Distinguished Director-General Mr. Somavia,
Distinguished ministers,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon.

    China Employment Forum co-organized by the Chinese government and the International Labour Organization is about to close. In the past three days, delegates from China and overseas, focusing on the core subject of employment promotion, undertook extensive exchange of views and in-depth discussions from the perspective of economic policy, skills and training, labour market and social protection around the theme of “globalization, restructuring and employment promotion”. With a definite theme, a tight and orderly schedule, and thanks to the enthusiastic participation of the delegates and a friendly and lively conference atmosphere, the forum has fulfilled its expected objectives, reached an important common understanding, and achieved a complete success.

    This forum is an important conference, convened against the background that the impact of economic globalization upon employment is ever increasing. It has obtained wide support from many governments and international organizations. Vice Premier Mr. Huang Ju from the State Council of China attended the Opening Ceremony and delivered a speech. Delegates from industrialized and developing countries, from government departments and non-governmental organizations, from operating agencies and academic research institutes came together and made joint efforts to explore the strategies and policies for employment promotion. I’m confident that this conference will produce a positive and profound impact upon deepening international cooperation in the field of employment, and promoting China and other member states to identify better responses to the current employment challenges.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Beijing Common Understanding, jointly formulated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of China and the International Labour Organization, and adopted by the conference, reflects the close attention of all participating parties to the opportunities and challenges in the field of employment under the background of ever-accelerating restructuring and technological progress in the process of economic globalization, and expresses the common will of the participants to generate employment, promote social progress and safeguard the fundamental rights and interests of the working people. The call of the ILO to regard employment promotion as an effective means to alleviate poverty and put it in the center of the agenda to realize decent work has received widespread repercussion. These important consensuses create a new platform for cooperation among all participating parties, and will vigorously promote relevant countries and international organizations to expand the extent of cooperation in employment, and enhance the effect of such cooperation.

    In response to the new challenges brought about by economic globalization and restructuring, based on the Common Understanding reached by the forum, it is my view that at present and in a certain period ahead, governments will have to implement a package of positive policies to promote employment:

    First, adopting a people-centered concept of development, and upgrading the status of employment promotion in economic and social development. Employment constitutes the basic means to support people’s life. Only after relatively full employment has been achieved for the working population, can people enjoy a stable life and take pleasure in their work, a stable and harmonious society be realized. The basic need of a person as a social being to support himself/herself and realize self-development through employment has to be fully taken into account, employment promotion has to be regarded as a priority objective while formulating economic and social policies, so as to promote harmonious economic and social development.

    Second, selecting a development mode suited to national circumstances, and realizing mutual coordination and promotion between economic growth and employment generation. Implementing a correct development strategy, coordinating a balanced development between the economic and social aspects, developing the economy to create jobs, and promoting economic development through more jobs, so as to realize a sound interaction between economic development and employment generation. In China, we need to utilize fully our comparative advantage of rich labour resources, make efforts to expand the volume of employment while maintaining a high speed of economic growth.

    Third, adopting proactive and appropriate measures for adjusting and regulating of the labour market. Applying in a comprehensive manner, legal, economic and if necessary, administrative approaches to maintain sound functioning of the labour market. Strengthening the building of public employment services, providing employment services in multiple forms to the public, and promoting a speedier matching between the vacancies and job seekers. Appropriate adjustment and control should be put into practice aimed at preventing unemployment from rising too fast; the unemployment rate should be confined to the tolerable extent. The practices in many countries have proved that the development of public employment services in a proactive and appropriate manner by government, and the improvement of social administration, will enhance the flexibility and orderliness of the labour market and enable it to exert fully its due role.

    Fourth, providing necessary protection for vulnerable groups in the labour market. In a competitive labour market, the old unemployed, the long-term unemployed, some women workers, people with disabilities are at a disadvantage position, and have difficulties in finding jobs. The government has the obligation to provide them necessary life allowances and employment support, so as to promote equitable employment, and enable them to realize self-value through decent work, and share with other working people the benefits of social development and progress.

    Fifth, encouraging and guiding all circles to participate in employment promotion; building extensive partnerships with all walks of life, and involving them in the formation and implementation of public policies relevant to employment. Motivating and utilizing more social resources, even market force to promote employment can enhance the effect of active employment policies.

    In order to respond actively to the impact of globalization upon employment, the delegates unanimously highlight that governments in all member states should react actively to the global employment promotion strategies formulated by the ILO, put into practice active employment policies suited to the national circumstances, and make efforts to realize the objective of full, productive and freely-chosen employment. Solidarity and cooperation among countries and regions should be strengthened; the developed countries should provide effective assistance to the developing countries, and help the developing countries to achieve productive employment growth and rational development and utilization of human resources, so as to realize common development. Therefore, we propose that the relevant international organizations, governments and institutions further strengthen cooperation, make concerted efforts to find solutions to employment challenges, identify effective responses to the risks brought about by economic globalization and restructuring, and take the new chances emerging in this process to promote sustainable development of the economy, society and environment.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    This China Employment Forum is a success practice of the exchange and cooperation between China and international community in the field of employment. The forum has enhanced mutual understanding between the participants. All of us feel we have benefited a great deal from the forum. It is our hope that international organizations, governments and other institutions of the participating countries will continue to pay attention to the question of employment in China. The proposals and recommendations from every source are warmly welcome. It is also our hope that the practices and experiences of China in handling the question of employment can become a helpful reference point to other countries, so as to make our due contribution to the development of world employment.

    Finally, on behalf of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of China, I would like to convey our high regard to the representatives, experts, and scholars from international organizations, government departments and other institutions, and the other guests, and express our sincere appreciation for your attention and efforts devoted to the question of employment in China. Please also allow me, on behalf of all the participants to the forum, express our sincere gratitude to the Beijing Municipal for their high-quality services.

    I hope this China Employment Forum will leave you a good and profound impression. I wish you a safe journey back.

Thank you.