JAKARTA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- China will support the development of ASEAN-China free trade agreement (ACFTA) steadily and elaborately through close communication and negotiation with ASEAN, so as to seek mutual benefits and win-win results, said China's State Councilor Dai Bingguo here on Friday.
Dai said that the ACFTA is the largest free trade zone among developing counties and in accordance with their basic and long- term interests. It brings more opportunities, larger market and optimized resource allocation to these countries, aiming at mutual benefits, win-win results and common development.
Speaking at the ASEAN Secretariat in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, he said that Chinese people were willing to join hands with people in Southeast Asia to push forward the rise of Asia and regional integration.
"China and ASEAN should treat equally and deepen their mutual trust, take each other as a reliable and equal partner, seek mutual benefits and win-win results, support the development of ACFTA elaborately, unite and help each other while facing challenges in terms of climate change, food security and natural disasters, and seek common ground while reserving differences, and deal with disputes properly to avoid influencing the cooperation," he added.
When introducing China's development, Dai said that China is still a developing country, with its GDP per capita ranking 104th in the world. He said that China's realizing modernization still required deepening reforms, expanding opening-up, learning advanced experiences from abroad, and improving mutual benefit with other countries including ASEAN countries. He added that China was glad to see the United States making constructive efforts to improve the stability and development of Asia.
Dai also reiterated that China would never seek hegemony. He said that China had no history of military aggression and expansion and need a peaceful and steady international environment. "China was willing to be good friend, good neighbor and good partner of ASEAN and all Asian countries forever," he added.
For the full text of the Welcome Remarks by H.E. Dr Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN, please click here.
For the full text of the speech by H.E. Mr. Dai Bingguo at the ASEAN Secretariat, please clicke here.
