President Hu proposes deeper exchanges between APEC member economies and cooperation for inclusive growth
Beijing, China, 17 September 2010 - Addressing APEC Ministers on Thursday in Beijing, President Hu Jintao urged support for achieving inclusive growth which is vital to address the social dimensions of economic globalization and to facilitate free trade and investment.
President Hu made the comments when Ministers convened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during the opening of the 5th APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting.
President Hu said that in an era of deepening economic globalization, economies and regions must strengthen exchanges and cooperation to address the underlying structural issues in economic development.
In his remarks, President Hu proposed that Ministers give priority to human resources development; implement a strategy of full employment; improve the quality and competence of workers; and build a social security system that ensures sustainable development.
"Human resources development holds the key to people's full participation in economic development and to improvement of conditions for their survival and development," he said. "It also provides the basis for sustainable economic development and inclusive growth."
He added: "We should make full employment our priority goal in economic and social development and implement the strategy of expanding employment to maximize employment and development opportunities for workers and ensure full employment for our people"
To improve the quality and competence of workers, President Hu explained that economic growth should be driven by scientific and technological advancement, improvement of workers' quality and innovation in management.
"We need to improve the quality of our workers to promote transformation of the economic growth pattern, economic restructuring and upgrading the harmonious growth between the economy and society."
Recognizing the need for a social security system that guarantees economic and social development,
President Hu suggested building a broad, basic, multi-tiered and sustainable system.
"We should better coordinate social insurance, social assistance and social welfare, and raise the level of social security steadily," he concluded.
In addition to his proposals to Ministers, President Hu also said that China has decided to launch, together with other APEC member economies, the APEC Skills Development Promotion Project This project answers the call of Economic Leaders to "develop a multi-year program to build capacity for structural reform and SME development, employment creation and the development of social safety nets. It also responds to the ongoing APEC efforts to work from multi-year plans.