection programmes were the mainstay of national development.

Journalists from different parts of Asia were at the conference on the invitation of the International Department of the CPCCC.