ZCZC
BCN-17
CHINA-EAST-ASIA-ECONOMIC-COMMUNITY
Chinese state councilor calls for building of East Asia economic
community, open world economy
SINGAPORE, Aug. 6, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – Chinese State Councilor and Foreign
Minister Wang Yi on Saturday called for the building of East Asia economic
community and an open world economy.
Wang made the call here at the foreign ministers’ meeting of the 10 member
states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, Japan
and South Korea (10+3).
Currently, with twists and turns in economic globalization and surge of
unilateralism and protectionism, the international order and multilateral
trade system have been adversely affected, Wang said.
He called on the 10+3 countries to demonstrate strong will to promote free
trade and firm resolution to uphold multilateralism, firmly push forward
regional economic integration and build an East Asia economic community as
well as an open world economy.
Such efforts will provide more stability and certainty to the world
economy, the top Chinese diplomat stressed.
Wang also called for substantive progress to be made in the negotiations on
the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) by the year-end and an
East Asian pattern of development to be forged, which is free, balanced,
inclusive and beneficial to all.
The 10+3 countries should also deepen financial cooperation, continue to
improve regional financial security network, make good use of the Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Asian Development Bank so as to lend
more cost-effective financial support to countries in the region, he said.
The 10+3 countries should expand sectors of cooperation, including boosting
cooperation on innovation and pressing for new cooperation in the fields of
digital economy, smart city, artificial intelligence and e-commerce among
others, Wang said.
Noting that the 10+3 should also build new platforms for people-to-people
exchanges, Wang said China proposes to set up a “10+3 cultural cities
network,” enhance the capability building of the think-tanks network in East
Asia, and promote cultural ties and people’s friendship among East Asian
countries.
MORE/HR/1122
ZCZC
BCN-18
CHINA-EAST-ASIA-ECONOMIC-COMMUNITY 2 LAST SINGAPORE
Foreign ministers from Japan, South Korea and ASEAN member states all spoke
highly of the fruitful achievements of cooperation scored within the
framework of the”10+3″ and affirmed the positive role the “10+3” has played
in promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity.
They all shared the view that faced with the shock and threat to the
multilateral trade system brought by unilateral protectionism, it is more
important than ever to enhance the cooperation of the “10+3”.
They agreed that the “10+3” should consolidate unity, firmly support free
trade, oppose protectionism, speed up the negotiations on RCEP and push
forward the building of East Asia economic community and maintain peace and
prosperity in East Asia.
BSS/XINHUA/HR/1125