Beijing Review:

Hu Zhengyue: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen proposed holding a summit meeting in China in 2006 to mark the 15th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations and to chart the course for the future development of the strategic partnership at the Ninth China-ASEAN Summit last year. The initiative received a positive response from all state leaders present, and a common understanding was reached between China and ASEAN.

After consultations, we decided to hold this summit in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on October 30. Premier Wen Jiabao, together with leaders of 10 ASEAN member countries, will participate. The Third China-ASEAN Expo and the Third China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit will be held simultaneously. Premier Wen will attend the opening ceremonies of these two events, too.

The commemorative summit is the first meeting between leaders of China and ASEAN countries to be held in China. It is a significant event in the history of China-ASEAN relations. The two parties are expected to take this opportunity to review the development of their friendly ties and the successful experience gained in the process, to look ahead and set a direction for future development, to exchange views on further promoting and deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields and to continue to strengthen and upgrade their strategic partnership for peace and prosperity.

Although ASEAN expanded to cover all 10 countries in Southeast Asia in 1999, the gap between older members and newer ones has yet to be bridged. Given this lingering problem within ASEAN, how will China support the organization’s integration?

ASEAN is actively pursuing integration in a bid to narrow the gap between its members and seek common development, a strategic vision that the organization has devised in light of its long-term, sustainable development. While being committed to rendering its support, China has taken part in ASEAN integration with concrete actions.

Chinese leaders have reiterated that China stands ready to support ASEAN integration and is willing to cooperate in this regard. China made it clear that it would increase investment in ASEAN integration in the China-ASEAN Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity (2003) and in the Plan of Action to implement this joint declaration signed the next year. It has also taken part in sub-regional cooperation with ASEAN, such as the economic cooperation in the Greater Mekong Sub-region and the ASEAN-Mekong Basin Development Cooperation, and sponsored a large number of projects. In 2005, China became the development partner of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-Eastern Growth Area, opening up a new channel for participating in ASEAN integration.

As a friendly neighbor of ASEAN countries, China hopes to see ASEAN make greater progress in its integration. We believe that a united, aspiring, prosperous and stable ASEAN is set to make greater contributions to peace and development in the region and the world at large. As far as I know, Premier Wen will put forward new initiatives on giving continued support to ASEAN integration in the upcoming commemorative summit.

What stages have China and ASEAN gone through in developing their relations in the past 15 years? What are the major achievements? What are the problems that have yet to be tackled? Have the two parties acknowledged the problems? What actions should they take?

Since dialogues began in 1991, China-ASEAN relations have gone through several stages, from the establishment of dialogue relations to good neighborly relations of mutual trust and finally to a strategic partnership.

China-ASEAN relations developed gradually as changes took place in the region after the end of the Cold War. With their shared aspirations to safeguard regional peace and revitalize the economy, the two parties attached greater importance to each other in their respective diplomatic agendas. In July 1991, Qian Qichen, then Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, attended the opening ceremony of the 24th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and held the first informal meeting with foreign ministers of ASEAN countries, initiating the dialogue relations between China and ASEAN. China became a Consultative Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in 1993, when it attended the first ASEAN Regional Forum as one of its founding members. In 1996, China’s status was elevated to a full Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.

China-ASEAN relations were put to a severe test when the Asian financial crisis broke out in 1997. Despite the heightened pressure the Chinese economy faced, China offered financial support to ASEAN countries while keeping the exchange rate of its currency stable, a stance that was deeply appreciated by these countries. During the first ASEAN Plus China Summit in 1997, the two parties announced plans to build a good neighborly partnership of mutual trust toward the 21st century. In 2002, China and ASEAN signed the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation, resolving to create a China-ASEAN Free Trade Area by 2010.

As they deepened their cooperation in the fields of politics, security, economy and society, China-ASEAN relations moved into a new stage characterized by enhanced political trust and fruitful economic and trade cooperation. During the Seventh ASEAN-China Summit in 2003, the two parties signed the China-ASEAN Joint Declaration on a Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity. China is ASEAN’s first strategic partner, while ASEAN is the first regional organization with which China has sought a strategic partnership.

Personally, I believe current China-ASEAN relations are the best in history. From a long-term perspective, however, relations need to be further deepened. The past 15 years have witnessed the rapid development of China-ASEAN cooperation in various fields, 10 of which have been designated as key areas of cooperation-agriculture, information industry, human resources development, mutual investment, the development of the Mekong River Basin, transportation, energy, culture, tourism and public health. A series of documents, including memorandums of understanding on six areas of cooperation, have been signed.

However, in contrast to the ever-tightening political and economic bonds and the need for further development, the depth and level of China-ASEAN cooperation is still not gratifying. We should continue to upgrade the level of cooperation. Moreover, the two parties should make better use of the existing mechanisms for cooperation, enhance efficiency and lay a solid institutional foundation for the development of bilateral relations.

In terms of trade, several problems are outstanding. China’s trade volume with some of the newer ASEAN member countries, such as Myanmar and Laos, is still small despite our persistent efforts. An imbalance in trade can also be a problem. The trade mix has yet to be made more reasonable and forward looking. The establishment of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area is also a pressing task.

How were the key areas of cooperation determined?

The areas were proposed and agreed upon by state leaders at the annual ASEAN-China Summit. The ASEAN-China Joint Cooperation Committee is tasked with implementing the consensus. Relevant government ministries are involved in carrying out cooperation. They have shown great enthusiasm for cooperating, and their relations are becoming ever closer with the establishment of their own mechanisms and platforms of cooperation. This is a distinguishing feature of China-ASEAN cooperation.

As China and ASEAN are in a region of cultural and religious diversity, how should they strengthen linkages between their peoples, especially young people, so as to further promote mutual understanding?

China and ASEAN members are close neighbors. Over the past centuries, people in these countries have gotten along well with each other and fostered a traditional friendship during their frequent exchanges. Since the start of the China-ASEAN dialogue, China and ASEAN have seen increasingly closer people-to-people linkages between them and a boom in nongovernmental cooperation and exchanges.

China and ASEAN are each other’s primary tourist destination and source. Southeast Asia is the first choice of Chinese outbound travelers. The China Culture Week held in ASEAN countries during the Chinese Spring Festival season every year is well received in these countries. During the Eighth Asia Arts Festival held in China this year, an ASEAN Culture Week was staged to showcase the cultural diversity of ASEAN nations. In May, representatives from nongovernmental friendship institutions in China and ASEAN countries met in Beijing, putting forward suggestions on strengthening their relations.

Enhanced cooperation between young people can provide an impetus to long-term friendship and cooperation between China and ASEAN. China sets great store by youth exchanges with ASEAN countries. In 2004, the first China-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth was held in Beijing, creating a regular mechanism for youth exchanges. In 2005, China invited 88 young people from ASEAN countries to participate in a variety of programs.

This year, we will continue to sponsor the China-ASEAN Youth Camp and invite some 100 ASEAN young people to China. In addition, we will provide training to about 110 youth leaders from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines in a youth leadership development program in Guangxi. China and ASEAN have also agreed to launch three flagship programs-China-ASEAN Youth Leaders Conference, China-ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Association and China-ASEAN Young Civil Servants Exchange Program. We hope that China and ASEAN can be good neighbors, friends and partners forever as their friendly ties take root in the young people.