The 18th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting opened in Yokohama, Japan on November 13, 2010. President Hu Jintao attended the first session and delivered important remarks.

The first session of the meeting was held in the InterContinental Yokohama Grand Hotel. At 14:00 local time, Prime Minister Naoto Kan of Japan, the host country, announced the opening of the meeting. Participating leaders mainly exchanged views on the issue of growth strategy and human security. Hu made important remarks at the meeting.

Hu pointed out that Asia Pacific in general maintains a sound momentum of economic growth and has become a major engine for the sustained recovery and growth of world economy. Meanwhile, the region still faces some difficulties and challenges of economic growth and needs to work hard to protect the achievements of economic development. We should adapt to changes in the world and regional economic situations and grow the regional economy sound and fast at a higher level. To that end, efforts should be made especially in the following aspects:

First, drive balanced growth and create conditions for the long-term economic development. We should do our best to achieve balanced growth not only among different regions and sectors within each of APEC members but also among the members. We should also increase input to help developing members realize full development and narrow down South-North development gap. We should forge a more reasonable industrial division of labor, a more balanced financial and trade structure, a more scientific resource allocation structure and a more fair interest sharing structure in order to stimulate balanced and coordinated development of world economy.

Second, advocate inclusive growth and increase the endogenous dynamic of economic development. We should give priority to economic growth, pursue social equality and justice and adhere to the people-first principle. We should make all the countries and regions and all the people around the world benefit from the outcomes of economic globalization and development. We should stick to the guiding principle of giving top priority to human resources development, implement the development strategies beneficial to full employment, increase the quality and ability of workers and accelerate the building of a sustainable social security system.

Third, promote sustainable growth and achieve the long-term economic development. We should focus on sustainable growth, maintain not only the sustainability of resources and environment but also that of finance, currency, trade and industrial policies and reduce macroeconomic fluctuations and risks. We should practice responsible macroeconomic policies and ensure middle and long-term financial sustainability; coordinate economic development, social progress and environmental protection and achieve low-carbon growth; actively tackle climate change, grow green economy vigorously and cultivate new growth points.

Fourth, encourage innovation to drive economic development. We should base our future development on innovation, create an enabling environment for innovation, improve technological innovation system, increase R&D efforts and spur innovative wisdom and talents in the society. We should strengthen training and mobility of innovative talents to provide a strong human resources and technology guarantee for economic growth and shift the economic growth to an innovation-driven pattern. Developed members should reinforce technology transfer and help developing members build capacity of innovation-driven growth.

Fifth, achieve secure growth and protect the outcomes of economic development. We should strengthen solidarity, deepen cooperation in the fields of anti-terrorism, disaster prevention and relief, food security, energy and resource security and public health, conduct policy coordination and dialogue, step up experience sharing and technological assistance, actively cope with non-traditional security threats, create a secure, favorable and convenient environment for the economic and social development and people's life in the region and safeguard people's safety and welfare.

After the first session, Hu participated in the dialogue between APEC leaders and representatives of the APEC Business Advisory Council. He exchanged ideas with the representatives on such issues as Asia Pacific Free Trade Area, development of small and medium-sized enterprises, food security and energy security.

At noon, Hu attended the working luncheon of APEC leaders.