Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Monday called for enhanced cooperation
among East Asian countries for mutual development.
He
said China values and supports the current cooperation among East
Asian countries and supports the continued important role played by
ASEAN (
Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
Zhu made the remarks Monday at the summit of 10+3 ( meeting of
ASEAN nations and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) after
arriving in Brunei on Sunday to attend the fifth summit of 10+3 and
10+1 (meeting of ASEAN nations and China).
Zhu said the 10+3 mechanism, as the main channel of Eastern Asia
cooperation, should be geared to improve the cooperation framework
of regional trade and investment; promote mutually beneficial
cooperation in finance, science and technology, information and
environmental protection; and ensure greater regional economic
integration and common development.
"At the same time, efforts should be made to gradually carry out
dialogue and cooperation in the political and security fields,
consistent with the principles of consensus and incremental
progress,'' Zhu added.
The 10+3 cooperation should retain its openness and be ready to
explore ways of establishing contacts with other regional
cooperation mechanisms in the world as may be appropriate, said
Zhu.
He
also called for coordinated development of the 10+3 and the three
sets of 10+1 cooperation (ASEAN nations with China, Japan and the
Republic of Korea respectively).
China, Japan and the Republic of Korea can bring into play their
respective advantages while giving support to ASEAN's integration
process, Zhu said.
The three sets of 10+1 cooperation also need to strengthen
coordination among themselves, according to Zhu. Zhu urged the 10+3
mechanism be developed to continue pushing financial
cooperation.
He
revealed that China and Thailand will soon sign a currency swap
agreement upon conclusion of negotiations. Similar negotiations are
proceeding vigorously between China and a few other countries.
China will hold a high-level seminar on the management of
short-term capital flow, with a view to launching cooperation in
monitoring short-term capital flow next year.
China will also continue to provide training programmes on fiscal
policy and finance for some countries under the cooperation
mechanism.
Zhu called for more personal exchanges to enhance understanding and
support of people in eastern Asian countries.
China supports a 10+3 tourism ministers' meeting early next
year.
Zhu proposed that the summit conduct dialogue and cooperation in
the field of non-traditional security when transnational crimes
such as terrorism, drug trafficking and illegal immigration become
rampant and pose acute threats to regional and global security.
Leaders of the 10+3 exchanged views on anti-terrorism during
Monday's luncheon.
They expressed their opposition to terrorism in any form and agreed
to enhance anti-terrorism consultation and cooperation under the
framework of the United Nation's charter.
China supports the anti-terrorism statement issued by ASEAN and
takes the same stance as ASEAN on anti-terrorism, Zhu said, urging
that the international community take a consistent position
opposing any terrorism which is targeted at any nation in any place
at any time.
And anti-terrorism efforts should not harm innocent citizens, Zhu
added.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The 10+3 cooperation mechanism, which emerged four years ago amidst
the Asian financial crisis, focused on economic issues, starting
with financial cooperation.
The East Asia Joint Statement, issued at the Manila Meeting in
1999, identified eight key areas of cooperation, including
economic, social, political and security fields.
The mechanism centres around the annual summit, complemented by
ministerial and working level meetings, which facilitates
cooperation progress in various areas.
(China Daily November
6, 2001)