H.E. Foreign Minister of Bahrain，

H.E. Secretary General of ACD，

Colleagues,

It's my pleasure to attend this meeting. China appreciates our Chair, Bahrain, has contributed to promote the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, and welcomes Iran as our in-coming Chair. We also want to thank Secretary General Dr. Pornchai for the great work he has done over the years to advance ACD cooperation.

The ACD has been committed to economic development and mutually beneficial cooperation with steady progress in all fields. As Chinese President Xi Jinping stated, Asia belongs to the world. Asia needs to move towards a community of common destiny and embrace a new future. Today, our world enters a new era of change. Asia stands out as a region that manages to maintain overall stability and fairly fast growth. It is of great importance for us to seize the opportunities and pursue common development together.

First, we need to work for an Asian community, which is an ACD vision, one that serves the common interests of Asian nations. It is necessary that we take Asian development and prosperity as the responsibility on our shoulders, and uphold true multilateralism as well as open regionalism. We need to follow the Asian way featuring mutual respect, openness, inclusiveness and consensus through consultation. We need to join hands to promote common development as we add more dimensions to the process of Asian modernization.

Second, we need to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation. China supports the Bahrain Declaration for adoption at this meeting, and stands ready for further cooperation in the areas of sustainable  development, green transformations and people-to-people exchanges, towards a resilient and inclusive post-pandemic recovery. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the "Belt and Road" Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping. Given the compatibility between this initiative and the visions and cooperation areas of the ACD, the two may enhance synergy. China will host the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation next month, and looks forward to your active participation.

Third, we could improve institutional building. China welcomes efforts in ACD to build up the institution and perfect internal rules and regulations. We believe this will help enhance the vitality of the mechanism and promote the steady and sustained progress of ACD. China has taken note of the recommendations proposed by the Secretary-General aiming at the long-term development of the ACD, including a new vision and the proposal of Eminent Persons Group, which could be worth further discussions.

Dear Colleagues,

The Chinese economy has seen an overall upturn since the beginning of this year with solid progress made in high-quality development. Looking ahead, China will remain committed to high-level opening-up, and advance Chinese modernization in an all-round way, which will surely bring more opportunities for opening-up and cooperation in other countries. China is ready to work with all sides to create a new chapter of ACD development in the spirit of mutually beneficial cooperation.

I thank you.