China's relations with the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) have reached a new era with the nation, joining in
the association's 40th anniversary celebrations.
Premier Wen Jiabao will send a message of congratulation today
to Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, whose country
currently holds ASEAN's rotating presidency. While Foreign Minister
Yang Jiechi will attend a celebration reception at the invitation
of the ASEAN mission in China.
"Over the past 40 years, ASEAN has made a series of important
achievements, promoting the economic development of its member
states, pushing forward regional integration and improving the
region's overall strength," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu
Jianchao in a statement. "It has also made an important
contribution to peace and stability, development and prosperity
across the Asia Pacific region.
"China will, as always, support the closer integration of ASEAN
and its leading role in regional cooperation, continuously pushing
forward our bilateral strategic partnership."
?
Relationships between China and ASEAN states cover political,
economic and legal frameworks and facilitate communication and
cooperation, according to Hu Zhengyue, director-general of the
department of Asian affairs with Foreign Ministry.
"Closer cooperation between the two sides is mutually
beneficial, offering mutual political respect, economic development
and the chance to share our different experiences," Hu said.
According to Hu, China's ties with ASEAN have expanded rapidly,
especially over the past decade, culminating in the signing of a
series of landmark political documents in 2002.
Five years ago the two sides signed the Declaration on the
Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, agreeing to resolve
disputes through negotiation and ensure regional peace through
cooperation.
The China-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement,
inked the same year, began work and progress towards establishing a
China-ASEAN free trade area before 2010.
In 2003, the two sides established a strategic partnership,
laying the foundation for the long-term development of their
dialogue. Later that year, China entered into the Treaty of Amity
and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, becoming the first country
outside the member states to join the treaty.
Hu said a joint statement issued at the commemorative summit
marking the 15th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue last year,
showed how far the development of relationship had come.
Economically, Hu said, economic cooperation has been very
active, with the value trade rising dramatically. The two-way trade
volume reached US$160.9 billion last year - more than 20 times its
1991 level.
ASEAN has been, for the past 14 consecutive years, China's fifth
largest trading partner and by the end of last year ASEAN members
had invested a total of US$41.8 billion in the country.
Hu said China and ASEAN are highly complementary economies,
noting that China offers a huge market for ASEAN products such as
rubber, palm oil and tropical fruit. "In addition, China can lend
its advanced technology and management experience to ASEAN in the
fields of agricultural production and infrastructure construction,
which are weak points for ASEAN's members," Hu said.
He added that China and ASEAN are at a similar stage of
development, saying "China's support and help is very significant
for ASEAN's development and vice versa."
Concerning security cooperation, Hu repeated China's position of
stepping up cooperation with ASEAN members to maintain maritime
security and present a united front against non-traditional
security threats such as terrorism or disease.
"Being a user of the Strait of Malacca, China is willing to take
part in the relevant security cooperation and safeguard the strait
through dialogue," Hu said.
He added that China attaches great importance to maritime
security and will work together with ASEAN members in the fight
against pirates, maritime smuggling and drug-trafficking.
In 2002, the two sides signed a joint declaration on cooperation
in the fields of non-traditional security and two years later
signed a memorandum of understanding on the agreement, defining
their cooperation in eight areas including illegal immigration,
terrorism and cyber crime.
The memorandum of understanding also drafted a five-year working
plan and it is expected that the two sides will form an
international law-enforcement framework by next year, Hu said.
China is also willing to cooperate to prevent the proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction and Hu said the nation hoped to join
the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone soon.
(China Daily August 8, 2007)
