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Asian parties map future in Beijing

Updated: 2004-09-06 08:40

Following is the full text of Beijing Declaration issued here on Sunday
at the closing ceremony of the International Conference of Asian
Political Parties (ICAPP):

Beijing Declaration 2004

The Third International Conference of Asian Political Parties

September 5, 2004

1. We, leaders and representatives of 81 political parties from 35
countries, attended the Third International Conference of Asian Political
Parties (ICAPP) hosted by the Communist Party of China in Beijing, China,
September 3rd through 5th, 2004.

2. The ICAPP, established in September 2000, is a great undertaking, in
which Asian political parties adjust to the contemporary trend of peace
and development, adapt to the rapid development of regional co-operation
and expand international exchanges and co-operation among themselves. The
ICAPP has become an important forum where legal political parties of
sovereign Asian countries can exchange political ideas, seek political
consensus and increase understanding and trust. It has also become a new
channel and new mechanism through which political parties can play a
unique role in promoting regional co-operation and mutual development.
The Third ICAPP has injected new vigour into international exchanges
among political parties of Asian countries.

3. "Exchange, co-operation and Development" is not only the explicit
theme of the Third ICAPP but also the undeniable historical duty of
Asia's political parties and politicians. The leaders and representatives
of the Asian political parties at this conference have carried out
extensive discussions and exchanges of ideas on the three topics of
regional security and multilateral co-operation, economic development and
social progress, and party building and national development. The
conference has been productive, and it has met the objectives of further
strengthening mutual friendship, exchanges and co-operation, increasing
mutual understanding, trust and consensus, and jointly safeguarding
regional peace, stability and unity.

4. It has already become the common desire of the political parties,
politicians and ordinary people of all Asian countries to adapt to the
trend of the times, increase regional exchanges and co-operation and
promote common development. co-operation in Asia is not exclusive, nor is
it directed at any third party. Asia should develop itself by opening up
to the whole world and advance through contacts all over the world. We
advocate resolving differences through dialogue and negotiation in
accordance with the intent and spirit of the Charter of the United
Nations, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the ten
principles of Bandung. We advocate gradually reforming the inequitable
and unjust aspects of the current international order through mutual
trust, mutual benefit, equality and co-operation, energetically carrying
forward the process of democratization in international relations and
co-operatively promoting Asia's peace, stability, harmony and prosperity.

5. The rapid development of Asia has been aided by a peaceful
environment. Maintaining the momentum of development requires the
region's security and stability. In recent years, the overall situation
in Asia has been stable and its main trend has been towards peace,
development and co-operation. However, traditional and non-traditional
security issues have become intertwined, and both new and old hot spots
are still affecting the peace and tranquillity of some countries and
regions. The question of how to ensure the long-term peace and stability
of Asia is a major issue that all Asian political parties and politicians
should ponder deeply. We affirm refusing wars, aggressions and hegemony.
We are committed to multilateral co-operation and believe that justice
will ensure peace. We applaud the efforts Asian countries and political
parties have made to peacefully resolve regional conflicts and crises,
and advocate turning areas of disputes into areas of co-operation.

6. Terrorism, separatism and extremism have already become plagues that
do harm to human society. We strongly condemn and oppose all forms of
terrorism. We advocate strengthening co-operation among sovereign
countries and between regional organizations against terrorism, taking
steps to eliminate the root causes of terrorism while giving full play to
the role of the United Nations. Double standards should not be practised
and the fight against terrorism must not be linked with any particular
ethnic group or religion.

7. Asia is one of the most vigorously developing regions in the world and
one of the most important areas for trade growth. We have great
confidence in the development potential of the Asian economy. At the same
time we fully recognize that the world's globalization trend has brought
about opportunities and challenges to every country and the people. Asian
countries can take advantage of their opportunities only by strengthening
their co-operation, overcome their difficulties only by recognizing that
they are all in the same boat, and thrive in the face of fierce global
competition only by working together to make themselves stronger. It is a
sacred obligation of all countries and political parties as well as the
international community to eliminate poverty and achieve prosperity. We
encourage governments of all countries to draw up anti-poverty
strategies, reinforce international co-operation and implement
diversified measures to alleviate poverty in an effort to create a better
world of common prosperity without destitution.

8. Energy issues are central to the economic security and sustainable
development of all countries, and the safety of energy resources is a
problem facing the entire international community. Co-operation in energy
can become an important component of Asian regional co-operation.
Countries in the region should expand dialogue and co-operation on the
basis of the principles of mutual benefits and win-win solutions and
jointly promote sustainable development in Asia.

9. We believe that all Asian countries should choose their own
development path and development model in accordance with local
conditions, strengthen co-ordination, exchanges and co-operation in the
areas of economic and social development, and work to create an
environment beneficial for development. They should work together to
develop a new concept of development, explore new ways of thinking about
development, expand the connotation of development, and work hard to
promote coordinated and sustainable economic and social development,
urban and rural development, and development of both human beings and
nature throughout the region. They should take advantage of the
favourable opportunities in the region that arise from overall political
stability, continual economic growth and deepening regional co-operation
to increase economic co-operation, progressively open up markets to each
other, resolve trade disputes through negotiation and promote the sound
development of a multilateral trade system.

10. Asian countries have a radiant splendour of historical and cultural
traditions, diverse social and political systems and different levels of
economic development. We advocate strengthening dialogue among different
civilizations, seeking common development through interactions and
realizing a win-win situation by maximizing consensus and setting aside
the differences on the basis of fully respecting each other's historical
traditions, cultural differences and diverse development paths.

11. Asian political parties bear a historic responsibility for developing
their national economies, safeguarding social stability and promoting the
development of democracy and legal systems. As all the countries in Asia
progress towards modernization, their political parties should constantly
adjust to the requirements of the development of the times. In order to
achieve social and political stability and contribute to their country's
modernization, political parties should promote clean and efficient
government through vigorous measures of party building, and effectively
integrate all the country's internal relationships by strengthening ties
with parliament, the government and civil society.

12. Asian political parties, large or small, old or new, should be
entirely equal, respect each other's independence and self-determination,
respect each other's choices and practices, respect each other's internal
and external policies established on the basis of conditions in their
respective countries, and refrain from interfering in each other's
internal affairs. Ideological differences should not be a barrier to
contact and co-operation among Asian political parties. Concerning
differences and conflicts between parties, Asia's political parties
should adopt the spirit of seeking common ground and reserving
differences, resolving differences through dialogue and negotiation or
temporarily setting them aside so that they do not affect the normal
development of bilateral relations. We believe that Asian political
parties should promote the sound and stable development of state-to-state
relations through positive contact and co-operation. They should
continuously enrich and develop the potential for co-operation and make
full use of their unique role in promoting economic development,
advancing social progress and safeguarding regional security.

Finally, we wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the distinguished
Communist Party of China and its leaders for their energetic efforts and
outstanding contributions that have led to the successful convocation of
the Third International Conference of Asian Political Parties.

(China Daily)

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