Chinese vice PM calls for united efforts for Asian boom

Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi on Monday called on Asian nations to take on responsibility for achieving development and prosperity in the region by bringing forward targets and priorities.

It is the historic time for Asia to attain peace and development, despite numerous challenges ahead, Wu Yi said at a lecture sponsored by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun Inc.

All Asian nations are obliged to take responsibilities for building an Asia enjoying peace, stability, development, prosperity and harmony, she said, adding that it is necessary in the way toward an Asia community to establish principles and goals bearing characteristics of this region, besides drawing lessons from outer areas.

To that end, Wu brought forward five proposals: first, building up the Asia awareness and reinforcing cooperation. Only by joining the regional economic integration process, can individual nations attain progress, can they see the regional prosperity and revitalization come true and the vigor remain perpetual.

Second, boosting political mutual trust and taking consideration of concerns of each other. Asian countries should live in harmony on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. They are supposed to solve the historic issues and ongoing frictions in a proper manner to build a suitable condition and atmosphere for international cooperations. In addition, dialogues and communications in all sectors are required to cement the social foundation for cooperation.

Third, updating security concept to maintain peace and stability, which means replacing the Cold War thinking with fresh security views featuring mutual trust and benefit, equality and cooperation. The countries should settle their disputes through dialogue.

Fourth, pushing forward with all-out cooperation spearheaded by the one in economy and trade. The cooperation should be carried out in a broader and deeper way, and benefit all the peoples concerned. The Asian countries should promote mutual investment and augment cooperation in fields like finance, energy, communication and agriculture. The developing countries are supposed to get further support in a bid to achieve a balanced development.

Fifth, tolerating diversity of civilizations. The social systemand the development pattern of individual countries should be respected and free from discrimination and prejudice. Wu highlighted three kinds of cooperation to ensure the realization of the targets and principles.

As for the cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China, Japan and South Korea, she said the countries concerned should enhance economic cooperation and improve the level of economic integration. On top of that, efforts are needed to build a comprehensive cooperative framework coveringpolitics, security and society as well.

In terms of the cooperation among China, Japan and South Korea,Wu said it is necessary and viable to start essential discussions on various significant subjects, like energy and free trade agreement. She looked forward to a pan-Asia cooperation, which should be addressed in phases toward larger cooperative fields.

Wu noted that all the cooperation patterns, including the ASEAN plus three, should not be exclusive. China has been supportive of an open, transparent, tolerant and mutually-beneficial regional cooperation.

On the role that China and Japan are supposed to play, Wu pointed out that their cooperation is the prerequisite for the peace, stability and development of Asia. The long-term and fundamental national interests hinge on their peaceful cooperation,perpetual friendship, mutual benefit and common development, which is also the expectation of the rest countries in the region.

She said that both countries should not only push up bilateral cooperation, but also proactively participate in and promote the cooperation across Asia.

Source: Xinhua