Li Zhaoxing Says That President Hu Jintao 's Tour to Three Southeast Asian Countries Made Fruitful Achievements
2005-04-29 00:00

On April 28, 2005, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, who accompanied President Hu Jintao to visit three Southeast Asian countries and attend the Asia-Africa Summit in 2005 and the commemoration events of the 50th anniversary of Bandung Conference, introduced the achievements of this visit to accompanying journalists on his way back to China. He said that this visit has won fruitful achievements and reached the goal of strengthening friendship, advancing cooperation, enhancing solidarity and making common progress.

Li Zhaoxing said that during the 9-day tour, President Hu Jintao attended 59 activities. This tour is characterized by tight schedule, rich contents, and fruitful achievements. It has the following prominent features:

1.Consolidating the traditional friendship and opening a new chapter of good neighbors. China has a thousands-of-years-long history of exchanges with Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. Currently the three countries are facing common development tasks. During the visit, both sides have reached wide consensus on further developing bilateral relations. President Hu Jintao and Sudan Bolkiah of Brunei unanimously agreed to continue China-Brunei friendly and cooperative relations of good neighbors. President Hu and President Susilo of Indonesia signed the joint statement on establishing the strategic partnership between both countries. Hu Jintao and President Arroyo of the Philippines decided to establish the strategic and cooperative relations committed to peace and development. These have pushed China's traditionally friendly relations with the three countries into a new development phase.

President Hu Jintao condoled with the Indonesian people on their sufferings from the earthquake and tsunami in Indian Ocean again. He took 6 tons of disaster relief material on his special plane that extends the Chinese people's profound friendship towards the Indonesian people in the disaster area. The Indonesian government and people sang high praise for it.

2. Expanding the mutually beneficial cooperation and promoting the common development. During this visit to the three countries, nearly 30 cooperative agreements have been signed covering such fields as politics, economy, trade, security, science, technology, culture, health, disaster relief, personnel exchange and the exchanges between civilians. In the field of economic and trade cooperation, President Hu particularly pointed out that the trade volume between China and Brunei is expected to reach US$ 1 billion by 2010, the bilateral trade volume between China and Indonesia will reach US$ 20 billion within 2 or 3 years and the trade volume between China and the Philippines will reach US$ 30 billion by 2010. The friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation is certain to inject new vitalities into China's relations with the three countries and benefit the people and the development of these countries.

3. Driving the regional cooperation and advancing the peace and stability. Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines are the important members of ASEAN. President Hu Jintao emphasized that China is willing to strengthen the friendly cooperation of good neighbors with all ASEAN countries so as to realize the common development and prosperity and expand the coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs. China supports ASEAN's integration course and its leading role in the East Asian cooperation process. China is willing to advance the East Asian cooperation and boost the establishment of China-ASEAN free trade area. On the South China Sea issue, China is willing to put aside disputes for joint exploitation and make South China Sea a sea of friendship and cooperation between China and ASEAN. Leaders of the three countries highly commented on China's constructive role in the region and are willing to work with the Chinese side to create a more beautiful future in the region.

4.Carrying forward the spirit of Bandung Conference and joining hands to create a better future. The Asia-Africa Conference held 50 years ago is a milestone of Asia-Africa national independence movement and exerted important influence on the development of international relations. Today 50 years later, leaders of 109 countries and delegates of international organizations gathered here again to discuss the Asia-Africa relations under the new situation. The conference issued the Declaration on Asia-Africa New Strategic Partnership.

President Hu Jintao comprehensively expounded China's views and opinions on building Asia-Africa new strategic partnership in the conference. He pointed out that the Asian and African countries should become cooperative partners in four fields. Politically, they should respect and support each other. Economically, they should take advantages of each other's strengths and achieve mutual benefit and win-win result. Culturally, they should draw lessons and learn from one another. In terms of security, they should follow the principle of equality, mutual trust and cooperation through dialogues. The developing countries should strengthen their cooperation and coordination in international economic affairs, propel North-South dialogue and cooperation and deal with the challenge of the economic globalization. Leaders of Asia-Africa countries in the conference warmly applauded this suggestion.

In Bandung city, when President Hu Jintao walked with other leaders of Asia-Africa countries toward the conference hall where the Bandung Conference was held 50 years ago, the people could deeply feel that China is one steady member of developing countries. China will continue to work with vast developing countries to withstand any situation wholeheartedly. China will incessantly strengthen the solidarity and cooperation with developing countries, grasp the opportunities and deal with the challenges in the hope to realize common development and prosperity.

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