Wen Jiabao meets guests attending 21 Century Forum

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More than 800 political leaders, dignitaries and scholars from China and abroad gathered in Beijing on Tuesday for the openning ceremony of the 21 Century forum to explore global trends and crucial issues of common interest in the 21st Century. Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a congratulatory letter to the forum welcoming delegates from abroad. Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, delivered a keynote speech at the forum.

Jia Qinlin said as the world underwent profound development, transformation and adjustment, it would seek a political and economic order of justice and reason. He stressed that China remains the world's largest developing country and its development is a long and arduous task. Chineses people still need to work long and hard to achieve the development goals. To advance peace and development, Jia Qinlin proposed all countries work together to push for a full recovery of the world economy.

Premier Wen Jiabao met with foreign guests attending the forum, including former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former European Commission President Romano Prodi, former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, former Russian Prime Minister Evgeni Primakov, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

Later, Premier Wen Jiabao met with foreign guests attending the forum, including former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former European Commission President Romano Prodi, former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, former Russian Prime Minister Evgeni Primakov, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. Wen Jiabao said the global financial crisis has had a profound impact on the world and it called for strengthened cooperation between all countries. As a developing country, China still has many challenges to tackle, but it will uphold the policy of opening up and peaceful development. The guests agreed that global issues need closer cooperation among nations. The international community has been paying great attention to China's development and hoping to further enhance cooperation with China to achieve a win-win situation.