Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in Boao Saturday that a peaceful and win-win community should be built in East Asia.
Delivering his key-note speech at Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2005, Badawi said the establishment of East Asian community is to seek "the economic empowerment and cultural enrichment" of all nations and peoples in the region.
Badawi said the community will be a solid foundation for pursuing mutual peace and prosperity based on common interests and shared values.
"The community we want to build is one where large nations do not impose their will on small nations. There can be no place for hegemony in East Asia," he said, adding that no member of the community should act or make policies at the cost of undermining the legitimate interests of other members.
In the process of establishing such a community, sensitive issues need to be dealt with in delicate and helpful ways, he said.
"Encouragement and moral suasion should be the preferred option, and the use of threats and sanctions should be rejected," he pointed out.
Badawi said the East Asian community will seek to build its economy through "maintaining the strongest trade, investment and financial links with other nations and regions of the world."
"We should seek peace, prosperity and harmony not only for ourselves but also in promoting our relations with other nations and regions of the world," said the prime minister.
He said that in today's globalized world, the security and political, economic interests of East Asian community are closely intertwined with all countries in the world.
He said the building of East Asian community is still on the starting phase and the building should be "positive, constructive and friendly."
(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2005)
