China and ASEAN leaders signed a joint statement here Monday upon conclusion
of a commemorative summit for their dialogue relations, promising to cement
their strategic partnership in the future.
The two sides agreed in the statement to further enhance mutual trust and
understanding and match the depth and breadth of cooperation "with the objective
of our strategic partnership" and to "further enhance peace, development and
prosperity to the region."
China and ASEAN will work in concert to advance the strategic partnership,
which would be a catalyst for dialogue relations between ASEAN and its dialogue
partners and greatly contribute to regional peace and stability, said the
statement.
Zhai Kun, an expert with the China Institute of Contemporary International
Relations, said "strategic partnership is the highest-level relations built
between China and other countries and regions. The great efforts made by China
and ASEAN to strengthen their strategic partnership illustrated that China-
ASEAN diplomatic ties are becoming more mature."
He noted that China and ASEAN are getting to be closer and ASEAN's status in
China's diplomatic strategies is constantly enhancing, thanks for 15-year-long
unremitting efforts made by all parties and the favorable geographical links.
"Asia reinvigorated over past 15 years with three eminent characters, that
is, China's rapid development, ASEAN's expansion and the constant development of
China-ASEAN relations," he said.
SOUTHEAST ASIA NUCLEAR-WEAPON FREE ZONE
China supports and welcomes the efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) to establish a Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone, says the
joint statement.
The statement said "ASEAN appreciates China's intention to accede to the
Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear- Weapon Free Zone and will
continue to consult China on this matter, "
China's signing of the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-
Weapon Free Zone will bring an impact to other nuclear-weapon countries, said
Han Feng, deputy director of Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies under Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences.
He said mutual trust between China and ASEAN has been further deepened. The
nuclear-weapon free promise means security and stability of the region.
SOUTH CHINA SEA
The joint statement said "we are also committed to effectively implement the
Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and work towards
the eventual adoption, on the basis of consensus, of a code of conduct in the
South China Sea, which would enhance peace and stability in the region.
"The promise made by the two sides will be conducive to regulating behaviors
of each country in the region," said Han Feng.
FREE TRADE AREA
China and ASEAN are determined to establish a Free Trade Area ( FTA) by 2010
as scheduled, says the joint statement.
The FTA consists of trade in goods liberalization by 2010 for China and six
traditional ASEAN members including Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei,
Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, and by 2015 for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and
Vietnam, according to the statement.
China and ASEAN pledge to work expeditiously towards agreements to
progressively liberalize trade in services covering various sectors. Both sides
plan to promote investments by creating a liberal, facilitative, transparent and
competitive investment regime in China and ASEAN, the statement says.
The two sides will set up a China-ASEAN Center for Trade, Investment and
Tourism Promotion.
According to the statement, China and ASEAN will cooperate in ensuring energy
security, efficiency, and the development of alternative and renewable energy
sources. They will also strengthen cooperation in finance, tourism and air
transportation, and support the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community.
The two sides encourage further cooperation in sub-regional developments such
as the development of economic cooperation zones in southwestern China and the
Mekong Basin Development areas, it says.
