The ASEAN-China multi-faceted cooperation, especially in the
economic field, is of great importance to the international
economic integration, a local official told Xinhua Thursday.
The relationship, which has comprehensively and drastically
developed in such fields as economy, politics and security, meets
fundamental and long-term aspiration of the peoples from members of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, and
contributes to improving their mutual understanding, said Do Hoai
Nam, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Social Science.
The cooperative ties, suitable to the world's common trend of
peace, cooperation, and development, also contributes to
supplementing resources to each other's development, helping them
better adapt to rapid changes of both international and regional
situations, said Nam, who is also director of the Vietnam Economic
Institute.
"The promotion of ASEAN-China cooperation, including the
acceleration of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA)
establishment, will be one of effective measures to reduce
challenges, and create opportunities for common development and
benefits for both sides, especially in the context that the trade
protectionism tends to increase for the time being," he said.
The two sides hope to complete their negotiations on service
liberalization late 2006, a move to set up the CAFTA in 2010, Nam
said, noting that the China-ASEAN trade volume is expected to rise
to some US$1.2 trillion after the area's establishment from US$72.7
billion in the first half of this year, and more than US$130
billion dollars last year.
In 2002, the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation was signed between ASEAN and China, kicking off the
process of building the CAFTA, which is expected to house 1.7
billion consumers and post gross domestic product (GDP) of US$2
trillion after its establishment, he said.
In addition to the CAFTA establishment, China's economic growth
is of significance, bringing about opportunities to the development
of the ASEAN, which groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam, Nam said.
"China's development, especially with its annual imports of
US$600 billion is a precious opportunity for ASEAN members to boost
exports to the big and diversified market," he said.
However, the challenges can be dealt with through promoting the
bilateral cooperation, he said.
On the relations between Vietnam and China, Nam said the
bilateral comprehensive cooperation contributes to peace,
stability, and development in the region and the world.
In the current context, bilateral cooperation is of significance
to each country's development, Nam said, adding that learning
experiences from China in social science development is Vietnam's
first priority.
"I believe that the upcoming visit to Vietnam by Chinese
President Hu Jintao will bring the two countries' cooperative
relations to a new height," he said.
On the free trade relations between ASEAN and other countries in
the region, Nam said ASEAN is setting up free trade relations with
many countries in the region, such as Japan, South Korea,
Australia, New Zealand and India.
The regional bloc started its negotiations in 2005 on
establishing a free trade area with Japan in 2012, and signed a
joint statement on comprehensive economic cooperation with South
Korea in 2004 aimed at setting up an ASEAN-South Korea free trade
area.
"The internal cooperation in parallel with external economic
relation development, especially with big partners, helps ASEAN
become dynamic region and have a new status in international ties,"
he said.
To bring ASEAN's role into full play, it is necessary to improve
the bloc's internal integration, strengthen its consensus, increase
its institutional capacity, and well prepare internal conditions
for rapidly and stably accelerating its conversion from an
association to a community, Nam said.
"We hold that a powerful ASEAN must be a highly-united ASEAN, so
speeding up the process of establishing the ASEAN Community in 2020
and the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015, must be a prioritized
target."
Vietnam attaches "great importance to the ASEAN's rapid and
stable development, and the consolidation and promotion of ASEAN's
ties with countries in the region," Nam said.
The comprehensive cooperation between China and ASEAN members,
stability and development in East Asia are very necessary for
Vietnam's development and integration.
(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2006)