Stability needed for development: China<\/p>\n
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat<\/p>\n
HANOI (JP): Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao pledged his
\ncountry's commitment on Wednesday to amiably resolve any
\ndifferences with members of the Association of Southeast Nations
\n(ASEAN), asserting that only peace could foster continued
\neconomic development in the coming century.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a meeting between the nine-ASEAN leaders and their
\ncounterparts from China, Japan and South Korea, Hu stressed that
\n\"peace and stability are an important guarantee for the economic
\ngrowth in East Asia\".<\/p>\n
\"To cherish the existing good-neighborly and friendly
\nrelations among East Asian countries and (to) persist in ironing
\nout their differences through peaceful means are undoubtedly very
\nimportant for the stability, prosperity and cooperation of East
\nAsia in the new century,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The 90-minute meeting, commonly referred to as \"nine-plus-
\nthree\", has evolved to become a traditional meeting hosted by
\nASEAN following its summit.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, Japan was represented by Prime Minister
\nKeizo Obuchi and Korea by President Kim Dae-jung.<\/p>\n
It was immediately preceded by individual meetings between
\nASEAN members and the leaders of China, Japan and Korea in turn.<\/p>\n
Many ASEAN analysts have expressed their belief that China, as
\nthe regional superpower, is the most important factor in
\nmaintaining peace in the region.<\/p>\n
Four ASEAN members -- Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam
\n-- are also involved in a dispute with Beijing over claims to the
\nSpratly Islands in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
During their hour-long individual meeting, Hu told ASEAN
\nleaders \"China will strictly abide by the political consensus
\nreached with ASEAN\".<\/p>\n
It will \"continue to maintain the favorable atmosphere and
\nmomentum of dialog and cooperation and persist in the settlement
\nof existing differences and disputes through friendly
\nconsultations on an equal footing,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"In a word, it is an important component of China's foreign
\npolicy and a set national policy of the Chinese government to
\nconsolidate and develop its partnership of good neighborliness
\nand trust with the ASEAN countries.\"<\/p>\n
Another issue agreed upon by all 12 leaders during their
\nmeetings here was to make a concerted effort to overcome the
\neconomic crisis.<\/p>\n
ASEAN leaders expressed appreciation of the role and
\ncontributions of the three countries in overcoming the financial
\nand economic crisis which has swept Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
They noted that China's maintenance of the value of its yuan
\n(renmimbi) currency, along with the early recovery of Japan and
\nSouth Korea's economies, were important measures in helping
\nexpedite an end to the crisis.<\/p>\n
ASEAN leaders stressed that improved access of their products
\nto the three country's markets was critical to further alleviate
\nthe situation.<\/p>\n
During a news briefing, Obuchi affirmed Japan's desire to play
\na leading role in overcoming the crisis.<\/p>\n
\"Needless to say, Japan is part of the Asian community...
\nJapan should walk ahead.\"<\/p>\n
Obuchi believed the ASEAN leaders were also looking to Japan's
\nleadership.<\/p>\n
\"I felt for myself the strong expectations they had vis-a-vis
\nJapan,\" he remarked, adding that they considered Japan like \"an
\nolder brother or sister\".<\/p>\n
Obuchi said he recognized that one of the keys to Southeast
\nAsia's recovery was improvement of the Japanese economy.<\/p>\n
In October, Japanese finance minister Kiichi Miyazawa pledged
\nUS$30 million to help kicks tart the region's stalled economies.<\/p>\n
The plan was initially aimed at Indonesia, Malaysia, the
\nPhilippines, Thailand and South Korea, but recently Vietnam also
\nasked to be included in the scheme.<\/p>\n
Scant details were available on the extent of the discussions
\non plans during the meeting, with Obuchi merely saying the ASEAN
\nleaders \"expressed hope of making use of the funds\".<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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