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Premier Zhu Spells out 5-Point Proposal on ASEAN +3 Cooperation
Premier Zhu Spells out Five-Point Proposal on ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation
Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Monday spelled out his five-point proposal on advancing the cooperation between the ASEAN and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (10+3 countries) in Bandar seri Begawan.
In his speech given at the 5th ASEAN +3 leaders' meeting, Premier Zhu named the priorities of the cooperation between the "10+3" countries, and the coordinated development between "10+3" and the ASEAN plus China ("10+1") in the near future. The five-point proposal covers as follows:
To further define the orientation and goals of the cooperation.
The "10+3" mechanism should improve the cooperation in the fields such as trade and investment, finance, science and technology, information and environmental protection, and ensure further common development and regional economic integration; Efforts should be made to unfold dialogue and cooperation in political and security fields; The "10+3" cooperation should retain its openness and get ready to explore new ways of establishing contacts with other regional cooperation mechanisms. China supports the East Asia Study Group in its effort to explore long-term goals of regional cooperation.
To promote a coordinated development of the "10+3" and "10+1" cooperation.
The two types of cooperation should be complement and promote one another.
To carry forward financial cooperation.
As a step in implementing the Chiang Mai Initiative, China and Thailand will soon sign a bilateral currency swap agreement on conclusion of negotiations. Meanwhile, China is also proceeding similar negotiations vigorously with a few other countries. It will hold a high-level seminar on the management of short-term capital flow in next year, and keep on providing training programs on fiscal policy and finance to some countries.
To galvanize exchanges among people of broad sections of society.
China supports a "10+3" tourism ministers' meeting early next year, and encourages more cultural and exchanges and communication.
To conduct dialogue and cooperation in the field of non-traditional security such as terrorism, drug trafficking and alien smuggling.
Zhu said China values the cooperation projects as they are conducted among East Asian countries in the current fashion, and supports the continued important role by the ASEAN. China proposed a number of cooperation initiatives at the last year's 10+3 summit, most of which have been implemented.
He said China has submitted a "Follow-up Action Report" on enhancing regional cooperation to the present leaders' meeting.
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) originated in the Association of Southeast Asia founded on July 31, 1961 in Bangkok. On August 8th, 1967, Founding Fathers from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand established the ASEAN and signed the ASEAN Declaration in Bangkok. Later, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines decided to replace the Association of Southeast Asia by ASEAN.
By the end of 1999, there have been 10 nations in the Association namely Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. ASEAN 10+3 meeting includes another three countries, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK).
Against all odds, ASEAN was founded to provide a framework and mechanism for regional cooperation.
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