NANNING - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday delivered a
speech entitled "Join Hands to Create A Better Future for China-ASEAN Relations"
at the summit marking the 15th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN
dialogue. The full text of the speech is as follows:
Join Hands to Create A Better Future for China-ASEAN
Relations
Dear Colleagues,
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao attends
the opening ceremony of the Commemorative Summit marking the 15th
Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations in Nanning, capital of
southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on October 30, 2006.
[Xinhua] |
Today, we, the leaders of China and ASEAN countries are meeting here in the
beautiful city of Nanning to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the China-ASEAN
dialogue relations. First of all, I would like to extend, on behalf of the
Chinese Government, a very warm welcome to you.
Fifteen years ago, the opening of dialogue process between China and ASEAN
turned a new page in relations between the two sides. Looking back at the past
15 years, we are glad to see that China-ASEAN relations have come a long way
from removal of misgivings to commencement of dialogue to enhancement of mutual
trust and to the final establishment of strategic partnership. Thanks to our
joint efforts, our bilateral relations have made progress unseen in history.
Relations between China and ASEAN have never been as good as they are today.
In the political field, mutual trust is growing. China was the first ASEAN
dialogue partner to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia
and to establish strategic partnership for peace and prosperity with ASEAN. The
two sides jointly issued the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South
China Sea.
Economically, we are moving towards greater integration. In just 15 years,
our trade grew by 15 times, from less than eight billion U.S. dollars in 1991 to
over 130 billion U.S. dollars in 2005. By the end of last year, ASEAN countries
had set up close to30,000 investment projects in China, with a total investment
of about 40 billion U.S. dollars. China's investment in ASEAN countries has also
grown. We were the first to start the process of establishing a free trade area
and have signed the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation
between China and ASEAN.
We enjoy extensive cooperation in priority areas. We have decided to advance
bilateral cooperation in all areas in a comprehensive way for the period of 2005
to 2010 and have identified ten priority areas, i.e. agriculture, information
industry, human resources development, mutual investment, Mekong River Basin
development, transport, energy, culture, tourism and public health. Effective
mechanisms have been set up to carry out such cooperation. All the ten ASEAN
countries are now approved destinations for Chinese tourists. In 2005 alone,
there were over 6.5 million visits between the two sides.
We extend mutual support in addressing issues of public security. When the
Asian financial crisis and major emergencies or natural disasters occurred, such
as SARS, the avian influenza and the Indian Ocean tsunami, we stood side by
side, helped each other and overcame the difficulties. We maintain close
coordination in upholding stability and promoting cooperation in our region.
China and ASEAN are both committed to a peaceful and stable East Asia. The two
sides have worked together to advance the 10 + 1, 10 + 3 and East Asia
cooperation and coordinated positions in the Asia-Europe cooperation process.
China consistently supports ASEAN's leading role in regional affairs and
regional cooperation.
China-ASEAN friendship and cooperation have contributed to economic and
social progress in our respective countries and made life better for our
peoples. Moreover, our cooperation has facilitated regional integration, raised
the competitiveness and international profile of our region and promoted peace
and prosperity in Asia. China-ASEAN relations are a fine example of friendly
exchanges between countries in this region. They have brought real benefits to
the peoples of China and ASEAN countries and made important contribution to
peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world at large.
From the impressive growth of China-ASEAN relations in the past15 years, we
can draw the following conclusions:
First, peaceful development is the prerequisite for the growth of China-ASEAN
relations. We both firmly pursue a policy of good neighborliness and friendship,
see each other as cooperative partners and take other's development as an
opportunity, not a threat. We are both committed to peace and stability and we
both work for prosperity and well being of our peoples. That is why our
relations have become a model of harmony and common development among countries.
Second, equality and mutual trust are the foundation of China-ASEAN
relations. We respect and treat each other as equals and endeavor to develop
consensus by seeking common grounds while putting aside differences. With the
overall interests and the strategic importance of our relations in mind, we have
addressed each other's concerns with sensitivity and handled issues in bilateral
relations appropriately. This has enabled our relations to stand the test of
volatile changes in the international environment and move towards maturity.
Third, win-win cooperation is the goal for China-ASEAN relations. Basing
ourselves on our respective national conditions and long-term development needs,
we have enjoyed mutual understanding, support and help in our joint effort to
meet the challenges posed by economic globalization as well as traditional and
non-traditional security threats. We have expanded exchanges and coordination
and broadened our common interests. Indeed, we have embarked upon a new path of
promoting mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.
Fourth, people's support is the driving force behind China-ASEAN relations.
Our cooperation helps reduce poverty, narrow development gap, speed up growth
and deliver a better life for our peoples. We have endeavored to deepen mutual
understanding and friendship among our peoples, thus creating enormous popular
support for China-ASEAN friendship, and this is the inexhaustible source of
strength for growing our bilateral ties.
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