China takes a constructive attitude towards the upcoming 1st
East Asian Summit in Kuala Lumpur, according to Cui Tiankai,
director of the Chinese Foreign
Ministry's Asian Department, at a news briefing Wednesday,
Cui said China is looking forward to a summit that can
demonstrate the common ground of all parties and is beneficial to
the current regional cooperation.
He said China is OK with any effort to this end.
The 16 participants to the summit include the 10 member states
of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China,
Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), India, Australia and New
Zealand.
The leaders from the participating countries will exchange views
on how to build up regional collaboration and deal with political,
economic and social affairs. A joint declaration will be proposed
at the end of the meeting.
"The future of the summit depends on what can be achieved from
this round of the meeting," he noted.
Cui told the press there was a long story behind the summit,
saying the whole process started in 1997 when a financial crisis
highlighted the need for closer cooperation.
ASEAN countries launched the initiative and invited China, Japan
and ROK to join them in this process. In the last few years,
significant progress has been made, so the involved countries are
convinced it's high time to kick off the 1st East Asian summit.
ASEAN set out three criteria for participation: signing a Treaty
of Amity and Cooperation; to be an existing ASEAN dialogue partner;
and to have existing substantive cooperation with ASEAN.
The signatory countries include China, Japan, the ROK, Russia
and India. Australia indicated its readiness to sign the treaty.
Russia is formally applying for membership.
Cui said the summit is open and is bound to see a larger number
of participants in the years to come.
"We welcome the involvement of and contribution by any country
that meets the three criteria set by ASEAN," he said.
Commenting on the absence of the United States at the summit,
Cui said, "We are aware of the interests expressed by the US in the
process. We welcome constructive contribution from the US."
Whether the US can be incorporated into the process is a
decision that has to be made by the US itself and ASEAN, he
added.
Comparing the forthcoming East Asian Summit with the ASEAN plus
China, Japan and the ROK Summit (10 plus 3), Cui said the 10 plus 3
summit is already a success in facilitating regional cooperation
and can do better.
Premier Wen
Jiabao is to go on an official tour of four European countries
before stopping in Malaysia in mid-December, where he will attend
the ninth Summit between China and ASEAN, the ninth ASEAN plus
China, Japan and the ROK Summit, and the First East Asian
Summit.
(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2005)