回顧過去，東亞地區發生了深刻變化，取得了巨大進步。展望未來，我們可以滿懷信心地說，推功東亞經濟和社會發展達到新的水平，已經具備了比較良好的條件。

　　In retrospect, profound changes and tremendous progress have taken place in East Asia. Looking ahead, we can say with full confidence that relatively sound conditions exist for East Asia to raise its economic and social development to a new level.

　　維護地區的和平與穩定，發展經濟科技，擴大互利合作，促進共同繁榮，成為東亞各國的共識。東亞國家致力于在相互尊重、平等相待、互不干涉內政的基礎上發展相互關系，通過友好協商妥善處理存在的某些分歧。東亞政局穩定，國家關系良好。這為東亞各國保持經濟持續增長，發展經濟合作，創造了重要的前提條件。

　　It has become the shared understanding of East Asian countries to maintain regional peace and stability, develop the economy, science and technology, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote common prosperity. East Asian countries are committed to the development of their relations on the basis of mutual respect, treating one another as equals and non-interference in one another’s internal affairs and properly addressing some existing differences through friendly consultations. With political stability, East Asian countries enjoy good relations among themselves. This has provided an important prerequisite for the sustained economic growth of East Asian countries and the development of their economic cooperation.

　　東亞國家具有相當的經濟實力，有的進入了發達階段，有的踏上了新興工業化的航程，有的正在步入快速發展的行列。這一地區擁有豐富的勞動力資源和自然資源，各國都在按照自己的實際情況確定發展戰略，不斷調整產業結構，轉變增展方式，促進科技進步，加強對外經濟聯系。這為東亞各國開展經濟合作提供了廣闊的空間。

　　East Asian countries have built up significant economic strength. Some have entered the developed stage, others have joined the rank of newly industrialized nations, and still others have embarked on the road of rapid growth. Endowed with rich human and natural resources, countries in this region have formulated their development strategies in light of their actual conditions, constantly readjusted their industrial structure, effected shifts in modes of growth, promoted scientific and technological progress, and strengthened external economic exchanges. All this has provided a broad scope for East Asian countries to engage in economic cooperation.

　　東亞各國人民在漫長的歷史實踐中創造了自己的優秀文化。這種文化傳統，以社會集體為重，崇尚自尊自強、艱苦奮斗、勤勞節儉、謙虛好學的美德，處理人際關系提倡和洽協調，對待國際關系主張和平共處。這是寶貴的精神財富。只要東亞各國結合本國的實際，順應時代的潮流，弘揚和運用這些具有東方特色的文化傳統和智慧，同時經濟吸取世界各國人民創造的一切進步文明成果，就可以為不斷發展東亞經濟合作提供精神動力。

　　Through their long histories, the peoples of East Asian countries have created their own fine cultural traditions. These cultural traditions attach great value to social communities uphold such virtues as self-strengthening arduous effort, industriousness, frugality, modesty and eagerness to learn. They stress harmony in handling human relations and stand for peaceful coexistence in international relations. These cultural conditions constitute valuable spiritual legacy. As long as East Asian countries keep up with the trend of the times and carry forward and apply those cultural traditions and wisdom with oriental features in light of their actual national conditions while vigorously absorbing all fruits of human progress and civilization, the development of economic cooperation in East Asia will be further boosted by these spiritual motivations.

　　香港回歸祖國詩中華民族的盛事，也是全世界矚目的一件大事。中華民族雪洗了百年恥辱，振奮了民族精神，感到無比的驕傲和自豪。

　　The return of Hong Kong to the motherland is both a great victory for the Chinese nation and a great event attracting worldwide attention. It has wiped out the century-old humiliation of the Chinese nation and activated the national spirit, and we are very proud of it.

　　香港實現平穩過渡，標志著鄧小平“一國兩制”構想的巨大成功，對澳門回歸和解決臺灣問題，實現祖國完全統一將起到積極的推動作用。香港自回歸祖國以來，保持了原有的社會、經濟制度不變，生活方式不變和法律基本不變，“一國兩制”、“港人治港”、高度自治的方針和香港特別行政區基本法得到全面貫徹執行。香港社會穩定，人心穩定，經濟保持穩健運行。

　　The smooth transition of power in Hong Kong is a great success attributable to Deng Xiaoping’s concept of “one country, two systems” and will facilitate the return of Macao to the motherland and the solution of the Taiwan issue, all with a view to achieving the complete reunification of the motherland. Since its return, Hong Kong’s previous socioeconomic system and way of life have remained unchanged and its laws have been kept basically unchanged. The policies of “one country, two systems”, and “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” with a high degree of autonomy, and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have been implemented in an all-round way. Hong Kong now enjoys social stability, its residents have a sense of security and its economy is developing smoothly.

　　中央政府全力支持香港特別行政區政府的工作，支持香港為應付東南亞金融風暴的沖擊而采取的措施。我們高興地看到，香港特別行政區作為獨立的選舉單位，選出自己的全國人大代表，出席本次大會，參與管理國家大事。香港回歸祖國以來已經有了一個良好的開端，也一定會有更加美好的未來。

　　The central government has given full support to the government of HKSAR in its work and in the measures it has taken for dealing with the impact of the financial crises in Southeast Asian countries. We are pleased to see that, as an independent constituency, HKSAR has elected deputies to attend this congress and participate in the administration of state affairs. Hong Kong’s return has had a good beginning and Hong Kong’s future will be even brighter.

　　現代化的交通、電信與大眾傳媒手段使世界越來越小，國際社會如同一個地球村，居住在地球村里的各國人民在文化交流和沖撞中和睦相處、彼此尊重、共求發展。

　　Modern means of transportation, telecommunication and mass media have shortened the geographical distance of the world. The international community appears to be no more than a global village, in which peoples of all nations experience the inevitable cultural exchanges and clashes, while seeking common development in a harmonious and respectful relationship.

　　我贊同這種的看法：當代社會的民族文化不可能在自我封閉的狀態下得到發展。在我看來，不同的文化應該相互學習，取長補短。當然，在廣泛的文化交流中，一個民族的文化必須保持本民族的鮮明特色。我認為，文化交流不是讓外來文化吞沒自己的文化，而是為了豐富各民族的文化。

　　I’m with the view that in this modern world, the culture of any nation cannot develop in isolation. And I believe that different cultures should learn from each other’s strengths to offset their own weaknesses. Of course, the culture of a nation must withhold its own distinctive national characteristics in its extensive exchange with other cultures. Cultural exchange, I think, is by no means a process of losing one’s own culture to a foreign culture, but a process of enriching each other’s national curltures.