Full text of Chinese VP Zhang Gaoli's address at opening dinner of 2013 Fortune Global Forum

Ladies and Gentlemen,

To ensure growth, China needs the world, and the prosperity and stability of the world requires more of China's participation. A China pursuing peaceful and robust development will bring more opportunities for cooperation and an even bigger market for all countries. By the end of 2012, China had approved more than 740,000 foreign-invested companies, whose combined direct investment in China had surpassed 1.2 trillion U.S. dollars. More than 400 of the Fortune 500 companies have invested in China. The sound and ever-expanding Chinese economy will unleash great consumption and investment potential, and provide more opportunities for cooperation for foreign investors. It is expected that in the next five years China will import a total of 10 trillion U.S. dollars worth of goods, and invest 500 billion U.S. dollars in foreign countries. Chinese tourists are expected to make 400 million trips overseas. We will continue to welcome and encourage foreign entrepreneurs and companies to start their business operations in China. We will protect the legitimate rights of investors, and provide opportunities for them to share the benefits brought about by China's development as well as its reform and opening-up.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Leaders of multinational corporations and other distinguished guests participating in this forum are all important players and facilitators of global economic activities. You have conducted mutually beneficial cooperation and wide exchanges with China and contributed significantly to China's economic growth. Less than 40 miles from today's venue lies the world's oldest water conservation project, known as Dujiangyan. Built more than 2,300 years ago, the ancient project has brought blessings to the people of Sichuan for thousands of years, irrigating an immense area of arable land to this day. The story of Dujiangyan tells us that right investment will generate both immediate and long-term benefits. So let us join hands and work together to enhance cooperation for our mutual benefit and the benefit of our future generations.