China asks ASEAN to counter Western protectionism

China asks ASEAN to counter Western protectionism

Sean Yoong, Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur

China's top trade negotiator said Thursday that his country
and Southeast Asian nations must build a free trade area to avoid
becoming "victims" of Western trade protectionism.

Long Yongtu, China's vice minister of foreign trade, said that
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations need a
platform to "let our voice sound louder in the decision-making
process," which was dominated by the European Union and the North
American Free Trade Agreement.

"If all other countries are engaging in regional economic
integration, why not China and ASEAN?" Long said in a speech. "If
we do not get together to have a free trade area like they have,
we will be victims of trade protectionism and economic trade
blocs. We will not become the victors."

China and ASEAN leaders agreed in Brunei last November to work
on creating a free trade area within the next 10 years. The plan
could create a combined market of 1.7 billion people and gross
domestic product of US$2 trillion.

Long, speaking at a conference of regional business leaders,
said that negotiations among Chinese and Southeast Asian economic
officials were proceeding "very well on time" to hammer out a
framework for the formation of the world's biggest free trade
area.

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Long sought to counter fears expressed by some ASEAN members
that the free trade plan could turn Southeast Asia into a market
for cheap Chinese goods. He said China was not just a major
exporter of products, but also an "important importer."

"Some people are seeing too much competition between China and
ASEAN, and too little cooperation," Long said. "But rivals in
competition can be turned into partners in cooperation."

Long said that trade between China and Southeast Asian
countries had consistently been in ASEAN's favor. China's trade
with the 10-country grouping totaled $41.6 billion last year,
with China importing nearly $5 billion more from ASEAN than it
exported.

Long, who played a major role in negotiations for his
country's membership in the World Trade Organization, suggested
that he would also like to see ASEAN members become China's close
ally in the WTO.

"We're all developing countries," Long told reporters. "We
share a lot of common views."