China-Asean Relations Need To Be 'On The Right Course'

Jakarta, Oct. 8 (Antara) - Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang states China and ASEAN will stay on the right course, and uphold the principles of mutual respect, equality, good-neighborliness and mutual benefits. The China-ASEAN strategic partnership is bound to make even further progress and bring greater benefits to both sides, the region and people of the world, the prime minister told Antara in a written interview published here on Tuesday. PM Li who made the statement to mark the 10th anniversary of China-ASEAN strategic partnership was asked to evaluate the achievements of this relationship over the past decade and the tangible benefits the relationship has brought to the two sides. "Ten years ago, China took the lead in acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and established the strategic partnership for peace and prosperity with ASEAN," PM Li says, stressing that the 10-year anniversary is really worthy of celebration. He recalled that it was the first time for China to establish a global strategic partnership with an organization of nations within this region, which highlights the importance of ASEAN on China`s diplomatic agenda. Against the backdrop of evolving international situation and growing world economy amid adjustments over the past decade, China and ASEAN have seized the opportunities, advanced with the trend of peace and development, and opened a `golden decade` of cooperation, he explains. Over the past decade, he adds, China and ASEAN have stayed committed to strategic dialogue, enhanced political mutual trust, and strengthened mutual understanding and support in many important international and regional affairs. "China and ASEAN have advanced practical cooperation and set up the world`s largest free trade area among developing countries," he reveals. He acknowledges China is ASEAN`s biggest trading partner and ASEAN IS China`s third largest trading partner. Two-way trade exceeded US$400 billion in 2012, five times that of 10 years ago, mutual investment totaled over US$100 billion, three times that of ten years ago. Over the past decade, China and ASEAN have also increased people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Exchange of visits reached 15 million last year, four times that of ten years ago. China has become ASEAN`s second largest source of tourists, and over 1000 flights shuttle between the two sides every week. Over the past decade, China and ASEAN have stood side by side in times of adversity. On the basis of successfully fending off the Asian financial crisis, the two sides properly responded to the international financial crisis, and helped each other in tackling such major natural disasters and epidemics as the Indian Ocean tsunamis, the SARS epidemic and earthquakes. The China-ASEAN strategic partnership has made such good progress as it serves the fundamental interests of both sides and complies with the trend of the times for peace, development and cooperation in the region.