ASEAN Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong said in Kuala Lumpur yesterday that ASEAN and China have nurtured good partnership in the past 10 years ever since China became the regional grouping's dialogue partner, and the relationship is expected to be more prosperous and stronger in the next five years.

 

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency, the ASEAN secretary-general said China has been playing a positive and significant role in pushing forward the development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a dialogue partner, and ASEAN expects China to contribute more in addressing some challenges the regional grouping faces.

 

The ASEAN chief is here to attend the 39th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM)/Post Ministerial Conferences/13th ASEAN Regional Forum due to open today.

 

ASEAN has made good progress in achieving its common goal of ASEAN Community as envisaged for 2020 and the community spirit is stronger, said Ong. However, more efforts have to be made for community building as ASEAN member countries "are still thinking like an individual country."

 

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

 

ASEAN expects China to play a more active role in regional affairs and to help stabilize political situation in the region, said Ong.

 

China and ASEAN member countries need to join forces in addressing issues concerning quality of life and in striking a balance between development and environment, said the ASEAN chief.

 

ASEAN countries are exposed to natural disasters like earthquake and flooding as they are running short of such natural defense like jungle and trees because they are cutting off more and more trees, exploiting mineral resources and even overfishing. This environmental issue is not only a domestic problem, it also takes international cooperation, he said.

 

ASEAN welcomes more investments from China in the next five years and the two sides are committed to enhancing people-to-people linkage in the years to come.

 

On the ongoing Middle East crisis, Ong said ASEAN has reached a common understanding, calling on the UN to make more efforts to bring a cease-fire and to stop the killing of innocent civilians.

 

On the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, the ASEAN chief said ASEAN is committed to a peaceful peninsula and wants the six parties to come together to find a solution. The six-party talks, which involve China, the US, Russia, Japan, South and North Korea are a series of meetings aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the Korean nuclear issue.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2006)