On Nov. 18, 2000, in an interview with Chinese reporters covering President Jiang's tour, Foreign Minister Tang said President Jiang's visits to Laos, Cambodia and Brunei and participation in the 8th APEC Informal Leadership Meeting are successful.

Tang said that President Jiang's state visits to the above three countries is an important diplomatic event in terms of China's relations with surrounding and neighboring countries at the turn of the century. During Jiang's three-nation tour, he held friendly and cordial talks with Lao President Khamtay Siphandone, Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk and Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, and reached broad consensus on further development of traditional friendship and cooperation between China and the aforementioned three countries. Jiang also participated in the 8th APEC Informal Leadership Meeting held in Brunei, during which he elaborated on China's position and suggestions on deepening regional economic and technological cooperation. Tang said that the visits are very smooth and successful and achieved their projected objectives.

He went on to say that the major objectives of President Jiang's three-nation tour are to enhance friendship, deepen cooperation and promote the stable and comprehensive development of traditional, good-neighborly and friendly relations between China and these three countries in the new century. He summarized the achievements made during Jiang's visits as follows:

Firstly, enhanced the Sino-Lao, Sino-Cambodian and Sino-Brunei friendship and drew a new blueprint for bilateral relations. Speaking highly of China's traditional friendship with the above three countries, Jiang noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China has expanded cooperation with the three countries in all fields, setting a good example of equal treatment and mutually beneficial cooperation. Jiang stressed that China upholds that all nations, big or small, must be treated equally. It is China's set foreign policy to develop and strengthen good-neighborly and friendly ties with Laos, Cambodia, Brunei and other ASEAN member nations on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence. The leaders of the three countries spoke highly of their respective relations with China and hailed President Jiang's state visits as of important and far-reaching significance, expressing positive attitudes of attaching importance to their good-neighborly and
friendly ties with China. Jiang gave his opinions and proposals to the leaders of the three countries about how to expand friendly bilateral cooperation with the three countries. The countries he visited reacted positively to his proposals. They all agreed to enhance their contacts with China at various levels and intensify their mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas and maintain coordination and cooperation in regional and international affairs. President Jiang and the leaders of the three countries also reached consensus on the goals of the development of bilateral friendly relations. During his visits, he signed and issued joint statements on bilateral cooperation with Laos and Cambodia.

Secondly, explored new areas for economic cooperation and promoted economic and trade cooperation. Jiang and the leaders of the three countries agreed that improving economic cooperation should be made a priority in bilateral relations in the face of challenges posed by economic globalization. In light of the different characteristics of the three countries and the status quo and possibilities of bilateral relations, Jiang discussed in an in-depth manner how to further the mutually beneficial cooperation with the leaders of the three countries. In Laos, both parties agreed to further conduct cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, agriculture and personnel training. In Cambodia, the two sides agreed to work closer with each other in agriculture, culture, tourism, and personnel training while continuing to cooperate on project contracts and labor. China reaffirmed to continue its aid to Cambodia's economic reconstruction within its capability. In Brunei, the two parties decided to concentrate their cooperation in the fields of petrochemistry, tourism and agriculture. The signing of the investment protection protocol by China and Brunei will play an active role in improving and deepening bilateral cooperation.

Thirdly, increased mutual understanding and broadened common ground. Jiang exchanged views with his hosts on domestic, international and regional affairs of common concern. He also briefed them on China's reform strategies and on the 10th five-year plan on national economic and social development, He praised the gratifying achievements the three countries have made in overcoming the Asian financial crisis and in national construction. The leaders of the three countries recalled their pleasant memories of their respective visits to China and commended China on the tremendous achievements in its modernization drive. They also briefed Jiang on the recent developments of their economies. Jiang expressed appreciation of the development of ASEAN countries and expansion of ASEAN. He reaffirmed that China will continue to improve collaboration and coordination with ASEAN countries at international forums such as East Asia Cooperation, ASEM, APEC and the United Nations. The leaders of the three countries expressed appreciation for China's commitment in these respects and commended China as a vital force in promoting development and peace in Asia and the world at large.

Tang pointed out that President Jiang's visits to the three countries are visits of promoting good-neighborliness and friendship and visits of furthering cooperation with these countries. The visits are very successful in terms of continuing the past and ushering in the future of bilateral relationship, which has opened a new page in China's relations with the three countries. The visits also help to enhance the solidarity and cooperation among countries in the region and inject new vitality into the initiation of creating an even better future for Asia while meeting challenges in the new century.

Tang went on to say that this year's APEC Informal Leadership Meeting was held against the backdrop that globalization and New Economy continue to gather momentum and Asia-Pacific sub-regional cooperation has become more dynamic than ever. The Meeting discussed such questions as globalization, New Economy, new round of WTO negotiations, economic development in the Asia-Pacific region, sub-regional cooperation, the present situation and prospects of APEC, producing some consensus and endorsing "Leaders' Declaration". At the Meeting, President Jiang put forward proposals and initiatives on deepening cooperation of APEC. He pointed out that economic globalization should help narrow the gap between the rich and poor and should benefit all the members of international community. He suggested that APEC should step up cooperation and encourage privately owned enterprises to play a role in the process so as to expand development opportunities and achieve common prosperity. He also proposed that APEC should conduct cooperation in exploring human resources, trade and investment liberalization and in the financial fields. He stressed that APEC should stick to its forms of organization, namely, respect for differences, independence and the principle of voluntariness, consensus through consultations. APEC should maintain its correct direction of cooperation with a view to promoting greater development of APEC in the new century.

President Jiang briefed APEC on China's preparations for the 9th APEC Informal Leadership Meeting to be held in Shanghai next year. He also took the opportunity to invite the leaders of APEC countries to China and see with their own eyes China's development since its reform and opening-up and discuss plans on furthering economic cooperation in Asia-Pacific region. He noted that on the basis of full consultation with all APEC members, China has hit on the theme of APEC Meeting 2001, namely, "New Century, New Challenges: Participation, Cooperation and Promoting Common Prosperity". The theme will set eyes on the future, reflect the new characteristics of regional and international situations and conform to the objective demands for cooperation in Asia-Pacific region. The theme should also maintain the continuity of APEC, respect the variety of APEC and its principle of consensus through consultations and seek the convergence points of the interests of all parties concerned as much as possible and promote the common development and prosperity of all its members.

Tang noted that President Jiang expressed China's confidence and determination to continue its reform and opening-up policy and take an active part in all kinds of cooperation in APEC to the international community once again, thus drawing attention of other participant countries and making important contribution to the success of the meeting and to the development of regional economic cooperation in Asia-Pacific region. On the sidelines of the meeting, President Jiang also met with the leaders of the U.S., Russia, ROK, Malaysia, Chile and other countries, during which they had an extensive exchange of views on bilateral relations and other regional and international issues of shared interest. These meetings and talks greatly promoted the further development of bilateral relations between China and the countries concerned.

In conclusion, Tang said that the proposals Jiang brought up at the meeting would definitely help to promote the healthy development of APEC. China will be host to APEC meeting of next year. China stands ready to work closely with the other members of APEC to ensure the success of next year's meeting so as to further promote cooperation in APEC.