All in all, East Asia in today’s world is a force that cannot be ignored politically, economically, culturally or geographically. The prospect for East Asia’s economic development is promising.

当然，在充分看到东亚经济发展取得成就的同时，也要正视前进中存在的困难和障碍。例如，东亚国家不同程度地存在不合理的经济结构，不健全的金融体制，粗放型的增长方式，滞后的基础设施建设，以及沉重的人口和环保压力等问题，都需要认真对待，切实加以解决。

Of course, while fully recognizing the economic achievements in East Asia, we must also look squarely into the difficulties and obstacles on the road ahead. For instance East Asian countries suffer, to varying degrees, from untenable economic structures, flawed financial systems, crude modes of growth, backward infrastructures and the enormous pressures brought about by over-population and the increasing need for environmental controls. These problems need to be addressed seriously and resolved effectively.

近年来发生在东南亚的金融危机，给人们以深刻启示。金融体系的正常运行，对经济全局的稳定和发展至关重要。在各国经济联系日益密切的条件下，保持健康稳定的金融形势，需要各国在完善金融的体制、政策和监管上进行努力，需要加强国际和地区的金融合作，需要共同防范国际游资过度投机。这样才能有效地维护国际金融秩序。

Southeast Asia’s recent financial crisis has taught people a profound lesson. Normal functioning of the financial system is crucial to overall economic stability and development. To maintain a sound and stable financial order in a closely intertwined global economy, it is imperative for countries to work to improve there financial system, policies and supervision, to strengthen both regional and international financial cooperation and jointly ward off excessive speculation by international hot money. Only by doing so can we effectively maintain the international financial order.

我们相信，经过共同努力，东亚各国人民一定能够在新的世纪中，创造更加美好的未来。

We believe that as long as we work together, the peoples of East Asia will certainly build a better future in the new century.