'ASEAN one of China's most important partner'

'ASEAN one of China's most important partner'

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao will attend next week's
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Bali,
along with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, South
Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Indian Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee. The following is an excerpt of an interview with
the Chinese envoy to Indonesia Lu Shumin, who talked to The
Jakarta Post's Kornelius Purba.

Question:China's economy continues to grow and to attract
foreign direct investment (FDI) from industrialized countries,
including Japan. Meanwhile, ASEAN countries are facing decreasing
levels of FDI. What is China now doing and will do to help the
economies of ASEAN member states so that the two parties can grow
together?

Answer: As the world's largest developing country, the fact
that China has been able to maintain its economic development and
constantly increase its people's living standards is a
significant contribution to the region and the world.

China's development not only provides a huge market for
Southeast Asia, but also promotes the sound development of the
regional economy, facilitates the economic cooperation and
integration of the region and strengthens the capability of the
regional economy against risks.

China and ASEAN enjoy broad common interests in strengthening
regional cooperation and promoting peace and development in the
region ... The new Chinese leadership has emphasized that China
will more actively participate in regional cooperation to achieve
common development with neighboring countries.

China has become an important driving force for the regional
cooperative mechanisms, such as ASEAN + China + Japan + South
Korea (10+3) and the Asia Cooperation Dialog. China will continue
to support the gradual establishment of a sound regional
framework of trade and investment, and the ultimate goal of the
free flow of commodities, people, technologies and information.
These mechanisms of cooperation should develop hand in hand with
each other.

Over the past 10 years or so, the relationship between China
and ASEAN has developed rapidly from an overall dialog
partnership to the forging of a partnership of good-
neighborliness and mutual trust.

In 2002, China and ASEAN signed the Framework Agreement on
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation, and launched the negotiation
process for the Free Trade Area. This October, during the ASEAN
10+3 and 10+1 (India) summit which Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao
will attend, China will officially join the Treaty of Amity and
Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

With China's accession to the TAC, relations between China
and ASEAN members will be further and fully developed.

What are the opportunities and problems faced by ASEAN and
China in increasing their economic cooperation?

China and ASEAN are geographically close to each other, which
constitutes a geographical advantage for developing the economic
and trade cooperation between them. Enjoying good political
relations, a solid foundation for developing economic and trade
cooperation, the two sides have mutual needs for each other's
products, since their economies are strongly complementary.

Sino-ASEAN economic cooperation has a promising future.

First, China's accession to WTO and the establishment of the
ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) have laid a sound foundation for the
free flow of both sides' commodities and services.

Second, China is carrying out the strategies of "developing
the western region of China" and "going out", which will open new
prospects for expanding Sino-ASEAN two-way investment and
cooperation.

Third, the rapid development of tourism between China and
ASEAN has not only promoted the mutual understanding of their
peoples, but also has helped the economic development of all
parties.

Fourth, China's active participation, support and promotion of
Southeast Asian regional economic cooperation will create more
favorable factors for its economic cooperation with ASEAN
members. Fifth, the launch of negotiations for the China-ASEAN
Free Trade Area will give new impetus to the development of
bilateral trade relations.

China has expressed interest in jointly exploring natural
resources in the Spratly Islands with ASEAN members. What is
China's latest position on the Spratly problem?

The Chinese government has always stood for negotiated
settlements of international disputes through peaceful means. No
party should take actions that will lead to tension in the
region. This stance also applies to the case of the Nansha
(Spratly) Islands. China has put forward the proposition of
"shelving disputes and going in for joint development".

China is ready to put aside the dispute for the time being and
cooperate with the countries concerned pending a settlement of
the dispute.

Last November, the leaders of China and ASEAN members signed
the Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea, and reached
consensus on the peaceful settlement of differences, joint
maintenance of regional stability and cooperation in the South
China Sea ...

What is your impression of Indonesia's Chinese-Indonesian
community?

As members of Indonesia's multiethnic family, Chinese-
Indonesians have long made due contributions to Indonesia's
social development and economic prosperity. They should enjoy
equally the same rights as other members of the country. Their
personal safety and legal rights should be protected by the
Indonesian government.

However, many of them still have close ties with relatives and
friends in China. So it is natural and normal for the Chinese
government and people to be concerned about their livelihood in
Indonesia.

Therefore, the appropriate treatment of Chinese-Indonesians
will not only serve the interests of Indonesia's long-term
stability, but also will be conducive to the smooth development
of friendly and cooperative relations between China and
Indonesia.

We are pleased to note that there have been fundamental
changes to the Indonesian government's policies toward Chinese-
Indonesians. We also hope that Chinese-Indonesians will further
merge into the mainstream of Indonesian society, and make still
greater contributions to Indonesia's social and economic
development, as well as to Sino-Indonesia friendly relations.

How should the two countries work together to improve their
economies?

The Chinese government has always attached great importance to
its friendly relations and cooperation with Indonesia. In order
to deepen the friendly exchanges in various fields, further
efforts should be made in the following aspects:

First, maintain top-level contacts and exchanges. We should
promote friendly exchanges between government agencies,
parliaments, political parties, military and non-governmental
organizations.

Second, further expand trade and economic cooperation so as to
further consolidate the foundation of our bilateral relations.
There is great potential for cooperation in the fields of energy,
communications, electric power, agriculture and infrastructure.

Third, strengthen cooperation in the sectors of culture,
education and tourism.

Fourth, strengthen cooperation in the international and
regional arenas, joining efforts to safeguard the legitimate
rights of developing countries.

What is China's position on the detention of Myanmar's Aung
San Suu Kyi?

Myanmar is China's friendly neighbor. China and Myanmar have
long enjoyed a good relationship. The Chinese government follows
closely developments in the situation in Myanmar. What has
happened in Myanmar is a matter between the Myanmar government
and the opposition, and it is Myanmar's internal affair.

China believes that the people of Myanmar are capable of
handling the issue, maintaining social stability and economic
development, so as to benefit themselves and the region.