The People's Daily carries an article on May 24,
written by Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, about his
views on the significance, prospects and characteristics of
the cooperation between Asia and Europe within the ASEM
framework.
The third ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting)
Foreign Ministers' Meeting is scheduled to be held May 24-25
in Beijing. 25 ASEM members and members of the Foreign
Relations Committee of the European Commission will hold
extensive and in-depth discussions on global and regional
issues of common concern, as well as the Asia-Europe
cooperation in trade, the economy and social and cultural
sectors. As the first gathering among ASEM foreign ministers
in the new century, the event has attracted special
attention from the international community and marks a major
diplomatic occasion in China as it is held in Beijing. I
would like to share my views on the significance, prospects
and characteristics of the cooperation between Asia and
Europe within the ASEM framework on the eve of the
meeting.
I Asia-Europe cooperation
has strategic significance. ASEM is a trans-regional
cooperation mechanism initiated in 1996 with the aim to
establish a comprehensive new partnership between Asia and
Europe, enhance dialogue, understanding and cooperation
between the two continents, create favorable conditions for
their economic and social development, and maintain world
peace and stability.
The initiation and
establishment of ASEM have profound historical background.
There are two events of far-reaching influence on the
world's pattern that happened in the five decades after
World War II (WWII) . One is the rise of Asia, especially
East Asia, which includes the southeast and northeast Asia.
The rapid economic development and rise in the political
status of East Asian nations, including China, has enabled
this region to become a major force in the world's pattern.
The other is Europe's integration process. Europe, on the
other hand, having experienced frequent wars and turbulence
in the past few centuries, was the place where two world
wars in the 20th century were played out, he notes. The
integration process of Europe after WW II has boosted and
safeguarded stability and prosperity in West Europe and has
laid a foundation for Europe to play a bigger role in world
affairs. It is noteworthy that far from drawing to an end,
both the economic development of East Asia and the
integration of the European Union (EU) is
continuing.
East Asia, Western Europe and North
America take up more than three-quarters of the world's
total GNP. As an integral party, the 15 EU members take up
29 percent of the world's GNP. As a matter of fact, East
Asia, West Europe and North America are now the three
pillars of the world economy. Europe and America have
maintained close links, and the ties between East Asia and
North America have been strengthened with the establishment
of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Meanwhile,
ASEM has set up a bridge between Asia and Europe. ASEM takes
up 40 percent of the world's population with its 2.4 billion
people, and takes up 50 percent of the world's GDP. The EU
is an influential group of nations, with France and Britain
as permanent members of the UN Security Council. The
importance of Asia-Europe cooperation is therefore not to be
underestimated, as it reflects the strategic needs of the
two continents to complement each other both politically and
economically.
Politically, Asia and Europe are
major forces in the trend of multi-polarization. Asia-Europe
cooperation is of far-reaching importance for maintaining
peace and stability in Asia and Europe and the whole world
and also for the development of the trend of political
multi-polarization.
Economically, Asia and
Europe are important participants of economic globalization.
Asia-Europe cooperation plays an important role in promoting
development and prosperity in Asia, Europe and the world as
a whole and achieving the positive side of and a win-win
situation in the process of economic
globalization.
Culturally, Asia and Europe are
cradles of ancient civilization, which have made great
contributions to the progress of humankind and the
development of science and culture. Asia-Europe cooperation
plays a positive role in maintaining
diversity.
Over a decade has passed since the
Cold War ended, and it is now the trend to maintain peace,
stability, development and cooperation. As two major forces
of the multi-polar world, Asia and Europe continue to
respect each other and seek common ground while shelving
differences. They are striving to enhance understanding and
expand common ground through equal dialogue. Such a move is
conducive to the democratic process of international
relations and in line with the current trend as well as the
long-term benefits of the two continents and the people of
the world. It is therefore welcomed by the international
community and will surely contribute to world peace,
stability, development and prosperity, thus exerting a
far-reaching effect on the establishment of a just and fair
international, political and economic order.
II
Asia-Europe has broad prospects. There is no conflicts
of fundamental interests between Asia and Europe and they
share identical or similar views on a series of major
international issues, which has laid a firm foundation for
extensive and in-depth Asian-European cooperation of
equality and friendship.
Members of Asia and
Europe enjoy strong economic power and broad prospects for
future development, and their economies are highly
complementary. Asia boasts rich natural and human resources
and a vast market with a great potential. Asian countries
have scored rapid development in promoting economic progress
in accordance with their own conditions in the past years.
Europe enjoys its advantages in capital, science and
technology, as well as rich experience in economic
development and environmental protection. It is worth
pointing out that many European countries hold a positive
attitude toward providing capital for and transferring
technologies to developing countries, and helping them
eliminate poverty and protect the environment. Northern
European countries are among the few developed countries
whose official aid for developing countries accounts for 0.7
percent of their GNP, as required by the United Nations.
In the short span of five years since the
launching of ASEM, Asia-Europe cooperation has withstood
tests and shown strong vitality and dynamism.
ASEM was first launched in 1996 when Asian
economy was generally believed to be promising. European and
Asian members gave positive response after Singapore first
proposed strengthening Asia-Europe cooperation. Some people
got worried about the prospects of Asia-Europe cooperation
in the wake of Asian financial crisis that broke out in July
1997. To tide over the crisis, Asian and European countries
joined hands in coming up with positive countermeasures and
putting in place a trust fund to highlight financial
cooperation. EU countries and some Asian countries have
contributed to the bottoming out of Asian countries by
actively participating in IMF-centered rescue efforts and
taking other rescue measures. Experiences have proven that
Asian and European countries can not only share prosperity,
but also cope with crisis together, which demonstrates the
vision of the leaders of ASEM member countries, the maturity
of the ASEM regime and reflects the common needs and
long-term interests of the two continents. With the current
slowing down of world economy and with the increase of
uncertainties, the urgency and necessity of Asia-Europe
cooperation have become more prominent than
ever.
In the eyes of many people, the fact that
Asia and Europe differ in economic development level, value
systems, historical and cultural heritages as they represent
oriental and occidental civilization respectively will bring
difficulties to Asia-Europe cooperation. However, I
personally believe that as long as the two parties concerned
can abide by the principle of equality, friendship, mutual
accommodation and mutual benefit, differences will not
necessarily become obstacles, and on the contrary, may even
become the driving force and content of dialogue,
cooperation and exchange.
III. Characteristics
of Asia-Europe Cooperation
Compared with other
important international organizations and cooperation
regime, ASEM has its own characteristics to recommend
itself.
Firstly, Asia-Europe cooperation within
the framework of ASEM basically reflects the principle of
equality. The theme of ASEM is to establish new type of
partnership while equality is an important component of such
a partnership and a prerequisite of cooperation. Many ASEM
members emphasize that the basis of Asia-Europe dialogue
should be mutual respect, equality, promoting basic rights,
observing the obligations provided in international law and
non-interference in the internal affairs of other
countries.
In history, many Asian countries
were the colonies of European powers. China was reduced to a
semi-feudal and semi-colonial country at the latter half of
the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. The
colonial history of Asia came to an end only in the last
several years of the 20th century after China resumed the
exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macao. Dialogue
takes the place of confrontation and cooperation takes the
places of contradiction in the wake of the Cold War and that
has become the common aspiration of the peoples in the
world. Asia-Europe cooperation on the basis of equality
represents both historical progress and the needs of the
times.
Secondly, Asia-Europe cooperation covers
a wide scope and involves a crowded agenda. Cooperation of
ASEM is not limited to economy and trade or to the
Asia-Europe region. Apart from economic, financial
cooperation and trade, such cooperation also includes
political dialogue and cooperation in cultural and other
fields. Asia and Europe can exchange views on regional and
international issues of mutual concern. In fact, such issues
as economic globalization, cultural pluralism, highlighting
the role of UN and maintaining global strategic stability
all fall into the agenda of Asia-Europe
cooperation.
Thirdly, Asia-Europe cooperation
is pragmatic and effective. Ever since ASEM was put in
place, Asia and Europe have carried out a series of
follow-up activities and have scored achievements in this
aspect. For instance, in economy and trade, TFAP (Trade
Facility Action Plan) and IPAP (Investment Promotion Action
Plan) have been formulated. In finance, a trust fund has
been set up with a view to helping Asian countries be free
of the impacts of financial crisis and to enhancing
financial cooperation between Asia and Europe. In science
and technology, the first ASEM science ministers’
meeting was convened successfully in Beijing in October
1999, during which the major objectives and priority areas
for scientific and technological cooperation were defined.
Asia-Europe Fund was put in place in Singapore in 1997 in a
bid to promote academic, cultural and personnel exchanges
between Asia and Europe. All these have greatly boosted the
development of the friendly relations and cooperation
between Asia and Europe.
IV. ASEM and
China’s diplomacy
ASEM provides an
important stage for China’s diplomacy. President Jiang
Zemin will attend this year’s ASEM Foreign
Ministers’ Meeting and deliver a keynote speech. In
the past few years, then Premier Li Peng attended the first
ASEM summit meeting whereas the now incumbent Premier Zhu
Rongji attended the second and third summit meetings.
China’s foreign ministers, foreign trade ministers,
finance ministers and science ministers attended all the
competent ASEM ministerial meetings.
China
attaches importance to and supports the process of ASEM.
China has actively participated in the ASEM process in the
spirits of pragmatism, seeking common ground while reserving
differences, expanding consensus and promoting cooperation
and has made full use of such a dialogue and cooperation
channel to serve China’s reform, opening-up and
economic development. The propositions, suggestions and
cooperation projects China proposes have commanded universal
attention and have played an active role in promoting the
cooperation and exchanges between the two
continents.
ASEM is a part and parcel of
China’s all-dimensional diplomacy. In this recent
year, China has hosted and is going to host and sponsor a
series of large-scale international conferences. Last
October, Forum on Sino-African Cooperation –
Ministerial Meeting Beijing 2000 was held in Beijing and
were attended by the foreign ministers and trade ministers
from all African countries having diplomatic ties with
China. Shanghai Five summit meeting is forthcoming in June.
This year, China will become the host country of APEC
meetings and APEC informal leadership meeting will be
convened in Shanghai in the coming October. The third ASEM
Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is one of the important
diplomatic activities of China this year.
The
third ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be
unfolding today. That many foreign ministers gathers in
Beijing and discuss world affairs will help to promote
mutual understanding between the two continents and will
provide them with a good opportunity to see for themselves
the achievements China has scored in its reform and
opening-up. I look forward to their arrival and will make
concerted efforts with them to make the meeting a full
success.
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