2010-07-21 20:24

HANOI - Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi made a six-point proposal to the 11th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting here on Wednesday to boost East Asian cooperation.

"ASEAN plus three countries should focus on financial cooperation, and meanwhile broaden exchanges in a wide range of areas," said Yang.

South Korea's Trade Minister Kim Jong-Hoon, China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Vietnam's Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem (from L-R) join hands before the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus Three meeting in Hanoi July 21, 2010. [Agencies]

The meeting, drawing foreign ministers from ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, opened in Vietnamese capital Hanoi on Wednesday.

Yang said that East Asian countries should take further steps to implement and improve the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM), a multilateral currency swap accord covering all ASEAN+3 members.

Yang called for the early establishment of regional economic surveillance body to provide necessary information and assistance to the operation of CMIM.

Secondly, Yang said ASEAN plus three countries could make full use of their markets and take steps in promoting the creation of a free trade area covering East Asia.

Thirdly, Yang said East Asian countries should expand agricultural exchanges and enhance the regional grain production capacity. A rice reserve covering ASEAN plus three countries should be set up at an early date, he said.

Fourthly, Yang said enhancing connectivity remains an important part in building ASEAN Community and the envisioned East Asia Community. China would continue to increase investment into ASEAN infrastructure development, he said.

Fifthly, Yang called on ASEAN plus three countries to increase exchanges in energy-saving and environmental protection technology, pandemics prevention and treatment, human resources development, culture heritage protection and media.

Finally, Yang said ASEAN plus three countries should make full use of the regional cooperation fund to support relevant programs.

ASEAN countries at the meeting reviewed progress made through ASEAN plus three mechanism in recent years. They found that economic and trade power, financial stability, food security, infrastructure development and personnel exchanges have all been strengthened thanks to the cooperation scheme.

ASEAN countries expressed the willingness to deepen ASEAN+3 cooperation for the regional peace, development and stability.

The ten-member ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.