Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday delivered a speech
entitled "Join Hands to Create a Better Future for China-ASEAN
Relations" at the summit marking the 15th anniversary of the
establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue. The full text of the speech
is as follows:
Join Hands to Create a Better Future for China-ASEAN
Relations
Dear Colleagues,
Today, we, the leaders of China and ASEAN countries are meeting
here in the beautiful city of Nanning to celebrate the 15th
anniversary of the China-ASEAN dialogue relations. First of all, I
would like to extend, on behalf of the Chinese Government, a very
warm welcome to you.
Fifteen years ago, the opening of dialogue process between China
and ASEAN turned a new page in relations between the two sides.
Looking back at the past 15 years, we are glad to see that
China-ASEAN relations have come a long way from removal of
misgivings to commencement of dialogue to enhancement of mutual
trust and to the final establishment of strategic partnership.
Thanks to our joint efforts, our bilateral relations have made
progress unseen in history. Relations between China and ASEAN have
never been as good as they are today.
In the political field, mutual trust is growing. China was the
first ASEAN dialogue partner to join the Treaty of Amity and
Cooperation in Southeast Asia and to establish strategic
partnership for peace and prosperity with ASEAN. The two sides
jointly issued the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the
South China Sea.
Economically, we are moving towards greater integration. In just
15 years, our trade grew by 15 times, from less than US$8 billion
in 1991 to over US$130 billion in 2005. By the end of last year,
ASEAN countries had set up close to 30,000 investment projects in
China, with a total investment of about US$40 billion. China's
investment in ASEAN countries has also grown. We were the first to
start the process of establishing a free trade area and have signed
the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation
between China and ASEAN.
We enjoy extensive cooperation in priority areas. We have
decided to advance bilateral cooperation in all areas in a
comprehensive way for the period of 2005 to 2010 and have
identified ten priority areas, i.e. agriculture, information
industry, human resources development, mutual investment, Mekong
River Basin development, transport, energy, culture, tourism and
public health. Effective mechanisms have been set up to carry out
such cooperation. All the ten ASEAN countries are now approved
destinations for Chinese tourists. In 2005 alone, there were over
6.5 million visits between the two sides.
We extend mutual support in addressing issues of public
security. When the Asian financial crisis and major emergencies or
natural disasters occurred, such as SARS, the avian influenza and
the Indian Ocean tsunami, we stood side by side, helped each other
and overcame the difficulties. We maintain close coordination in
upholding stability and promoting cooperation in our region. China
and ASEAN are both committed to a peaceful and stable East Asia.
The two sides have worked together to advance the 10 + 1, 10 + 3
and East Asia cooperation and coordinated positions in the
Asia-Europe cooperation process. China consistently supports
ASEAN's leading role in regional affairs and regional
cooperation.
China-ASEAN friendship and cooperation have contributed to
economic and social progress in our respective countries and made
life better for our peoples. Moreover, our cooperation has
facilitated regional integration, raised the competitiveness and
international profile of our region and promoted peace and
prosperity in Asia. China-ASEAN relations are a fine example of
friendly exchanges between countries in this region. They have
brought real benefits to the peoples of China and ASEAN countries
and made important contribution to peace, stability and prosperity
in Asia and the world at large.
From the impressive growth of China-ASEAN relations in the past
15 years, we can draw the following conclusions:
First, peaceful development is the prerequisite for the growth
of China-ASEAN relations. We both firmly pursue a policy of good
neighborliness and friendship, see each other as cooperative
partners and take other's development as an opportunity, not a
threat. We are both committed to peace and stability and we both
work for prosperity and well-being of our peoples. That is why our
relations have become a model of harmony and common development
among countries.
Second, equality and mutual trust are the foundation of
China-ASEAN relations. We respect and treat each other as equals
and endeavor to develop consensus by seeking common grounds while
putting aside differences. With the overall interests and the
strategic importance of our relations in mind, we have addressed
each other's concerns with sensitivity and handled issues in
bilateral relations appropriately. This has enabled our relations
to stand the test of volatile changes in the international
environment and move towards maturity.
Third, win-win cooperation is the goal for China-ASEAN
relations. Basing ourselves on our respective national conditions
and long-term development needs, we have enjoyed mutual
understanding, support and help in our joint effort to meet the
challenges posed by economic globalization as well as traditional
and non-traditional security threats. We have expanded exchanges
and coordination and broadened our common interests. Indeed, we
have embarked upon a new path of promoting mutual benefit and
win-win cooperation.
Fourth, people's support is the driving force behind China-ASEAN
relations. Our cooperation helps reduce poverty, narrow development
gap, speed up growth and deliver a better life for our peoples. We
have endeavored to deepen mutual understanding and friendship among
our peoples, thus creating enormous popular support for China-ASEAN
friendship, and this is the inexhaustible source of strength for
growing our bilateral ties.
Dear Colleagues,
In the four decades since its establishment, ASEAN has made
remarkable progress in strengthening itself through unity and grown
into an important regional and global force for peace and
development. The "ASEAN Way" that advocates consensus building and
non-interference in other's internal affairs has both consolidated
unity in the organization and enhanced state-to-state relations in
the region. Guided by the principle of flexibility, pragmatism and
gradualism, ASEAN has made solid progress in community building and
become a successful example of cooperation among developing
countries. By being open and inclusive and taking new initiatives,
ASEAN has initiated and advanced regional cooperation, becoming a
major driving force for cooperation in Asia.
We in China have great admiration for the achievements of ASEAN
and sincerely wish you greater success in development.
China supports ASEAN in accelerating integration and community
building and its leading role in regional cooperation. We are
convinced that a strong, proud, independent, united, stable and
prosperous ASEAN will make greater contribution to world peace and
development. To support ASEAN's development, the Chinese Government
will donate US$1 million to the ASEAN Development Fund and provide
funding assistance of US$1 million for the relevant projects under
the Initiative for ASEAN Integration. China also offers to train
8,000 ASEAN professionals in different fields in the next five
years and invites 1,000 young people from ASEAN countries to visit
China.
Dear Colleagues,
To consolidate and enhance China-ASEAN friendship and
cooperation is our shared objective. We should seize the
opportunity to strengthen and enrich our cooperation and explore
new ways to usher our bilateral relations in a new stage. To this
end, I propose that we take the following steps:
First, enhance strategic coordination. We should maintain
regular high-level exchange of visits and expand links between
governments, parliaments and political parties to increase mutual
trust. We should keep close coordination and cooperation on major
regional and international issues and ensure that ASEAN remain at
the core of East Asia cooperation and that 10 + 3 serve as the main
vehicle in East Asia cooperation. We should uphold the authority
and role of the United Nations and work together to make the
international political and economic order a more just and
equitable one.
Second, enrich bilateral cooperation. We should consider signing
a follow-up agreement on expanding economic and trade ties as well
as the relevant institutional arrangement, on the basis of the
Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between
China and ASEAN. The Agreement on Trade in Goods should be fully
implemented and negotiation on trade in service and investment
should be accelerated to speed up the process of establishing the
China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. We should press ahead with the
construction of the Kunming-Singapore Railway and the Asia highway
network, launch energy cooperation and advance result-oriented
cooperation in the ten priority areas.
Third, ensure common security. We should expand military
dialogue and exchanges, conduct and institutionalize defense
cooperation, continue to implement the Declaration on the Conduct
of Parties in the South China Sea and promote joint development of
the South China Sea. China supports the establishment of a
nuclear-weapon-free zone in Southeast Asia and is ready to sign the
Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free
Zone at an early date. We should also step up cooperation on
cross-border issues concerning counter-terrorism, transnational
crimes, maritime security, rescue operation and disaster
relief.
Fourth, foster closer people-to-people exchanges. We should
enhance cooperation in science and technology, culture and
education and sports, strengthen links between social groups,
media, and educational and research institutes, conduct regular
cultural, art and sports events and increase exchanges between
local communities. Young people are our hope and future. They
should be encouraged to work in each other's countries as
volunteers to deepen mutual understanding and friendship and this
will enable our friendship to pass on from generation to
generation.
China is committed to good neighborly relations, friendship and
cooperation with ASEAN countries and China-ASEAN strategic
partnership. We will adhere to the policies of "pursuing good
neighborly relations and partnership with neighbors" and "fostering
a harmonious, secure and prosperous neighborly environment". China
will remain a good neighbor, good partner and good friend of
ASEAN.
Today, we are opening a new page in China-ASEAN relations, and
we have full confidence about our future. Let us redouble effort to
lift China-ASEAN strategic partnership to a higher level, enhance
development of East Asia and promote peace, security and prosperity
both in Asia and the whole world.
Thank you.
(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2006)