The 11th Asia-Europe Business Forum kicked off in Beijing on Oct. 22, 2008. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the forum and delivered a key-note speech, expounding on the topics of the business forum, namely the financial security, energy cooperation, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), trade and investment facilitation, environment and climate change.

Xi pointed out that the international financial markets are in deep turmoil and the world's economic growth is slowing down. Unstable factors in the international economic environment have increased significantly. To cope with the international financial crisis, all nations in the world should make concerted efforts. Countries should strengthen financial dialogue and coordination, explore new areas of cooperation, promote the reform of international financial system, and strive to improve the ability to jointly resist financial risks. Countries should expand exchanges on development paths, models and experiences, increase technical assistance to developing countries and strengthen the financial capacity-building. Countries should properly handle the relationship between financial innovation and financial regulation, establish early warning financial mechanisms, promote practical cooperation in the field of finance, and take effective measures to safeguard international financial security.

Xi stressed that energy is a global issue. Safeguarding world energy security is an urgent task facing all countries in the world. The pragmatic cooperation between Asian and European countries in the energy sector is conductive to maintaining the order of international energy market and safeguarding global energy security. China pursues an energy policy of giving priority to thrift, relying on domestic resources, encouraging diverse patterns of development, protecting the environment, and increasing international cooperation. Under the framework of the ASEM, China would like to work closely with other members on coordinating energy policy, exploring and utilizing energy as well as the research, development and transfer of energy technology to jointly safeguard the stability of the international energy market.

Xi said that the SMEs are the active forces in the Asian and European economies. The Chinese side supports the active implementation of Beijing Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation among ASEM Members on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Countries should give full play to the role of Asia-Europe Business Forum and the ASEM SMEs Ministerial Meeting as platforms, strengthen the partnership between governments and business communities, and promote the cooperation between SMEs in various fields, particularly service industry, technology transfer, intellectual property rights, and corporate social responsibility so as to create a good environment for the development of SMEs.

Xi pointed out that trade is the link connecting the interests of all countries. China supports the Asian and European countries, on the basis of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, to expand trade and increase the flow of capital, technology, and people; gradually improve market access, increase policy transparency among its members, and strengthen the exchange and sharing of information; promote the implementation of ASEM Trade Facilitation Action Plan and ASEM Investment Promotion Action Plan; and actively improve the concrete and substantive facilitation measures based on the actual needs of enterprises and lay a solid foundation for the development of Asian and European enterprises and the economic and trade development of Asia and Europe.

Xi stressed that environment and climate change is a matter of survival and development for our future generations. China attaches great importance to environment and climate change and has made positive efforts in energy conservation, emission reduction, disaster prevention and mitigation, and ecological protection. China supports the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol and hopes that all member states work together closely to increase policy coordination, exchange of experience, and technical co-operation in energy conservation and environmental protection so as to protect the earth, our only home.

Xi said in his final words that since the reform and opening up 30 years ago, the Chinese government, in accordance with the guideline of "releasing the gushing vitality of labor, knowledge, technology, managerial expertise and capital, and allowing all sources of social wealth to flow to the fullest extent", has always attached great importance to and actively support the development of industrial and commercial enterprises and has introduced a series of policies and measures to promote the development of enterprises. With the infrastructure improved, legislation and industry self-regulation strengthened and business environment improved, not only state-owned businesses has grown in strength and but also a large number of private enterprises grew rapidly. He hoped that the Asia-Europe Business Forum could provide a useful platform for participants to establish networking relations and seek for cooperation opportunities. He expected that the Asian and European business communities continue to increase mutual understanding and cooperation so as to make greater contributions to global economic stability and development.

About 800 participants from the Asian and European business communities attended the opening ceremony.