China Hopes Sino-ASEAN Free Trade Area Talk

China is ready to work with the ASEAN to launch negotiations on the free trade area as soon as possible, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said Tuesday in Bandar Seri Begawan.

He gave suggestions on promoting Sino-ASEAN ties in the future at the 5th leaders meeting between the ASEAN and China, and pushing forward to build up China-ASEAN Free Trade Area tops his agenda.

Zhu said that the Expert Group for China-ASEAN Economic Cooperation has submitted a report suggesting that China and ASEAN countries establish a free trade area within 10 years.

This is a major event for promoting the long-term development of China-ASEAN relations, and China gives it full support and will implement the commitments it has made at the China-ASEAN SEOM, he said.

China will grant special preferential tariff treatment to three least developed countries (LDC) of ASEAN -- Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar -- in good time, Zhu noted, adding that relevant details could be discussed through bilateral channels.

The premier also hopes to strengthen mutual trust and support politically, saying China approves of the purposes and principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and gives favorable consideration to joining it.

China will continue to support ASEAN's efforts to establish a Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone and is ready to sign as soon as possible the Protocol of the Treaty on Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone, Zhu noted.

He said China is ready to complete the consultations with ASEAN on the code of conduct for the South China Sea region at an early date.

The premier also suggested the fields of agriculture, information communications, human resources development, two-way investment and the development of the Mekong River to be the priority fields for near-term cooperation.

Sino-ASEAN Cooperation Shows Exuberant Vitality

Facts show the solid foundation sustaining the cooperation between China and the ASEAN, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said Tuesday in Bandar Seri Begawan

Addressing the 5th leaders meeting between the ASEAN and China, Zhu said that despite the current global economic slowdown, the investment and trade between China and ASEAN maintains marked growth. For the first three quarters of 2001, the bilateral trade volume reached US$30.3 billion, a 6.8% increase over the same period last year.

The premier said that Sino-ASEAN cooperation has made fresh progress this year, referring to the frequent high-level exchanges and developing trade and economic cooperation.

He noted that China and ASEAN countries are all developing countries, and have forged close ties since ancient times. For the past decade in particular, the two sides have constantly enriched their cooperation and established a partnership of good-neighborliness and mutual trust oriented towards the 21st century.

Zhu said that the Chinese Government adheres to the policy of deepening the friendly and good-neighborly ties and cooperation with ASEAN countries We support ASEAN's efforts to safeguard national unity and territorial integrity, as well as the ASEAN integration process.

The premier stressed that China's accession to WTO will provide other countries, especially the ASEAN countries, with better environment for investment and more business opportunities. Besides, it will create more favorable conditions for Chinese enterprises to invest and set up businesses in neighboring countries including ASEAN members. He said China is ready to work together to create a new phase of China-ASEAN mutually beneficial cooperation.

Zhu promised that China will strictly abide by the market rules of international practice and conscientiously fulfill all the commitments it made after its entry into the WTO.

( November 6, 2001)