曾荫权-世界贸易组织第6次部长级会议-演讲稿

FollowingisthespeechbytheChiefExecutive,MrDonaldTsang,attheInauguralSessionoftheSixthMinisterialConferenceoftheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO)attheHongKongConventionandExhibitionCentrethisafternoon(December13):YourExcellencies,DistinguishedMinisters,DirectorGeneralMrLamy,ChairoftheGeneralCouncilYourExcellencyAmbassadorMohamed,HonorableDelegatesandGuests,LadiesandGentlemen,Firstofall,IwishtoextendawarmHongKongwelcometoallofyou.HongKong,ChinaisdeeplyhonoredtobethehostoftheSixthMinisterialConferenceoftheWorldTradeOrganization.Thisweek,underthisveryroof,wehaveaonce-in-a-generationopportunitytoenhancetheexistinginternationaltradingenvironment;togeneratewealthonabroaderanddeeperscaleglobally;and,mostimportantofall,tohelpalleviatethepainofpovertyformillionsofpeoplelivinginthepoorerpartsofourworld.IampleasedthatHongKong,Chinaistodayatthecentreofthisadmirableenterprise.IcannotemphasizestronglyenoughtheimportanceoftheWTO.Itistheonlyinternationalorganizationthatdealswiththerulesoftradebetweeneconomies.Itistherules-basedforumatwhich149MemberEconomiesnegotiateagreementsandresolvedisputesovertradeissues.TheWTOisalsoapowerfulforceincounteringthecurrentsofprotectionismanddiscriminationwhichareresponsibletoalargeextentfortheeconomichardshipsufferedbylesswealthyandlesswell-endowedeconomies.And,ultimately,theWTOisakeycomponentintheglobalefforttoattaintheUnitedNations'MillenniumGoalofDevelopmentintacklingthescourgeofpovertyandhunger.NorcanIover-emphasizetheimportanceoftheWTOtoHongKong.Asasmall,externally-orientedeconomywithnonaturalresourcesotherthanamagnificentdeepwaterport,HongKonghasreliedonfreetradeandanentrepreneurialandhardworkingpopulationtotransformthisoncesleepyfishingvillageintoaninternationalandregionalbusinesshub.SoIurgeyoutotakesometimeduringthenextfewdays,andaftertheconferenceifyoucan,tolookaroundourgreatcity.YouwillseewhyPresidentBillClintononcedescribedHongKongasExhibitAinthecaseforglobalinterdependenceanditsbenefits.Asafreetrader,oursupportforthemultilateraltradingsystemisunconditional.Anditgoesbackalongway.WebecameaseparateContractingPartytotheGeneralAgreementonTariffsandTradein1986.WewereafoundingMemberoftheWTOin1995.OurMembershipdidnotchangeafterreunificationin1997.Indeed,HongKong'scontinuedparticipationintheWTO,andininternationaltradeagreementsunderthenameofHongKong,China,isenshrinedintheBasicLaw,theconstitutionoftheHongKongSpecialAdministrativeRegion.Wetreasurethecertainty,protectionandbenefitsthattheWTObringstooureconomyandcommunity.WeofferedtohostthisSixthWTOMinisterialConferencebecausewerecognizedthatitwouldbecomeakeystagingposttothesuccessfulconclusionofthemultilateraltradenegotiationsundertheDohaDevelopmentAgenda.WewanttoplayourpartinthecollectiveefforttorealizetheambitionsoftheRound.WeregardtheWTOmembers'acceptanceofourofferasrecognitionofourcontributiontothemultilateraltradingsystem,andanacknowledgementofourcompetenceasaworldcityinhandlingwhateverchallengesthatmayarisefromtheMinisterialConference.WeinHongKongaredeterminedtomakethisimportanteventasuccess.SecretaryJohnTsangiscommittedtocreatinganenvironmentofcomfortforalldelegatestoconductnegotiationsfreely,franklyandconstructivelyinthecomingdays.Hehastravelledtheglobetakingpartinmanyofthekeymeetingswhichhavepavedthewayforthenegotiationsthatwilltakeplaceoverthenextfewdays.Thousandsofmenandwomeninourcommunity-civilservants,legislators,DistrictCouncillors,NGOmembers,businessleaders,serviceproviders,volunteers,andcitizensofHongKong-havebeenworkingtirelesslysincetheWTOacceptedouroffertohostthisConferencetwoyearsago.Wehaveacommonobjective:wewanttostageaConferencethatiswellorganized,transparent,inclusive,andaboveall,efficient.Thefruitsofthiscommunity-wideendeavorarenowbeforeyou.Ladiesandgentlemen,weareatanhistoricjuncture.TradeliberalizationandeconomicgrowthisapermanentgoalforallofusasWTOmembers.WhileIacknowledgethatinsomepartsoftheworldthisgoalisseenasathreatratherthananopportunity,thenegotiationsundertheDohaDevelopmentAgendamustpressahead.Wemustvigorouslydefendtheintegrityandeffectivenessofthemultilateraltradingsystem.ThisConferenceisagoldenopportunityforustodemonstrateourcollectiveresolvetoimprovethelivesofpeoplesthroughouttheworldthroughprogressivetradeliberalization.ThatiswhatwecommittedourselvestodowhentheRoundwaslaunchedfouryearsagoinDoha.Thisweek,alleyesareonHongKong.AshostandChairoftheConference,wewilldoourutmosttobringaboutasuccessfuloutcome.Butwecannotdoitourselves.Wearerelyingonyoursupportandcommitmenttoaccomplishthismission.Iamsureitwillbeforthcoming.Thankyou.Ends/Tuesday,December13,2005IssuedatHKT15:36NNNN以下为行政长官曾荫权今日（十二月十三日）在世界贸易组织第六次部长级会议开幕礼上的致辞全文(译文)：各位部长、总干事拉米先生、常务理事会主席Mohamed大使、各位代表、各位嘉宾：首先，热烈欢迎各位莅临香港。中国香港得以主办世界贸易组织第六次部长级会议，深感荣幸。这个星期，我们有一个非常难得的机会，共聚一堂，优化现有的国际贸易环境；为全球各地更广泛地创造财富；而最重要的，是帮助贫困地区数以亿计的人民脱离贫穷。我很高兴中国香港今天能牵头肩负这项崇高任务。世贸对全球极具重要性。世贸是处理全球贸易规则的唯一国际组织，它让149个成员得以根据既定规则商讨贸易协定，解决贸易纷争。保护主义和贸易歧视，往往导致较贫穷、较弱势地区陷入经济困境，而世贸是对抗保护主义和贸易歧视的主要力量。世贸最终更是全球合力消除贫穷饥饿，达至联合国千年发展目标的力量。世贸对香港的重要性不容置疑。香港地方细小，属外向型经济体系，除了拥有一个优良的深水港外，别无其他天然资源。全凭积极发展自由贸易，以及港人的奋勇拼搏、勤勉进取，