16 December 1997

 

I feel more than happy to have the opportunity to gather together with leaders of nine ASEAN countries for the first time to discuss and explore the development of China- ASEAN friendship and cooperation oriented towards the 21^st century. First of all, I wish to offer my warm congratulations to ASEAN on its 30^th anniversary.

This meeting, I believe, marks the beginning of a new stage of development in China-ASEAN relations.

 

With the purpose of active participation, broadening common ground, enhancing mutual trust and strengthening cooperation, I have come here to explore together with ASEAN leaders the objectives and guidelines for the development of our future relations.

 

At the important historical juncture on the eve of the new century, we should approach and handle our bilateral relations from a long-rang strategic perspective and forge a China-ASEAN good-neighborly partnership of mutual trust oriented to the 21^st century. This is not only in conformity with the trend of the times and in the fundamental interests of China and ASEAN countries, but also facilitates the establishment of a just and rational new international order and the advancement of the lofty cause of peace and development of Asia and the world at large.

 

Both the Chinese and the ASEAN people are industrious and courageous people full of wisdom. Since ancient times, they have created brilliant civilizations and built up fine cultural traditions full of oriental colours on their own land, thus making important contributions to the progress of humanity. Joined together by mountains and rivers or facing each other across the sea, China and ASEAN countries, but also facilitates the establishment of a just and rational new international order and the advancement of the lofty cause of peace and development of Asia and the world at large.

 

Since the modern times, profound changes have taken place in both China and ASEAN countries. Through a century-long struggle and sacrifice, the Chinese people won their national liberation and gave birth to the new China. With decades of efforts, they have built China into a socialist country with initial prosperity .Through protracted and arduous struggle, the people of ASEAN countries have also shaken off the yoke of colonialism and won their national independence and have scored commendable achievements in their course of nation-building.

 

At present, both China and ASEAN countries, seizing opportunities presented by history, have formulated development strategies in light of their own national conditions, continued to develop the productive forces and maintain a sustained economic growth. China has accelerated the development of a socialist market economy, socialist democracy and culture in its efforts to become a strong, prosperous, democracy and culturally advanced modern country by and large by the middle of the next century. ASEAN, on the other hand, is also pressing ahead with its process to attain industrialization, modernization and integration. The ASEAN Vision 2020 you have drawn up has set clear steps and mapped out a grand blueprint in this regard. China and ASEAN countries will remain dynamic in their further development in the world.

 

Both committed to the promotion of regional and global peace and development, China and ASEAN countries are in favor of building up their mutual trust, expanding their common ground while reserving differences and proper handling of their differences through friendly consultations and candid cooperation so as to secure regional peace and stability.

 

The time-honored traditional friendship, similar historical experience, and common desire for peace and economic development constitute an important basis both in history and at present for the enhancement of the good-neighborly relations of mutual trust and friendly cooperation between China and ASEAN countries.

 

China has all along attached great importance to developing its relations with ASEAN and is in favor of s positive role by ASEAN in regional and intentional affairs. In the past decades, the relations between China and each ASEAN country as well as between China and ASEAN as an organization have both made considerable progress and reached a new level following the establishment of China- ASEAN partnership of full dialogue. The two sides have enjoyed frequent high-level exchange of visits, steady expansion of economic relations and trade, increased exchanges in various fields and intensified co-ordination and cooperation on some major international and regional issues. Facts have proved and will continue to prove that the friendly relations and cooperation between China and ASEAN as not only in the interests of our two sides but also benefits the Asia-Pacific region.

 

Our two sides have agreed to establish a good-neighborly partnership of mutual trust oriented towards the 21^st century. To reach this goal, I would like to offer my following observations:

 

---- Make the best use of the existing mechanism of all-round dialogue and cooperation between China and ASEAN to broaden our exchanges and cooperation in all areas, at all levels and through all channels and strengthen the exchanges and contacts between leaders and people from all walks of life of our two sides so as to enhance our mutual trust, expand common ground and promote friendship.

 

---- Give priority to our economic relations and trade, scientific and technological cooperation between our two sides in accordance with the principle of drawing on each other's comparative advantages and mutual benefit and reinforce the cooperation in the areas of resources, technology, market, banking, information, human resources development and investment so as to promote each other for common progress.

 

---- Intensify two-way dialogues, co-ordination and mutual support between our two sides on major regional and international issues and in the UN, APEC, ASEM and ARF with a view to jointly safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the developing countries and promoting their fair and equal participation in the international economic decision-making and operation without discrimination.

 

---- Continue our efforts in handling the existing differences or disputes through friendly consultations on an equal footing and seek a progressive solution of the problems. Those differences that cannot be solved for the time being may be shelved temporarily in the spirit of seeking common ground while putting aside differences so that they will not stand in the way of the establishment and development of the good-neighborly partnership of mutual trust between the two sides.

 

Unswervingly pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace, China takes peace as the ultimate goal of its foreign policy. As the largest developing country in the world with a relatively low level of productive forces as a whole, China needs a long-term peaceful international environment and a good neighborly environment in particular to realize its modernization programme through decades of arduous struggles. Even when China is developed, it will continue to adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence and treating others as equals. China will never seek hegemony. China will always be a staunch force in maintaining regional and global peace and stability.

 

In retrospect of the 20^th century, the rise of China and ASEAN countries and their friendly relations and cooperation today represent a distinguishing feature in the course of history of Asia and the world as a whole. Looking into the 21^st century, we are convinced that there lies an even brighter future for the development, prosperity and the friendly relations and cooperation between China and ASEAN countries.

 

China will forever be a good neighbor, a good partner and a good friend with ASEAN countries. Let's join hands work together for the trust oriented to the 21^st century between China and ASEAN.