China asks S'pore to help develop western hinterlands

China asks S'pore to help develop western hinterlands

Alexa Olesen, Associated Press, Singapore

Visiting Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao, who is expected to
succeed President Jiang Zemin, asked Singapore on Friday to help
develop China's western provinces and called for early
negotiations for a regional free-trade agreement.

Hu also said cooperation between Singapore and China will be
good for Southeast Asia -- an apparent attempt to allay fears
that China's rapid growth may hurt export opportunities and
foreign investment in the region.

In a two-hour meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok
Tong, Hu called for an early start to talks on a free-trade
agreement between China and the Association of Southeast Asian
nations. The two leaders also said they believed good U.S.-China
relations are important for regional stability.

"If this relationship is stable, it will have a calming effect
on the entire region," Goh said at a dinner in Hu's honor. "If it
is upset, it will unsettle the region."

Hu is in Singapore for two days while en route to the United
States for his first official visit. His trip is a diplomatic
coming out for the reclusive 58-year-old politician, who is
widely considered to be China's heir-apparent.

Singapore is the second leg of Hu's three-country tour which
started in Malaysia earlier this week. Because so little is known
about Hu, his trip is expected to shed light on the politician
and his agenda as he moves up in China's ranks.

On Friday, Hu told Prime Minister Goh that Singapore and China
should increase cooperation in developing China's western
provinces.

China's western hinterlands -- including Gansu, Qinghai,
Xinjiang and Tibet -- are desperately poor compared to the
rapidly developing eastern coastal region where Shanghai,
Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangdong are located.

The statement did not specify how Singapore could help develop
the areas. The statement said Hu also asked Singapore to
cooperate with China on developing its high-tech, bio-sciences,
and microelectronics sectors. On Friday, Hu also met with the
island nation's elder statesman, Lee Kuan Yew.

On Saturday, Hu departs for his first official visit to the
United States where he is scheduled to meet with President George
W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.