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MANILA, July 31: Rapidly rising China on Tuesday promised to be a “good neighbour” to the rest of Asia and called for deeper cooperation on issues ranging from regional stability to economic affairs.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said the 10-year-old Asean Plus Three grouping — which brings together Southeast Asian nations plus China, Japan and South Korea — was a force for good in the region that should be strengthened.
“China is committed to building good-neighbourly relations and partnerships with its neighbours and strengthening cooperation in the region,” Yang said in an address in Manila to other foreign ministers from the grouping.
China's rapid military build-up has caused concern in the region, while its seemingly unlimited export strength has put pressure on other Asian economies.
But with Asean in the “driver's seat”, Yang said, China was ready to “draw up a plan of cooperation for the next 10 years to maintain peace and stability, promote prosperity and development in the region and write a new chapter in the annals of East Asia cooperation.” His speech came at the start of a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) as well as from China, Japan and South Korea.
It was the first appearance at the forum for Yang, who was named China's top diplomat in April.
Yang praised the forum for increasing financial cooperation following the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis, which has been credited with helping improve regional economic stability.
“All of this shows that Asean Plus Three has made a great contribution to peace, stability, economic development, social progress and common prosperity ... and has become the main vehicle of East Asia cooperation,” Yang said.
Noting that “mutual trust” in the region remained in too-short supply, he called for more free-trade agreements and efforts to increase cooperation in other areas.
MAYANMAR UNDER FIRE: Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who also defended his country over a failed terrorism case against an Indian doctor, led criticism of Myanmar, after the isolated state objected to a new regional human rights body.
“What amazes me about Burma is that... the leadership seems completely insensitive to and impervious to the views of the outside world,” said Downer, referring to the country by its former name. “There have been sanctions, there has been so-called constructive engagement, there have been human rights dialogues, there have been visits, there have been representations, there have been threats,” he said.
“But nothing moves the leadership of Burma.” Diplomats said Myanmar's objections nearly kept the Asean from mentioning the creation of a new human rights body in the draft of its first-ever charter presented on Monday.
The draft included the rights body but contained no details on how or when it would come into being, and Downer urged China and India to help get the reclusive state to restore democracy and release activist Aung San Suu Kyi.
Downer met his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee amid a row over an Indian doctor who was held for three weeks in Australia on false terrorism charges before being released at the weekend.
“Mr Downer explained the situation to his Indian counterpart and told him the police were still investigating,” an Australian embassy spokesman said.
Downer earlier defended the Australian police’s handling of the case.
ARF includes the United States, European Union, India, Pakistan, North and South Korea and other countries, and will hold talks here on Wednesday and Thursday.—AFP
