All in all, East Asia in today’s world is a force that cannot be ignored politically, economically, culturally or geographically. The prospect for East Asia’s economic development is promising.

當然，在充分看到東亞經濟發展取得成就的同時，也要正視前進中存在的困難和障礙。例如，東亞國家不同程度地存在不合理的經濟結構，不健全的金融體制，粗放型的增長方式，滯后的基礎設施建設，以及沉重的人口和環保壓力等問題，都需要認真對待，切實加以解決。

Of course, while fully recognizing the economic achievements in East Asia, we must also look squarely into the difficulties and obstacles on the road ahead. For instance East Asian countries suffer, to varying degrees, from untenable economic structures, flawed financial systems, crude modes of growth, backward infrastructures and the enormous pressures brought about by over-population and the increasing need for environmental controls. These problems need to be addressed seriously and resolved effectively.

近年來發生在東南亞的金融危機，給人們以深刻啟示。金融體系的正常運行，對經濟全局的穩定和發展至關重要。在各國經濟聯系日益密切的條件下，保持健康穩定的金融形勢，需要各國在完善金融的體制、政策和監管上進行努力，需要加強國際和地區的金融合作，需要共同防范國際游資過度投機。這樣才能有效地維護國際金融秩序。

Southeast Asia’s recent financial crisis has taught people a profound lesson. Normal functioning of the financial system is crucial to overall economic stability and development. To maintain a sound and stable financial order in a closely intertwined global economy, it is imperative for countries to work to improve there financial system, policies and supervision, to strengthen both regional and international financial cooperation and jointly ward off excessive speculation by international hot money. Only by doing so can we effectively maintain the international financial order.

我們相信，經過共同努力，東亞各國人民一定能夠在新的世紀中，創造更加美好的未來。

We believe that as long as we work together, the peoples of East Asia will certainly build a better future in the new century.