Premier Zhu Rongji said yesterday that China backs the
strengthening of cooperation in Asia.
Zhu made his remarks at the opening session of this year's annual
conference of the Boao Forum for
Asia, which started yesterday in Boao.
More than 2,000 people from 48 countries and regions participated
in the two-day conference themed "New Century, New Challenge, A New
Asia: Economic Development and Co-operation."
Zhu suggested that economic co-operation should be the starting
point for co-operation in all fields in Asia.
The premier said co-operation in trade, transportation,
agriculture, information technology and energy resources should be
given priority.
Zhu urged the expansion of co-operation on the basis of the current
channels, saying that sub-regional co-operation should be
encouraged to lay a foundation for Pan-Asia co-operation.
Zhu said further development in bilateral co-operation will enhance
the basis of regional co-operation.
The premier also said it must be a two-way street.
The call for intensifying co-operation in Asia has simmered since
the 1997 Asian financial crisis that crippled economies in many
Asian countries. But due to the diversity of countries across Asia,
experts said sub-regional co-operation should be the first step
towards continental co-operation.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have
already embarked on efforts to build a free-trade zone in the next
decade.
The economies of China and ASEAN complement each other, and
reciprocal co-operation can be conducted in areas such as
agricultural produce, Zhu said.
Zhu also said the establishment of the China-ASEAN free trade zone
will push the economic development of China and ASEAN
countries.
He
also voiced China's support for co-operation in other regions in
Asia, in addition to that in East Asia.
Zhu's remarks were echoed by his counterparts from Thailand, Japan
and the Republic of Korea (ROK).
"For so long, the Asian economies have concentrated more on
fighting each other in price wars and less on forging Asian unity,"
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said.
"We must learn to rely on each other and reinforce both intra and
inter-Asian trade. We must stand up and be counted as one in order
to turn the world trade regulatory system into a fair regime for
all," he said.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stressed the need for
reform and co-operation and conveying Asia's message to the
world.
ROK Prime Minister Lee Han-dong called for regional co-operation in
trade, investment, culture, education and techniques as well as
joint efforts to eliminate poverty and ensure stability in the
regional financial and exchange markets.
When answering an audience member's question about China's efforts
to protect the environment, Zhu said China has put in an
unprecedented amount of funds and efforts into environmental
protection and to achieve sustainable development.
He
cited the reduction of the country's carbon dioxide emissions,
saying China will follow the Kyoto Protocol to further reduce the
gas.
"China will be responsible not only for itself, but also the
world," Zhu said.
(China
Daily April 13, 2002)