core sector communique

ASEAN SG Meets China FM

ASEAN Secretariat, 16 September 2010

 

The Secretary-General of ASEAN recently paid a courtesy call on the Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China Yang Jiechi in Beijing to discuss ASEAN-China’s dialogue partnership and other issues of mutual interest.

 

"China-ASEAN cooperation has been mutually beneficial. Through the years, our relationship in all areas has flourished and with the full implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area on 1 January 2010, we can expect faster and larger increase of trade, investment and tourism between us," said Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan to the Foreign Minister.

 

The courtesy call on 14 September 2010 coincided with his participation at the China-World Bank Group Conference on a Partnership for Harmonious Development on 13 September, which marked the 30th anniversary of cooperation between China and the World Bank.

 

Addressing the Conference, Dr Surin said that "The success of China's economic development during the past three decades has been impressive. Together with ASEAN and India, China is a major engine of growth for the global economy now.” He added, “We in ASEAN have an operating principle: When China grows, ASEAN grows with it.”

 

"ASEAN-China combined GDP now stands at US$ 6.6 trillion and a combined Foreign Direct Investment of more than US$ 183 billion or 16.4 percent of global FDI in 2008,” continued the Secretary-General. Trade has tripled between 2003 (US$ 59.6 billion) and 2008 (US$ 178.1 billion). “That is an impressive economic strength and drawing power," he said.

 

Pointing out that China's growth benefits the region of East Asia and ASEAN in particular, Dr Surin said, "China, along with Japan and the Republic of Korea, contributes 80 percent of the US$ 120 billion financial pool known as the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM). Together, countries in ASEAN and East Asia are demonstrating to the world that we want to, we can, and we are willing to cooperate in maintaining our high and sustainable growth region-wide and we can help the world recover to a path of growth."

 

While in the Chinese capital, Dr Surin also participated in the World Bank's 2011 World Development Report Advisory Council meeting on 13-14 September.