Hu says stronger China means peace, stability<\/p>\n
Didier Lauras, Agence France-Presse\/Hanoi<\/p>\n
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday tried to calm fears in
\nAsia about Beijing's growing might but left no doubt that China
\nintends to re-balance a unipolar world dominated by the United
\nStates.<\/p>\n
Given a rare invitation to address the Vietnamese parliament,
\nHu said Asian nations should stick together and that they had
\nnothing to fear from China's increasing political and economic
\nmuscle.<\/p>\n
"China's development is peaceful, broad-based and
\ncooperative," he said. "China's development poses an obstacle to
\nno one and undermines no one. On the contrary, it benefits peace,
\nstability and global prosperity."<\/p>\n
But he made it clear that China had designs on redressing the
\nglobal balance with the only remaining superpower, a regular
\nconcern of the Chinese communist leadership.<\/p>\n
"China will actively promote the process of multi-
\npolarization, globalization and the establishment of a fair
\npolitical and economic world order," he said.<\/p>\n
"The major changes in China are linked to the fact that we
\nhave found a way of developing that is in line with the Chinese
\nsituation."<\/p>\n
The Chinese leader arrived in Hanoi on Monday for his first
\ntrip to the communist country since becoming president, after an
\nofficial visit to Beijing by his Vietnamese counterpart Tran Duc
\nLuong in July.<\/p>\n
Beijing, which has seen 9.4 percent economic growth over the
\nfirst nine months of the year, has stepped up its efforts over
\nrecent years to increase its influence and trade ties in the
\nregion.<\/p>\n
China and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN) decided in November last year to create a free-
\ntrade zone comprised of two billion people -- the largest in the
\nworld by population, by 2020.<\/p>\n
The two have struck an accord aimed at reducing tariffs to
\nbetween zero and 5 percent on certain types of goods.<\/p>\n
It will apply to the six most advanced ASEAN economies --
\nBrunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and
\nThailand -- by 2010, and to Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar
\nby 2015.<\/p>\n
China's immense sway, however, worries certain countries in
\nSoutheast Asia, and Beijing often states its good intentions.<\/p>\n
"Asia is our shared home. China's development is tied to
\nAsia," Hu said.<\/p>\n
"With Asian countries, we foresee reaching an understanding in
\nthe political sphere, mutually profitable cooperation in the
\neconomic sphere and trust and cooperation in security matters."<\/p>\n
A Western diplomat, who asked not to be named, said, "the
\nChinese need to reassure other nations and indeed reassure
\nthemselves."<\/p>\n
"Small countries fear losing control over their domestic
\nmarkets while rich ones such as Singapore are afraid of being
\nsidelined," the diplomat said.<\/p>\n
Hu also underlined the very close links between Vietnam's and
\nChina's communist parties.<\/p>\n
Experts say Hanoi can undertake few reforms without the tacit
\nsupport of Beijing, even more so as Vietnam prepares for the 10th
\nCongress of its communist party next year.<\/p>\n
They also point out that Hu's visit comes after Vietnamese
\nPrime Minister Phan Van Khai in June became the first Vietnamese
\nhead of government to visit Washington since the end of the war
\nbetween the two countries in 1975.<\/p>\n
"The Vietnamese comrades present here are interested in
\nChina's development, and we also are very closely watching
\nVietnam's development," Hu said.<\/p>\n
"Leaders of both sides agree it is in the basic interests of
\nChina and Vietnam and their people to promote friendly mutual
\ntrust, cooperation for mutual benefits and common development
\nbetween the two countries and the CPC and the CPV."<\/p>\n
Hu was expected to leave Hanoi on Wednesday morning after a
\ntrip to the central city of Danang was canceled due to bad
\nweather.<\/p>",
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