On November 5, 2012, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao attended the First Session of the Ninth Asia-Europe Meeting Summit (ASEM 9) in Vientiane, capital of Laos and delivered a keynote speech titled "Sharing the Task of Promoting the Steady Economic Growth of the World".

Wen said that since the international financial crisis broke out over four years ago, countries in Europe and Asia have been improving their national economic policies in a bid to solve their respective contradictions and problems in a targeted manner; at the same time, they have been strengthening international dialogue and coordination on macroeconomic policies and deepening pragmatic cooperation in various fields, which have promoted the recovery of the world economy.

Wen said that China is a responsible big country. We insist on first getting our own business done properly. We strive to get our economy stabilized in the shortest time and maintain stable and relatively fast development. We insist on opening cooperation and striving to promote the balanced development of import and export and achieve coordinated development of attracting foreign capital and making foreign investment. We actively participate in global economic governance and strive to promote the reform of international financial system. We also reached out a helping hand to countries facing economic difficulties. These indicate that China is an important engine of world economic growth and China has played a vital role in the world economic recovery. We not only have the confidence to achieve the development goals this year, but also have the confidence, conditions and ability to achieve longer-term, higher-level, better-quality development.

Wen pointed out that the international financial crisis has not ended yet, there are still many uncertainties and downside risks. Asia, with big population, abundant resources and huge markets, is the most dynamic region in the world today. Europe, with strong physical economy, sound market systems and strong technology strength, will remain as a very important pole in the world. If we all pull together and work together, we do have the capacity to assume the task of promoting the steady growth of the world economy and give the world confidence, courage and hope. Wen put forward a four-point proposal:

First, free, open and fair international trade is an important engine of world economic growth.

Second, strengthening macro-economic policy coordination remains an important task.

Third, promoting scientific and technological innovation is a fundamental means to overcoming the crisis.

Fourth, a sound global economic governance system is the institutional guarantee for world economic growth.

Wen raised a four-point initiative on deepening Asia-Europe cooperation: to organize seminars to study the future direction of Asia-Europe Meeting; to establish an Asia-Europe network for water resources science and technology cooperation and innovation; to carry out Asia-Europe forestry cooperation demonstration projects; to leverage the Asia-Europe Fund in a better way.

Noting that Asia-Europe cooperation has ever clearer objectives, an increasingly solid foundation and richer contents, Wen said that he was full of expectations for and confidence in a new type of Asia-Europe comprehensive partnership. He also expressed the belief that the road of Asia-Europe cooperation will become wider and wider.

On the same day, Wen attended the opening ceremony of ASEM 9 and the ASEM enlargement ceremony.

Founded in 1996, ASEM is an intergovernmental dialogue forum between Asia and Europe, which aims to establish a new type comprehensive partnership between Asia and Europe through enhanced dialogue and cooperation. When Bangladesh, Norway, and Switzerland were formally admitted, the membership of ASEM increased to 51. The theme of ASEM 9 is "Friends for Peace, Partners for Prosperity".