Zhang Bin
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) group of
developing countries occupies a unique and important position in
China's foreign relations. Common interests far outweigh any
differences between China and its ten ASEAN near neighbors of
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The opportunities for
cooperation are much more significant than any difficulties.
In
1997 China's President Jiang Zemin and the leaders of the ASEAN
countries issued the China-ASEAN Joint Statement. This identifies
objectives and guiding principles for a partnership of good
neighborliness and mutual trust between China and the ASEAN
countries. It looks forward into the world of the 21st century.
In
recent years within both the 10+1 (ASEAN + China) and the 10+3
(ASEAN + China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) frameworks,
China-ASEAN relations have seen broadly based and steady
improvement. Progress has already been significant.
The recent signing of the Framework Agreement on China-ASEAN
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation represented a new breakthrough.
China-ASEAN relations are as good now as they have been at any time
in the history of the region.
The following observations explore the background to success.
Looking first at aspects of economic and political cooperation they
move on to cooperation in non-traditional security and other fields
and a conclusion is presented.
Economic Cooperation
China considers the strengthening of trade and economic cooperation
to be an important channel for maintaining lasting peace and
security in the region. Therefore, China actively participates in
all forms of regional economic cooperation and strives to open new
avenues and raise the profile of multi-channel, multi-format and
multi-faceted regional economic cooperation working conjointly with
ASEAN and other East Asian countries.
Monetary and Financial Cooperation
Following the 1997 East Asian financial crisis, the countries of
the region have attached great importance to monetary and financial
cooperation. Within the 10+3 framework, China and ASEAN have
implemented a series of concrete measures aimed at fostering
cooperation.
China has actively implemented the Chiang Mai Initiatives. China
has concluded bilateral money-swap agreements with both Thailand
and Malaysia. Since 2001 the Chinese government has hosted a number
of technical forums for 10+3 central bankers in Beijing and
Shanghai. Results have been encouraging and future events are
expected.
Trade Cooperation
In
the past ten years, the volume of China-ASEAN trade has increased
fourfold reaching US$41 billion by 2001. The ASEAN block has become
China's fifth largest trading partner and this has been
reciprocated with China becoming the sixth largest market for the
ASEAN block. Two-way trade volume passed the US$33 billion mark in
the first half of 2002 alone.
At
the end of 2001, China and ASEAN agreed to establish a free-trade
area within a decade. Then on November 4, 2002 China and ASEAN
signed the Framework Agreement on China-ASEAN Comprehensive
Economic Cooperation. This marked the official launch of a process
that will lead to the establishment of a China-ASEAN free-trade
area by 2010.
The Framework Agreement will come into force on July 1, 2003 and
facilitate the elimination of both tariff and non-tariff barriers
to trade in goods and services.
It
sets out a sound legal basis by defining the targets for and scope
of the China-ASEAN free-trade area along with the measures and
timetable necessary for its implementation. In addition, China will
introduce special preferential tariff arrangements for four of the
10 ASEAN countries namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
With more than 1.8 billion consumers representing an aggregate GDP
of nearly US$2 trillion and trading volumes exceeding US$1
trillion, the free trade area is set to develop into one of the
world's top three economic blocs.
The establishment of the new free-trade area is expected to result
in a surge of nearly 50 percent in export trade in both
directions.
China's Ministry of Foreign
Trade and Economic Cooperation forecasts that trade volumes
between China and ASEAN will maintain annual growth rates of over
10 percent over the next three years.
On
November 4, 2002 China announced the implementation of its Asia
Debt Reduction Plan. This will reduce or write off debts owed by 6
Asian countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
This is another contribution made by China to promote mutual
development in East Asia.
Greater Mekong Sub-region Development
Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) development is a key component of
China-ASEAN cooperation for the new century. Economic cooperation
in this sub-region will help the partners exploit their various
economic strengths and expedite their economic and social
development. Such cooperation is based on equality, mutual trust
and mutual benefit. It serves to promote development through
self-reliance among a mutually supportive group of developing
countries.
Over the past ten years, Greater Mekong Sub-region economic
cooperation has resulted in many important achievements. In
infrastructure provision particularly there have been nearly 100
projects in such key fields as transportation, energy,
telecommunications, environment, tourism, human resource
development and in facilitating trade and investment.
China is the largest country in the Mekong River basin and attaches
great importance to development in the region.
In
2001 at the 10th Ministerial Conference, the GMS countries endorsed
a Strategic Framework for the Next Ten Years of the Greater Mekong
Sub-region Economic Cooperation Program. The GMS leaders also
reaffirmed a strategic action plan that included 11 flagship
programs in such areas as major transportation corridors, backbone
networks to support telecommunication, power networks, investment,
trade and tourism.
November 3, 2002 saw the first summit meeting in the continuing
development of Greater Mekong Sub-regional cooperation. At the
summit, China issued a national report on its participation in the
development of the Mekong River basin. This systematically outlined
China's plans and future key projects.
In
a keynote speech delivered at the summit meeting, Chinese Premier
Zhu Rongji presented three-point proposals for principles for
expansion of and improvement in the cooperation mechanisms based
on:
- Equality in consultation coupled with mutual benefit;
- A project centered approach with an emphasis on practical
outcomes;
- Progressive development with a focus on key areas.
It
can be anticipated that China's wholehearted participation will
serve to stimulate the development of the Mekong River basin. It
will prove conducive to an ASEAN integration process aimed at
narrowing development gaps among its members. In addition, China
has also shown itself willing to participate actively in other
sub-regional cooperation initiatives within the ASEAN framework,
such as the East ASEAN Growth Area.
Political Cooperation
Further deepening of cooperation must be well founded on political
mutual trust and all the signs now point to a new trend of East
Asian political integration. Political trust between China and its
ASEAN partners has reached a new high.
China views ASEAN as an important rising star on the global stage.
The Chinese government has always attached great importance to
ASEAN's positive role in maintaining regional peace and stability.
China continues to support ASEAN in taking the leading role in the
ASEAN Regional Forum.
China both highly values and actively participates in cooperation
with other East Asian countries. China continues to make
wholehearted efforts to build on and extend the success of ASEAN
through both 10+1 and 10+3 models.
It
is China's wish to continue working together with Japan and the
Republic of Korea (ROK) to support ASEAN's core role in the context
of the 10 countries of the ASEAN plus the 3 countries of China,
Japan and ROK.
China became a dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992. China supports
and values the goals and principles pursued by ASEAN in the Treaty
of Amity and Cooperation. China maintains a positive attitude
towards joining the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear
Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ).
On
November 4, 2002 after three years of consultation, China and the
ASEAN countries signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in
the South China Sea in the hope of bringing lasting peace and
stability to the region. This aims to reassure the world that the
South China Sea is not a potential flashpoint for war and that
China and ASEAN are fully capable of resolving disputes among
themselves peacefully through dialogue. China and ASEAN have
renounced the use of force and determined that they will maintain
the status quo and strengthen cooperation to resolve any disputes
they might have in the South China Sea. This milestone declaration
fully demonstrates that political trust between China and the ASEAN
countries has reached new heights.
China remains fully committed to dialogue and cooperation based on
international law and the principle of seeking mutual benefit when
settling disputes.
China has been clear and persistent in its stance on the South
China Sea, which is that territorial disputes should be resolved
through peaceful negotiations. All sides should seek a compromise
solution and be prepared to make concessions in order to maintain a
forward-looking and cooperative relationship.
China's cooperation with ASEAN on security matters is guided by a
fresh security concept for which China is an active and strong
advocate. In 1996 in light of current trends and the
characteristics of the Asia-Pacific region, China began to actively
promote the view that the countries of the region should work
together to cultivate a new concept of security. This would focus
on trust deepened through dialogue and security promoted through
cooperation.
The new concept is, in essence, to set aside a unilateral approach
to security in favor of seeking common security through mutually
beneficial cooperation. In China's view, mutual trust, mutual
benefit, equality and coordination are at the very core of this new
approach to security.
China is working to put this new security concept into practice.
Chinese leaders have actively promoted it on many occasions in
recent years, both in bilateral meetings and within multi-lateral
forums. The new security concept has become a cornerstone of
China's foreign policy.
Cooperation in Non-traditional Security
The very concept of security has now evolved from its roots in
military affairs and politics to embrace such diverse fields as
economics, science and technology, the environment and culture.
Today many countries face pressing problems relating to
non-traditional security issues. These can include terrorism, drug
trafficking, smuggling, illegal immigration, piracy and AIDS.
Current problems frequently transcend both national and regional
boundaries making them difficult for any one country to tackle in
isolation.
Multi-lateral cooperation is the only way forward. Cooperation in
non-traditional security matters should be systematically promoted
through efforts in many fields including politics, economics,
diplomacy, military affairs, legislation, science and
technology.
Much fresh progress has been made in non-traditional security
cooperation between China and ASEAN. This too is serving well as a
test of China's new security concept.
At
the 2001 summit meeting, Chinese premier Zhu Rongji proposed that,
while maintaining economic cooperation as its core area, 10+3
cooperation should gradually develop into the fields of political
and security cooperation taking non-traditional security issues as
its starting point.
ASEAN already holds annual ministerial meetings. China, Japan and
the Republic of Korea are to set up a new meeting forum at the
level of their ministers of public security. Based on these two
mechanisms, China has proposed an annual cycle of 10+3 ministerial
meetings specifically intended to target international crime.
In
2002 the 6th China-ASEAN summit has seen the issue of a joint
declaration on cooperation in non-traditional security issues.
Opening up new channels for bilateral cooperation, it has set out
the priorities and identified areas for cooperation.
Cooperation in Other Fields
China-ASEAN cooperation has also seen advances in such other fields
as agriculture, information technology, human resources
development, science and technology, transportation and
tourism.
At
the 10+1 summit meeting in 2001, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and
ASEAN leaders together identified the key areas for bilateral
cooperation for the early years of new century. Cooperation in
these fields is already being strengthened.
Agriculture
In
recent years, China-ASEAN cooperation in agriculture has made good
progress. Many training courses, workshops and forums on
agricultural technology together with associated personnel training
have been held both in China and in the ASEAN countries.
November 2, 2002 saw the signing of the China-ASEAN Memorandum of
Understanding on Agriculture. This had been realized alongside the
activities of the ASEAN Summit. The memorandum focuses on medium
and long-term agricultural cooperation in the fields of hybrid
rice, fisheries and aquaculture, biotechnology, farm products and
machinery. This is being seen as just the first step in the most
important area of China-ASEAN agricultural cooperation.
Information Technology
China has always supported and participated in E-ASEAN development.
In the years to come, China will redouble its efforts in IT
training for ASEAN personnel and take an active part in the
development of the infrastructure necessary to support IT in the
ASEAN countries.
In
April 2001 in Shenzhen, China's Ministry of Information Industry
hosted the first China-ASEAN Information and Communication
Technology Seminar. A second event took place in Indonesia in
2002.
On
June 18, 2002 in Singapore there were meetings involving the
E-ASEAN Working Group (EAWG). Cast in the familiar 10+1 and 10+3
moulds these brought together (EAWG + China) and (EAWG + China,
Japan and ROK) respectively. The Chinese delegates submitted a
proposal for a memorandum of understanding on mid and long-term IT
cooperation between China and ASEAN. It is hoped that given a
positive response from ASEAN, it could be signed later this
year.
Human Resources Development
2001 was the year immediately following China's announcement that
it would contribute a further US$5 million to the China-ASEAN
Cooperation Fund. In this year China proposed 14 cooperative
projects in the field of human resources development. Most of these
projects have already been implemented and the results have been
encouraging.
In
2002 China brought forward proposals for another seven cooperative
projects. All were approved at the 4th meeting of the ASEAN-China
Joint Cooperation Committee and are now being implemented.
Science and Technology
China has always attached great importance to strengthening
cooperation with ASEAN countries on science and technology. When
the China-ASEAN Joint Committee on Science and Technology met in
October 2001, both parties put forward a series of proposals for
cooperative projects. These cooperation projects will be rolled out
step by step in due course.
Transportation
In
2001 at the 5th in the series of 10+1 summit meetings, Chinese
Premier Zhu Rongji proposed the establishment of a mechanism for
meetings of transport ministers to further strengthen communication
and coordination.
On
May 2, 2002 China and ASEAN reached agreement on terms of reference
for ASEAN-China cooperation aimed at improving land, maritime and
air transport together with related infrastructure and
services.
In
September 2002 the first China-ASEAN Transport Ministers' Meeting
was held in Jakarta. Agreement was reached to strengthen all-round
cooperation in issues relating to transport by land, water and
air.
China has invested US$5 million to dredge the upper reaches of the
Mekong River, known in China as the Lanchang River. In addition
China will provide US$30 million to fund one-third of the Laos
section of the Kunming-Bangkok highway. China also supports the
construction of the Pan-Asia railway to run between Kunming and
Singapore.
Tourism
All the ASEAN countries have become tourist destinations for
Chinese citizens with the number of visitors increasing every year.
In return almost 2 million tourists came to China from the ASEAN
countries in 2002 alone.
China has governmental tourism cooperation agreements or memoranda
of understanding on cooperation in tourism with a number of ASEAN
countries including Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam
and Myanmar.
The first 10+3 Tourism Ministers' Meeting was convened in
Yogyakarta, Indonesia on January 23-25, 2002. This marked the
formal launch of cooperation on tourism within the 10+3
framework.
ASEAN countries were active participants at the China International
Tourism Fair held in Shanghai in November 2002.
Conclusion
China hopes for an increasingly peaceful and favorable
international environment in which to pursue its economic
development. The main task for China's diplomacy in the new century
is to seek to ensure just such an environment. This is particularly
important in its immediate surroundings. To that end, China sticks
steadfastly to good-neighborly and amity policies. The guiding
principle of China's diplomacy with neighboring countries is to be
friendly and to make partners of all its neighbors.
In
recent years China has grown to become an important driver of
economic growth in East Asia. Thanks to China's contributions to
the regional economy, neighboring countries have reduced their
skepticism and increased their trust in China. In place of China
threat, they have increasingly acknowledged the concept of China
opportunity. ASEAN now has less apprehension and a greater trust of
China.
Comprehensive cooperation between China and ASEAN remains
fundamental to the promotion of the East Asian cooperative process
and regional stability, growth and common prosperity. China and
ASEAN have entered into a new and mature stage in their
cooperation.
(The author is from China Institute of International Studies)
(China.org.cn January 13, 2003)