President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa,

Dear colleagues,

I am delighted to meet you all again and I look forward to a frank exchange of views with you on issues of common interest.

I wish to begin by expressing, on behalf of the Chinese Government and people, heartfelt thanks to the governments and people that you represent for the strong support and sincere assistance given to my country in our rescue and relief endeavors following the devastating earthquake in Wenchuan. We are grateful for the solidarity and sympathy expressed by the people of your countries toward the Chinese people. With the care and support from the international community, the Chinese Government and people have the resolve and confidence to prevail over the disaster caused by the massive earthquake and help the people in the affected areas rebuild their beautiful homeland at an early date.

The world today is undergoing major changes and adjustments. The trend toward a multipolar world is irreversible, economic globalization is gaining momentum, scientific and technological revolution is picking up speed, and countries are becoming increasingly interdependent. To share development opportunities, meet challenges together and advance mankind's noble cause of peace and development serve the fundamental interests of people of all countries and represents their common aspirations.

Developing countries are an important force in upholding world peace and promoting common development. With growing strength and greater solidarity and cooperation, developing countries as a whole have gained stronger influence and played a bigger role in international affairs in recent years. We represent five major developing countries. Together, we take up 42 percent of the world's population and 12 percent of the world's GDP. Sixteen percent of the peacekeepers at the ongoing UN peacekeeping operations come from these five countries. Closer coordination and cooperation among us will not only contribute to the development of our respective countries, but also enhance South-South cooperation, promote North-South dialogue and advance the noble cause of peace and development of mankind.

Over the past year, coordination mechanisms at various levels among the five countries have taken initial shape, which have enabled us to step up consultation and coordination on issues related to the G8 outreach session. Our efforts have yielded positive results. We should build on our achievements and continue to make efforts in the following priority areas.

First, strengthen solidarity and coordination and promote common development. As active participants in economic globalization and with increasing ties with the international market, our countries have become an important part of the world economic architecture and a major driving force for global economic growth. The growing uncertainties and factors for instability in the world economic growth have a direct bearing on our own development. This calls for intensified consultation and coordination among us and closer bilateral and multilateral cooperation of mutual benefit to minimize the impact of unfavorable factors. In this way, we can maintain the momentum and dynamism of our fast economic growth and continue to make contribution to world economic development.

Second, step up coordination and advance South-South cooperation. South-South cooperation is an important channel for developing countries to draw on each other's strengths and achieve common development. We should help enhance South-South cooperation and play an exemplary role in such cooperation. We should work together to promote multilateralism and democracy in international relations, enhance the right of developing countries to participation and decision-making in international affairs and strive for more favorable external conditions for the growth of developing countries. At the same time, we should push forward reforms in international economic, financial, trade and development regimes, uphold the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and enhance their capacity to tackle various risks and challenges, and promote balanced, coordinated and sustainable growth of the global economy.

Third, take a long-term view and promote North-South dialogue. As economic globalization is gathering momentum, interests and destinies of countries across the world are tied together. World economic growth cannot be sustained if developing countries remain in a state of backwardness. Global issues can be effectively addressed only when developed and developing countries work hand in hand. We should continue to work in an active and pragmatic way under the