We are here with one common purpose, to create a dynamic new linkage and form a New Partnership between Asia and Europe. For this purpose I’d like to make a few points: First, we should do our best to (1) Asia and Europe and develop close partnership. We should learn to appreciate one another’s (2) and weakness. We must develop attitudes that foster (3) of each other’s perceptions and (4) .
Second, I’d like to stress the importance of open trade and (5) . The rapid growth in East Asia over the past few decades has convinced us that the best path to (6) growth is economic (7) . The World Trade Organization has been universally accepted as the primary new vehicle of rules-based (8) trade. Efforts such as APEC would bring about a new (9) among the world’s three centers of economic growth.
Third, we must also emphasize the (10) of ordinary citizens, for they are the human (11) on which future growth will rest. We should work together to equip our people with the skills and knowledge necessary to prosper in the new, technology-intensive (12) economy.
Fourth, we need to deal with the relationship between economic growth and (13) protection. Promoting sustainable growth is not merely a matter of technology (14) . It is a complicated process of assessing real ecological costs, of establishing appropriate (15) measures, and of seeking our peoples’ co-operation. I believe now is the time to raise the level of (16) by establishing an Asia Europe Environmental Technology Development Centre to undertake (17) and development activities.
These are but a few of the areas in which Asia and Europe can co-operate for their (18) benefit. If we approach each other an open mind, soon we may find that our (19) are much smaller, and our shared (20) greater than we ever with imagined.