Jointly Discuss Cooperation, Share Business Opportunities: 2010 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area

Author: Yang Chengxi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: Since the publication of the "Joint Statement of the Leaders' Meeting of the People's Republic of China and the ASEAN Countries" in 1997, China and ASEAN have signed a series of political, economic documents, and agreements. This has created a favorable environment for further development of cooperation. Over the years, China-ASEAN relations have developed rapidly, comprehensively, and deeply, with both sides increasingly becoming important partners. The potential for cooperation between China and ASEAN is vast, and the prospects are broad. China and ASEAN have reached an agreement to establish a free trade area within 10 years. The establishment of a free trade area with a population of 1.7 billion and a market will become the third-largest economy in the future. This is beneficial for the people of China and ASEAN, for East Asia, and will also have a positive impact on the world. The greatest contribution of China's regional economic cooperation lies in maintaining the momentum of economic growth. To this end, China needs not only to strengthen the intensity of reform, improve the market mechanism, and resolve contradictions affecting the healthy operation of the national economy but also to have a favorable external environment. As a major country that has initially established a market mechanism, China faces enormous difficulties and arduous tasks. With the experience and strength accumulated over 20 years of reform and opening-up, China has already possessed the ability to overcome these challenges.