Singapore's founding leader Lee Kuan Yew said Thursday that the
China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) reached in 2002 offers
ASEAN countries an opportunity to ride on China's fast economic
growth.
Lee, who retains the title "Minister Mentor", said in an
exclusive interview with Xinhua that China and Singapore should
speed up discussions on a free trade agreement, which would have
only economic, but also strategic, importance.
"China made a strategic decision in 1999 when former Premier Zhu
Rongji proposed a Free Trade Agreement between China and the ASEAN
which gave the ASEAN early harvesting," Lee said, adding that "this
was an effective way to allow ASEAN countries to benefit from
China's high economic growth."
Now that the bilateral trade in goods has "walked a good step
forward," Lee said it was now time to expand the cooperation to the
service sector.
Lee said all countries should press ahead with steps to
liberalize investments and air services in order to realize the
full potential of what could be one of the largest free trade areas
in the world.
He proposed that the CAFTA should be reviewed and liberalized
every few years to keep up with the progress in closer economic
ties between the ASEAN and China.
Having witnessed the reforms China has made, Lee stressed the
importance of environmental issues as China continues its rapid
economic development.
He said Singapore was willing to work with China to tackle
environmental issues, saying that the issue needs to be solved
through international cooperation.
In April, Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong suggested to
China's Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice Premier Wu Yi He that China
choose a suitable Chinese city to collaborate with Singapore in
cleaning up and reducing pollution in a bid to create a more
eco-friendly city.
"Alternatively, both sides can collaborate to develop a new city
close to an existing metropolis, which will be
environmentally-friendly and sustainable in its development," the
Minister Mentor said.
This will be discussed in the annual joint ministerial meeting
to be held later this year, he said.
He said Singapore had an excellent relationship with China, but
both sides should look at ways to move it forward.
Lee said that if faithfully implemented, China's policy of
building a harmonious society and harmonious world means it will
play a positive role in maintaining peace and stability in the
world, and will promote economic progress in the countries which
have business relations with China.
(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2007)
