Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has elaborated the fruitful ties between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after a decade of cooperation.
“This year is indeed worth of celebration for China and ASEAN,” the Chinese Premier said during a recent interview to ASEAN media.
Ten years ago, China took the lead in acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and established the strategic partnership for peace and prosperity with ASEAN.
It was also the first time for China to establish a global strategic partnership with an organisation of nations within this region, which highlights the importance of ASEAN on China’s diplomatic agenda.
According to Li, against the backdrop of evolving international situation and growing world economy amid adjustments over the past decade, China and ASEAN have seized the opportunities, advanced with the trend of peace and development, and opened a “golden decade” of cooperation.
The two sides have stayed committed to strategic dialogue, enhanced political mutual trust, and strengthened mutual understanding and support in many important international and regional affairs. They have advanced practical cooperation and set up the world’s largest free trade area among developing countries.
China is now ASEAN’s biggest trade partner and ASEAN is China’s third largest trade partner. Last year, two-way trade exceeded 400 billion USD, five times that of 10 years ago, mutual investment totalled over 100 billion USD, three times that of 10 years ago.
China and ASEAN have increased people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Exchange of visits reached 15 million last year, four times that of 10 years ago. China has become ASEAN’s second largest source of tourists, and over 1,000 flights shuttle between the two sides every week.
Premier Li highly valued the two sides’ standing side by side in times of adversity over the past decade, saying that on the basis of successfully fending off the Asian financial crisis, the two sides properly responded to the international financial crisis, and helped each other in tackling such major natural disasters and epidemics as the Indian Ocean tsunami, the SARS epidemic and earthquakes.
He highlighted the China-ASEAN strategic partnership has made such good progress as it serves the fundamental interests of both sides and complies with the trend of the times for peace, development and cooperation in the region.
He emphasised the China-ASEAN relationship “now stands at a new historical starting point”, saying that the two sides need to explore new strategic breakthroughs, and jointly build a closer China-ASEAN community of common destiny.
Building on the past “golden decade”, the two sides need to make further efforts to create a new “diamond decade” for the future of China-ASEAN relations so as to bring more benefits to the people in this region, he added.
According to the Chinese Premier, to achieve the goals of the framework of strategic cooperation in the “diamond decade”, China is ready to actively discuss with ASEAN countries the signing of a treaty on good neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation to consolidate the political foundation for bilateral strategic mutual trust.
The two sides need to strengthen exchange and cooperation in security, improve the mechanism of the China-ASEAN defence ministers’ meeting and deepen cooperation in disaster prevention and relief, cyber security, combating transnational crimes, joint law enforcement and other non-traditional security.
They need to build an “upgraded version” of the China-ASEAN FTA, take concrete steps in trade in goods and services, investment cooperation and other areas to promote trade and investment liberation and facilitation and achieve the goal of 1 trillion USD of two-way trade by 2020.
China proposes to establish an Asian infrastructure investment bank and meet, on a priority basis, some ASEAN countries’ need for financial support in infrastructure building.
The two sides need to strengthen financial cooperation to jointly guard against new risks, increase the size and scope of bilateral currency swap, expand the pilot programme of settling cross-border trade with local currencies and enhance cooperation on the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation.
They need to build a maritime cooperation partnership, intensify practical cooperation on marine economy, maritime connectivity, marine environment protection and scientific research, and maritime search and rescue, and work together to build the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st century.
Premier Li said as a member of the big Asian family, China’s destiny is closely linked with those of other Asian countries. China needs a peaceful and stable neighbouring environment for development.
“We will always work for good neighbourly relations and mutual beneficial cooperation with our neighbours, and will properly manage differences and disagreements with them,” he affirmed.
ASEAN is a priority on China’s diplomatic agenda regarding the neighbourhood, he said, adding that his country will firmly support
ASEAN in growing stronger and playing a leading role in East Asia cooperation.
The development of the East Asia cooperation has brought tangible benefits to the region. No matter how the situation may change, a peaceful and stable environment in East Asia must be maintained and efforts will focus on development and on improving people’s live.
“At present, we need to concentrate on tackling the underlying impact of the global financial crisis and maintain the momentum of sustained development,” he stressed, adding that China calls for adhering to the “East Asia cooperation spirit”, upholding the principles of ASEAN centrality, consensus building and accommodating the comfort level of all parties, and promoting a regional cooperation model with East Asian features.
Regarding the East Sea issue, China and ASEAN countries have had many in-depth discussions and reached consensus, he said.
The two sides signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) in 2002, which is a fundamental document for maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea. The DOC has established a series of important principles which reflect the wisdom of Asian countries in handling complicated problems.
As for economy, the Premier said in the face of the complex international and domestic situation and downward economic pressure, the Chinese government has stood its ground and responded in a calm way.
“We have maintained stability in and innovated on our macroeconomic policies. On the one hand, we have refrained from expanding fiscal deficit, and neither eased nor tightened monetary policy. On the other hand, we have taken a series of comprehensive policy measures to boost reform, energise the market, adjust the economic structure, and have seized every opportunity to transform and upgrade the economy,” he affirmed.
These measures are in line with the goal of maintaining steady growth and have effectively kept the economy on an even keel, he said.
In the first six months of this year, China’s GDP grew by 7.6 percent, and overall prices were stable. Since July, the Chinese economy enjoys a strong momentum of steady growth.
Over the past 30 years, the Chinese economy has benefited a great deal from opening up. China’s rapid growth has also contributed much to East Asia and the world. In the future, with parallel advancement of industrialisation, IT application, a new type of urbanisation and modern agriculture, China stands a good chance of sustained and sound growth.
It is projected that in the next five year, China’s import will reach 10 trillion USD, its outbound investment will top 500 billion USD and its overseas visits will exceed 400 million.
China hopes to share with ASEAN and other East Asian countries such tremendous business opportunities and make greater contribution to the development of ASEAN, other East Asian countries and the world, he said.
“We hope other countries will all play an active part in this process and create greater conditions and a better environment for our cooperation,” Li concluded.-VNA
“This year is indeed worth of celebration for China and ASEAN,” the Chinese Premier said during a recent interview to ASEAN media.
Ten years ago, China took the lead in acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and established the strategic partnership for peace and prosperity with ASEAN.
It was also the first time for China to establish a global strategic partnership with an organisation of nations within this region, which highlights the importance of ASEAN on China’s diplomatic agenda.
According to Li, against the backdrop of evolving international situation and growing world economy amid adjustments over the past decade, China and ASEAN have seized the opportunities, advanced with the trend of peace and development, and opened a “golden decade” of cooperation.
The two sides have stayed committed to strategic dialogue, enhanced political mutual trust, and strengthened mutual understanding and support in many important international and regional affairs. They have advanced practical cooperation and set up the world’s largest free trade area among developing countries.
China is now ASEAN’s biggest trade partner and ASEAN is China’s third largest trade partner. Last year, two-way trade exceeded 400 billion USD, five times that of 10 years ago, mutual investment totalled over 100 billion USD, three times that of 10 years ago.
China and ASEAN have increased people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Exchange of visits reached 15 million last year, four times that of 10 years ago. China has become ASEAN’s second largest source of tourists, and over 1,000 flights shuttle between the two sides every week.
Premier Li highly valued the two sides’ standing side by side in times of adversity over the past decade, saying that on the basis of successfully fending off the Asian financial crisis, the two sides properly responded to the international financial crisis, and helped each other in tackling such major natural disasters and epidemics as the Indian Ocean tsunami, the SARS epidemic and earthquakes.
He highlighted the China-ASEAN strategic partnership has made such good progress as it serves the fundamental interests of both sides and complies with the trend of the times for peace, development and cooperation in the region.
He emphasised the China-ASEAN relationship “now stands at a new historical starting point”, saying that the two sides need to explore new strategic breakthroughs, and jointly build a closer China-ASEAN community of common destiny.
Building on the past “golden decade”, the two sides need to make further efforts to create a new “diamond decade” for the future of China-ASEAN relations so as to bring more benefits to the people in this region, he added.
According to the Chinese Premier, to achieve the goals of the framework of strategic cooperation in the “diamond decade”, China is ready to actively discuss with ASEAN countries the signing of a treaty on good neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation to consolidate the political foundation for bilateral strategic mutual trust.
The two sides need to strengthen exchange and cooperation in security, improve the mechanism of the China-ASEAN defence ministers’ meeting and deepen cooperation in disaster prevention and relief, cyber security, combating transnational crimes, joint law enforcement and other non-traditional security.
They need to build an “upgraded version” of the China-ASEAN FTA, take concrete steps in trade in goods and services, investment cooperation and other areas to promote trade and investment liberation and facilitation and achieve the goal of 1 trillion USD of two-way trade by 2020.
China proposes to establish an Asian infrastructure investment bank and meet, on a priority basis, some ASEAN countries’ need for financial support in infrastructure building.
The two sides need to strengthen financial cooperation to jointly guard against new risks, increase the size and scope of bilateral currency swap, expand the pilot programme of settling cross-border trade with local currencies and enhance cooperation on the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation.
They need to build a maritime cooperation partnership, intensify practical cooperation on marine economy, maritime connectivity, marine environment protection and scientific research, and maritime search and rescue, and work together to build the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st century.
Premier Li said as a member of the big Asian family, China’s destiny is closely linked with those of other Asian countries. China needs a peaceful and stable neighbouring environment for development.
“We will always work for good neighbourly relations and mutual beneficial cooperation with our neighbours, and will properly manage differences and disagreements with them,” he affirmed.
ASEAN is a priority on China’s diplomatic agenda regarding the neighbourhood, he said, adding that his country will firmly support
ASEAN in growing stronger and playing a leading role in East Asia cooperation.
The development of the East Asia cooperation has brought tangible benefits to the region. No matter how the situation may change, a peaceful and stable environment in East Asia must be maintained and efforts will focus on development and on improving people’s live.
“At present, we need to concentrate on tackling the underlying impact of the global financial crisis and maintain the momentum of sustained development,” he stressed, adding that China calls for adhering to the “East Asia cooperation spirit”, upholding the principles of ASEAN centrality, consensus building and accommodating the comfort level of all parties, and promoting a regional cooperation model with East Asian features.
Regarding the East Sea issue, China and ASEAN countries have had many in-depth discussions and reached consensus, he said.
The two sides signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) in 2002, which is a fundamental document for maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea. The DOC has established a series of important principles which reflect the wisdom of Asian countries in handling complicated problems.
As for economy, the Premier said in the face of the complex international and domestic situation and downward economic pressure, the Chinese government has stood its ground and responded in a calm way.
“We have maintained stability in and innovated on our macroeconomic policies. On the one hand, we have refrained from expanding fiscal deficit, and neither eased nor tightened monetary policy. On the other hand, we have taken a series of comprehensive policy measures to boost reform, energise the market, adjust the economic structure, and have seized every opportunity to transform and upgrade the economy,” he affirmed.
These measures are in line with the goal of maintaining steady growth and have effectively kept the economy on an even keel, he said.
In the first six months of this year, China’s GDP grew by 7.6 percent, and overall prices were stable. Since July, the Chinese economy enjoys a strong momentum of steady growth.
Over the past 30 years, the Chinese economy has benefited a great deal from opening up. China’s rapid growth has also contributed much to East Asia and the world. In the future, with parallel advancement of industrialisation, IT application, a new type of urbanisation and modern agriculture, China stands a good chance of sustained and sound growth.
It is projected that in the next five year, China’s import will reach 10 trillion USD, its outbound investment will top 500 billion USD and its overseas visits will exceed 400 million.
China hopes to share with ASEAN and other East Asian countries such tremendous business opportunities and make greater contribution to the development of ASEAN, other East Asian countries and the world, he said.
“We hope other countries will all play an active part in this process and create greater conditions and a better environment for our cooperation,” Li concluded.-VNA
