China, ASEAN expected to make fortune together

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang poses for a group photo with ASEAN members' leaders when the Joint Statement on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Negotiations was released in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nov. 22, 2015. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

CHINA'S PROPOSAL ON 10+3 MECHANISM

The resumption of the leaders' meeting between China, Japan and South Korea and the upcoming ASEAN Economic Community will unleash fresh momentum for the development of the 10+3 mechanism, Li said at the 10+3 leaders' meeting.

He proposed acceleration of economic integration of East Asia. China is ready to join efforts with relevant parties to conclude negotiations of the RCEP in 2016, he noted.

Li then called for concerted efforts to safeguard financial stability of the region.

Relevant parties should raise the level of inter-connectivity, Li said, noting that China has been accelerating the construction of a maritime cooperation platform in East Asia so as to boost cooperation in maritime inter-connectivity, research and personnel training.

Meanwhile, Li urged the parties to carry out international production capacity cooperation and deepen cooperation in agriculture and poverty mitigation.

The parties should also expand people-to-people exchanges, Li noted, calling on them to actively promote the development of the mechanism of ministerial-level meetings in areas such as tourism, education, culture and news.

POSITIVE REACTIONS

Speaking positively of the development of the relations with China, ASEAN leaders present at the 10+1 meeting held that China's development is conducive to the stability and development of the region.

ASEAN attaches great importance to and values the strategic partnership between the bloc and China, the leaders said, adding that ASEAN and China have much more common interests than divergences.

The leaders pledged that they would not allow the overall situations of the ASEAN-China relations to be affected by one or two issues.

The bloc is ready to join efforts with China to lift bilateral relations to a new height and promote peace and development of the region.

At the 10+3 leaders' meeting, participants spoke positively of China's efforts to pU.S.h for cooperation among the 10+3 members and the significance and influence of the resumption of the leaders' meeting of China, Japan and South Korea.

They lauded the 10+3 mechanism as the main channel of cooperation in East Asia and the driving force for peace and development of the region.

The leaders urged further steps to promote East Asia integration, deepen cooperation in trade and economy, finance and investment, increase regional inter-connectivity, accelerate negotiations for the RCEP, encourage people-to-people exchanges, and actively address non-traditional security challenges, so as to promote peace and prosperity of East Asia.