Discourse: China’s progress contributes to prosperity, opens opportunity for ASEAN

The Jakarta Post | Thu, 04/28/2011 11:12 AM A | A | A | - Klipping the Jakarta Post

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao will arrive in Jakarta on Thursday for a three-day official visit to Southeast Asia’s largest economy. Before his departure from Beijing, he gave three Indonesian journalists, including The Jakarta Post’s Abdul Khalik, a rare interview. Below is the final part of the interview:

Question: ASEAN-China relations have made big strides in recent years. Do you see any challenges in the ASEAN-China relationship? What steps will China take to promote ASEAN-China relations?

Answer: This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the dialogue relationship between China and ASEAN. Over the past 20 years, we have moved from a dialogue relationship to good neighborly relations and to a relationship of strategic cooperation. China and ASEAN now enjoy all-round cooperation. Take China-Indonesia relations for example. Our two countries established a strategic partnership in 2005, and later we formulated the plan of action for the implementation of the strategic partnership, bringing our bilateral relations onto a new stage.

Now, China-ASEAN relations have entered a stage of forging ahead in all respects. ASEAN integration has made steady progress. The China-ASEAN FTA has been established, and our cooperation in finance, infrastructure, connectivity and other areas has deepened. Although ASEAN members are at different stages of development, I believe we can all benefit from our cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit and win-win results.

I hope that China-ASEAN cooperation will continue to move along this healthy track in the right
direction.

Some countries, including Indonesia, have some concern over the implementation of the China-ASEAN free trade arrangement, what’s your view on that?

I would like to say that much preparation was made before the FTA was officially inaugurated last year. I believe that the China-ASEAN FTA has brought benefits to both China and ASEAN countries. We have witnessed a tremendous growth in trade between the two sides. For example, China-Indonesia trade expanded by nearly 40 percent in the first quarter of this year, and achieved basic balance.

I want to use this opportunity to address the concerns in the minds of some businesses and individuals with regard to CAFTA. The China-ASEAN free trade arrangement is of mutual benefit and brings win-win results to all parties concerned. We need to make full use of the favorable conditions, especially the preferential policies set out in the FTA. And in the course of the China-ASEAN FTA development, we should constantly improve this arrangement in the light of actual circumstances.

We need to accommodate the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises, and work together to ensure that the FTA will contribute to the economic development of all sides. With regard to all these aspects, China has always pursued an open approach.

Will China hold talks with those ASEAN countries having sovereignty disputes with China in the South China Sea on joint development?

China remains committed to the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. Territorial disputes and disputes over maritime rights and interests should be resolved between the countries concerned through peaceful consultations. We disapprove of referring bilateral disputes to multilateral forums because that will only make these issues bigger and more complicated.

Second, I fully believe that in spite of their territorial disputes and disputes over maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, the countries concerned should and can carry out joint development in the South China Sea. This is in the interest of peace and stability in the South China Sea. It also serves the interests of the countries concerned and all relevant parties.

Some say that China’s remarkable progress has created suspicion. How do you comment on this issue?
I know some ASEAN countries have shown a keen interest in this topic. I would like to say that China remains a developing country. With over 30 years of reforming and opening up, we have achieved much progress in our economic and social development.

However, China remains a big country with a large population and a weak economic foundation. That means we still have to work long and hard if we are to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects and achieve our goal of modernization.

China adheres to an independent foreign policy of peace and the policy of building good neighborly relationships and partnerships with neighboring countries. This is our policy when China is not a developed country. It will remain to be our policy even when China becomes a developed country in the future. China will never seek hegemony.

China’s development in itself is a major contribution to human progress and prosperity. China’s development also represents an opportunity for its neighboring countries, especially ASEAN countries.

We are of the view that only by maintaining a peaceful external environment and a stable domestic environment can China and ASEAN countries enjoy continuous development and progress.

Great changes have taken place in the region of East Asia. How will China handle its relations with extra-regional powers such as the United States, which has been included in the East Asia Summit?

I believe it is important that we follow the following three principles: First, we need to consolidate, enhance and further develop the existing cooperation mechanisms. This is of the highest and most practical significance. We need to work together to establish and improve long-term cooperation plans, increase input in cooperation and work for the full implementation of all cooperation plans with a view to delivering real benefits to people of all East Asian countries.

Second, we need to respect the diversity of East Asian cooperation. China has always advocated and adhered to the one important principle that is East Asian cooperation should always have ASEAN play the leading role and contribute to the progress of ASEAN integration and development of all ASEAN countries.

Third, East Asian cooperation should stay open and inclusive. Our cooperation has been constantly expanded, and from this year, leaders of the United States and Russia will attend the East Asia Summit.

I believe the East Asia Summit should stick to its nature as a leaders-led strategic forum. This forum should be conducive to peace and stability in East Asia and contribute to stronger East Asian cooperation and the development and progress of East Asia.