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Wen puts forward proposals for 10+3 co-op
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-12 21:31
KUALA LUMPUR -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao put forward proposals for closer
economic cooperation, better managing public health emergencies and other issues
here on Monday at the 9th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) Plus China, Japan and South Korea (10+3).
Wen, who arrived in the Malaysian capital on Sunday after visiting France,
Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Portugal, said China supports the issuance of
the second Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation at the 10+3 Summit in 2007
to sum up the experience and plan for the future.
In his speech entitled "Work Together For a Better Future Through Stronger
Cooperation," Wen said free trade between ASEAN and China, Japan and South Korea
should be accelerated and feasibility studies on East Asia Free Trade Area
expedited.
"We should also speed up the a multilateralization process of the Chiang Mai
Initiative and explore the feasibility of putting in place a framework for
regional financial cooperation," said Wen, who also called for increased
cooperation in the energy sector.
On management of public health emergencies and major natural disasters, Wen
said strengthening cooperation in prevention and control of the highly
pathogenic avian flu and stopping its transmission to human is an "urgent task
facing us." He also called for strengthening cooperation in exchanging
information and technical expertise on early warning, epidemic monitoring and
vaccine research and development.
"China will set up the Asian Regional
Research Center on Catastrophe and Work with other East Asian countries to
strengthen capacity building and improve efficiency and effectiveness in
managing major natural disasters," he said.
The premier also proposed intensifying development cooperation and narrowing
the gap in development, saying that China wishes to promote agricultural
cooperation in East Asia and work with other countries to promote rural
development.
The Chinese premier called on East Asian countries to step up cooperation in
areas of non-traditional security by combating terrorism, smuggling, drug
trafficking and other transnational crimes.
"China has proposed conducting military sports exchange activities among the
10+3 countries to enhance understanding and trust of the armed forces of these
countries," Wen said.
Wen also stressed the need for deepening cultural, educational and youth
cooperation.
"The 10+3 cooperation needs the support of the general public and
particularly the younger generation, and cultural and educational cooperation is
an important bond linking the East Asian countries," he
said.
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