China, Japan, South Korea Agree on Enhancing Economic Cooperation

Zhu Rongji Joins Hands with Kim Dae-jung and Yoshiro Mori

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Premier Zhu Rongji, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and South Korean President Kim Dae Jung reached a consensus November 24 on enhancing their countries' economic and trade cooperation.

The three leaders met at a breakfast meeting in advance of their summit with leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to be held in the afternoon.

At the breakfast meeting, the leaders exchanged views on promoting the three countries' cooperation as well as their cooperation with ASEAN.

Zhu said that China, Japan and South Korea, weighing heavily in East Asian politics and economy, can play an active role in promoting East Asian cooperation. Zhu told Mori and Kim that the conditions for enhancing the trilateral cooperation among Japan, South Korea and China are gradually maturing. Zhu proposed that they give more support to trilateral economic and trade cooperation and encourage Chinese, Japanese and South Korean enterprises to establish links. Mori and Kim agreed to Zhu's initiative.

Zhu also briefed Mori and Kim on China's suggestions to increase cooperation between ASEAN and China, Japan and South Korea. Zhu said China would put forward some concrete proposals on enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation with ASEAN. He stressed that China's entry into the WTO will further promote the development of economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN by creating new opportunities.

Zhu proposed to set up a tripartite task force on information technology to study the cooperation of the three countries and how to give a hand to the development of ASEAN's information industry.

Zhu also proposed to set 2002 as the personnel exchange year of China, Japan, South Korea and increase the environmental cooperation among the three countries.

Mori and Kim voiced their support to Zhu's proposals. The three leaders agreed on initializing the cooperation among the three countries' economic research institutes, in order to offer policy consultation and suggestions to their governments. South Korea suggested that the capitals of the three countries increase cultural exchanges while Japan put forward a proposal on launching a program on youth leadership exchanges.

The three leaders agreed that it is useful that, on the side lines of the summit meetings of East Asian leaders, an informal summit of China, South Korea and Japan be held to focus on the three countries' cooperation as well as theirs with ASEAN in the fields of economy and trade, science and technology, and environmental protection.

China Values Relations with ASEAN

The Premier said that China attaches great importance to developing relations of cooperation, partnership, good neighborliness and mutual trust with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) when meeting with Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in Istana (the presidential palace) on Thursday, November 23.

Zhu said that China is willing to join efforts with ASEAN countries in promoting cooperation across East Asia.

In face of the trend of globalization and the fast development of high technology, seeking development through cooperation is in conformity with the common interests of all the countries in the region, the Chinese premier said.