Comparing the economic integration of the European Union (EU) with that of the East Asia, some believe that there are common values and identity among the 25 EU members while there is no common identity for the East Asia since there are great differences in the Asian culture with different development stages and various economic levels. I don't think the argument holds water.

The East Asian cooperation has lasted for years on, and its identity is coming into being. There appear common values in the developing process of the cooperation among the East Asian nations, which I summarize as the following four Cs and one O: consultation, consensus, cooperation and comfort level and one O. Later some friends of mine from the East Asia suggest adding another C: closeness.

The first C is consultation. There emerge many problems in the building process of the East Asian Community. Consultation is the only way to solve the problems in the region instead of the obtrusion of one's opinion on others. This has become the common understanding reached by the East Asian countries.

The second C is consensus. In the course of the East Asian economic integration, all problems should be decided on the basis of consensus. If there is a disagreement, then the problem will stay as it is for the time being or there will be no decision.

The third C is cooperation. All efforts for the East Asian integration are aimed at improving cooperation.

The fourth C means comfort level, which is specific for Asians. Working in the United States and Europe for many years, I have found that there is no such a thing like "comfort level" in the Western world.

And what do I mean by "comfort level"? That is to make a certain decision, which is no difficulty for some countries in principle. However, one may feel uncomfortable. If there occurs such a condition, others can wait for a while. When all feel comfortable, a decision will be given. What a marvelous thing it is!

The fifth C is closeness. Obviously, the East Asian cooperation will certainly prompt the nations in the region to have close relations.

What do I mean by O? That is openness. Openness denotes that the East Asian countries should open to each other and to the world. The states should insist on open regionlism instead of on closed one.

When holding a meeting, we all speak English. This itself shows a kind of openness. I went to Seoul, capital of the Republic of Korea for the first "East Asian Forum" in December 2003. The South Korean hosts were very hospitable. There was a band playing music for our lunch and supper. It was beyond my expectation that the band played works by Western classical musicians, such as Beethoven and Mozart. It is hard for me to think that the dinner music will be Japanese, Chinese or Thailand when there are meetings held by the European Union and the Organization of American States. Behind the openness there cones an appetite for knowledge. Our East Asia is willing to learn from other countries and from the world as well. How wonderful that will be!

The things mentioned above have become the common understating of the East Asians. In a certain sense, they are their common values. All of us agree to this and do as what I have mentioned above. An identity for a region is not empty, but it is based on the common values of the region. The East Asian values will be promoted to constitute East Asian identity, which is not only beneficial to the East Asia, but also makes the world assured.

Some scholars believe that the integration of the East Asian economy is only a process, so it is not necessary to talk about "identity". Those who have such a viewpoint do not likely understand what is identity. The so-called identity is the common features shared by the countries in this area and also the game rules that are gradually formed in the process of building East Asian community. The rules are a collective presentation of regional features. Comparing the East Asian games rules with that of other regions, there are sameness and differences. Does it just show that the East Asian identity is coming into being? If there are no such identity and games rules, it is inconceivable to build the community and to make achievements in the process of developing the East Asian economic integration.

(The article by Wu Jianmin, vice president of the Committee for Foreign Affairs under the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and president of China Foreign Affairs University, is carried on the first page of People's Daily Overseas Edition, November 15, and translated by People's Daily Online)