On November 11, upon the conclusion of Premier Zhu Rongji’s attendance at the ASEAN and China, Japan and ROK meetings, and his official visit to Indonesia, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi had an interview with Chinese correspondents accompanying Premier Zhu and briefed them on the major achievements of Premier Zhu’s tour.

Wang said that Premier Zhu’s visit is China’s another important diplomatic move in its neighboring regions at the beginning of the new century. While attending the 5th ASEAN, China, Japan and ROK Meeting (10+3), China and ASEAN Meeting (10+1), and visiting Indonesia at the latter’s invitation, Zhu had in-depth talks with East Asian leaders and the personages from all walks of life in Indonesia, and reached a series of important common agreements on expanding East Asia cooperation and China-Indonesia relations in the new century. The theme of Zhu’s tour is good-neighborly friendship and the tour is conducted in a positive and pragmatic manner. The impression we got from the tour is that Southeast Asia countries have enhanced their trust towards China. China’s influence and status in the world, especially in the region, have increased.

Wang said that Zhu’s tour came at a time when the global and regional economy is slowing down, Southeast Asian countries are faced with new serious challenges after tiding over the Financial Crisis, and China has just successfully hosted the APEC meeting in Shanghai and will accede to the World Trade Organization. Under such circumstances, China’s attitude on East Asia cooperation and its policies toward ASEAN countries are closely watched in the region and the international community.

I. The 10+3 and 10+1 are the first gatherings of East Asian leaders at the beginning of the new century, and are of great significance in the sense that they carry forward the past into the future. Zhu put forward a series of important proposals and suggestions based upon the current changes, and made positive contributions to the success of the meetings and East Asia cooperation.

1) Zhu specifically pointed out that East Asian countries should enhance cooperation and promote common development. East Asian economies are susceptible to outside influence. As the economic slowing down in the US is having a direct impact on Southeast Asian countries, Zhu emphasized that East Asian countries should strengthen unity, deepen cooperation and take on the difficulties and challenges together. They should focus on improving regional trade and investment framework, and promoting cooperation in the fields of finance, information, science and technology, and environmental protection fields. Zhu said that as an important member in the region, China will continue to expand domestic demand, foster market development and maintain the momentum of economic growth so as to contribute to regional stability and development. East Asian countries warmly reacted to Zhu’s proposals. They think that China’s political stability and economic growth will play an important role in enhancing market confidence and promoting economic recovery in all the countries in the region. China’s accession to the WTO will bring a bigger market and more business opportunities to countries in the region. They all expressed the willingness to conduct regional cooperation in a more active attitude.

2) Zhu actively guided the direction of 10+3 cooperation development. As a major channel of East Asia cooperation, 10+3 has had a very good beginning. The focus of discussion among the members is what to do next. Zhu proposed that 10+3 should progress to a higher level according to the principles of mutual benefits, gradualism, and emphasis on practical results. Under the precondition of putting economic cooperation as a priority, 10+3 should gradually launch political and security dialogue, starting from cooperation on anti-terrorism and other non-traditional security fields. At the same time, Zhu pointed out that ASEAN countries should continue to play its set role in East Asia cooperation as the key player in 10+3. Zhu’s proposals take into consideration not only the current situation and but also a long-term view, respecting and recognizing the major status and role of ASEAN. The proposals are conducive to the sound and stable development of East Asia cooperation and are widely appreciated and supported by all the countries.

3) Zhu mapped out 10+1 cooperation at the beginning of the new century. At the meeting, Zhu and ASEAN leaders supported and approved the suggestions put forward by expert groups. They agreed to establish China-ASEAN Free Trade Area within the next decade, and authorized ministers and senior officials of the countries to start negotiations as soon as possible. The decision on setting the important goal reflects the political commitment of ASEAN and China to strengthen good-neighborly cooperation, and also the realistic demand of ever deepening economic ties between the two sides. It is the natural result of the development of China-ASEAN relations. Although the negotiation may be a long and possibly complicated process, just as Zhu said, the decision is a major one promoting the long-term development of China-ASEAN relations. It is conducive to both sides and will bring a win-win situation. The ASEAN leaders also said that it is in the right direction and of great significance for ASEAN and China to establish a free trade area. It is conducive to closer traditional friendly ties between ASEAN and China politically, regional economic competitiveness economically, and peace and stability in Asia geo-politically.

Zhu also put agriculture, information and telecommunications, human resources development, mutual investment and Mekong River development as the five key areas in China-ASEAN cooperation at the beginning of the new century, and proposed new cooperation initiatives. As agricultural cooperation has a good foundation, Zhu said medium and long-term cooperation initiatives in that field can be signed first after negotiation. The decision on the five key areas conforms to the demand of ASEAN’s own development and the requirements of the integration of ASEAN. It also reflects China’s positive and pragmatic attitude towards strengthening cooperation with ASEAN countries, sets the target for the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and ASEAN, and was appreciated unanimously by all the ASEAN countries.

The remarkable achievements of the 10+1 meeting raised praises and warm comments in the region and international community. It shows that the good-neighborly partnership of mutual trust between China and ASEAN has come another big step forward and entered into a new stage of all-round development.

II. Zhu’s official visit to Indonesia is an important high-level contact between the two sides in the new century. It is also a major diplomatic move of Chinese leaders toward Indonesia when its political situation is becoming stable. The Indonesian side attached great importance to this visit. The visit went smoothly and successfully. During the visit,

1) Zhu emphasized China’s support of the Indonesian government and the Indonesian people. Indonesia is a big country in the region. Since the new administration led by President Megawati came into power in July, the law and order and political situation is becoming stable. However, Indonesia is still faced with some difficulties and challenges. Zhu clearly pointed out that despite the changes in the international situation, China will, as always, staunchly support the efforts by the Indonesian government in maintaining national sovereignty, territorial integrity, ethnic amity, and economic revitalization, and will continues to uphold a friendly policy towards Indonesia. This policy shows China’s sincere support of Indonesia and is of great significance under current circumstances. President Megawati and the Indonesian government highly appreciate that. Megawati said that China is a good friend of Indonesia’s. It is believed that Indonesia will continue to receive the support and assistance from the Chinese people in its struggle to maintain territorial integrity and national unity.

2) Zhu set the direction of bilateral friendly cooperation in the new century. Last year, China and Indonesia agreed to develop an all-round cooperative relationship of long-term stability and good-neighborly mutual trust. Under the framework, targeting the characteristics of bilateral relations and Indonesia’s need in its development, Zhu proposed that the two countries should develop mutually beneficial cooperation in agriculture, energy, resources and infrastructure building. Indonesian leaders agreed with Zhu, and expressed the willingness and concrete suggestions of deepening cooperation with China. During the visit, the two sides signed a series of cooperation agreements. For example, the memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation will lay a foundation for cooperation between the two countries in this priority area. The agreement on avoiding double taxation will facilitate mutual investment. The memorandum on cooperation between the central banks of the two countries will solve the problem of Bank of China resuming its branch in Indonesia, which has long been contemplated. The agreement on cultural cooperation will promote the enhancement of mutual understanding and friendship. The implementation plan on Chinese tourists traveling to Indonesia will attract more Chinese tourists to Indonesia. The agreements will promote China-Indonesia mutually beneficial cooperation from different perspectives.

3) Zhu expressed China’s willingness to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Indonesia in regional and international affairs. Zhu pointed out that both China and Indonesia are big developing countries. As the initiators of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Ten Principles of Bandung Conference, China and Indonesia exert major influence in world peace and development. The two countries have common interests and stand on the same position on major international and regional issues. We should strengthen mutual support and coordination under the changing international and regional circumstances, jointly maintain the interests of developing countries, and work for the establishment of a fair and reasonable international new order. Indonesia fully praised China’s foreign policy of peace and expressed the willingness to work with China for world and regional peace and development.

Wang Yi said finally that the East Asian leaders meetings are becoming better and more fruitful every year. The mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Southeast Asian countries are also being promoted in terms of width and depth. The important results achieved by Premier Zhu’s visit will have important and long-term influences on the new development in East Asia cooperation and relations between China and ASEAN relations in the new century.