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)