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ACHIEVEMENTS IN CHINA-ASEAN PARTNERSHIP

ACHIEVEMENTS IN CHINA-ASEAN PARTNERSHIP. Chin Kin Wah Deputy Director Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Brief Historical Background. From ASEAN’s formation (1967) to formalization of ASEAN-China relations (1991): Communist insurgencies in S-E Asia: the China threat syndrome

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ACHIEVEMENTS IN CHINA-ASEAN PARTNERSHIP

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  1. ACHIEVEMENTS IN CHINA-ASEAN PARTNERSHIP Chin Kin Wah Deputy Director Institute of Southeast Asian Studies

  2. Brief Historical Background From ASEAN’s formation (1967) to formalization of ASEAN-China relations (1991): • Communist insurgencies in S-E Asia: the China threat syndrome • Confrontations of the lingering first cold war • Mutual suspicions of the 1970’s • Disruptive impact of the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) • Border disputes & territorial claims in S. China Sea (1980’s – mid 1990’s) • The second cold war (1979-1991): • S-E divided by Cambodia conflict • Sino-Vietnamese confrontation

  3. Some Positive Counter-currents • 1978: Economic reforms & opening up of China • 1978: Deng Xiaoping’s visit to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore – friendly ties on the principles of peaceful coexistence • Importance of a stable regional environment to China & ASEAN • Normalisation of bilateral relations between China & regional states – process completed by 1991 • Dissipation of regional cold war & arrival of “one Southeast Asia” • Strengthening of ASEAN’s role in regional affairs

  4. Progressive Engagement between China & ASEAN • July 1991: Chinese Foreign Minister attended opening of AMM – first informal meeting • Sept 1993: ASEAN Sec-Gen led ASEAN delegation to Beijing. Explored strengthening of economic & functional cooperation. China effectively became ASEAN consultative partner • July 1994: 2 joint committees formed – (a) trade & economic matters (b) science & technology

  5. July 1994: China participated in first ARF meeting in Bangkok • April 1995: First ASEAN-China political consultations @ senior official level in Hangzhou • 1996: China became full dialogue partner of ASEAN • 1997: First meeting of the ASEAN-China Joint Cooperation Committee (Beijing). ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund established

  6. Progressive Strengthening of Confidence Building • Early 1990’s: Track 2 workshops on the S China Sea • Confidence building through multilateral frameworks such as ARF • 1997 Asian Financial Crisis – opportunity for China to be supportive (no RMB devaluation; assistance to affected ASEAN countries) • Dec 1997: ASEAN + 3 Summit & Informal ASEAN-China summit; Joint statement of partnership of good neighbourliness & mutual trust

  7. 2002 Phnom Penh summit: • Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the S. China Sea. • Declaration on Cooperation in Non-Traditional Security (drug-trafficking, trafficking in persons, illegal immigration, sea piracy, terrorism, arms smuggling, money laundering, etc.) • 2003 ASEAN-China summit: • China became first ASEAN Partner to accede to TAC. • China became the first “strategic partner” of ASEAN. • China reiterated willingness to work towards signing protocol to SEANWFZ treaty

  8. Economic Underpinnings • China currently the 4th trading partner of ASEAN after the US, Japan and EU • Nov 2002: Signing of Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation: • ASEAN-China FTA by 2010 for more developed ASEAN members and by 2015 for CLMV countries • Oct 2003: Early Harvest Programme to accelerate tariff reduction & elimination – implemented since Jan 2004

  9. Nov 2004 ASEAN-China Summit: • Agreement on Trade in Goods • Agreement on Dispute Settlement Mechanism Now working on agreement on trade in services & on investments

  10. Functional Underpinnings • Nov 2001 ASEAN-China Summit (Brunei): Agreed to focus on 5 priority areas: • Agriculture • ICT • HRD • Development of Mekong River Basin • 2-way investment

  11. March 2005 (6th ASEAN-China Joint Coop Committee). China proposed 5 new priority areas: • Energy • Transport • Culture • Public Health • Tourism

  12. Institutional Underpinnings • ASEAN-China Summit as key decision-making, direction-setting mechanism • ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers Meeting for overall coordination • ASEAN-China Senior Officials Consultations (strategic, political & security cooperation) • ASEAN-China Joint Cooperation Committee (custodian of ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund, oversees implementation of ASEAN-China Plan of Action) • Sectorial dialogue mechanisms

  13. China-ASEAN Partnership: Some Conclusions • Rapid development over the past 15 years but at a pace comfortable to both sides • Underpinned by substantive economic and functional cooperation • Wide ranging and multi-faceted • Underpinned by a range of mechanisms to facilitate cooperation • Moved from rudimentary confidence building to a strategic partnership for peace & prosperity • Not an exclusive partnership but one open to rest of the world & integrated with the global economy – namely, reflecting an open & inclusive approach

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