FTA To Strengthen M'sia-China Trade :: Bernama.com

FTA To Strengthen M'sia-China Trade :: Bernama.comFTA To Strengthen M'sia-China Trade

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's ties with the economic powerhouse of China are set to strengthen further with the implementation of the Asean-China Free Trade Area (FTA), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Friday.

"The Asean-China FTA will set the stage for deeper economic relations," he said in his keynote address at the Malaysia-China Business Forum 2005 here.

"If and when the tariff and non-tariff barriers are brought down under the existing Asean-China FTA, the trade relations between Malaysia and China are poised for even more dynamic growth," he said.

The initial common tariff deduction of Asean-China FTA is to be completed by 2006 while a full free trade area would be completed by 2013.

The Prime Minister said "trade has been and will continue to be a key driver in strengthening relations between the two countries."

Abdullah hopes that Malaysia-China trade would expand in many areas, over and above the robust increase seen recently.

As such, he urged Malaysian companies to start assessing their own operations and look at areas they could gain from China's economic boom.

To compete effectively with others who are also taking advantage of China's economic growth, he said Malaysian companies must meet China's needs, demands and constraints and at the same time "offering value-for-money propositions."

"Awareness and understanding must be updated consistently and continuously over time as things neutrally change very quickly in China," he added.

Abdullah gave the assurance that bilateral relations between Malaysia and China would remain strong in many years to come and believed that the two economies would continue to cooperate in all areas.

-- BERNAMA

Xinhua - English

Xinhua - English
Premier Wen meets Cambodian king

www.chinaview.cn 2005-08-11 22:49:05


BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhuanet) --Premier Wen Jiabao met with King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni here Wednesday.


Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni during their meeting in Beijing, capital of China, August 10, 2005. (Xinhua Photo)
Wen said the China-Cambodia friendship is fostered through efforts of generations of leaders from the two countries and has endured the test of international changes over the past years.

"The two sides have always actively developed friendly relations as good neighbors and achieved a series of substantial results in bilateral cooperation on the basis of peaceful coexistence, which benefits China, Cambodia and our two peoples," Wen said.

Wen stressed that the Chinese government attaches great importance on its good-neighborly friendship with Cambodia and values its special friendship with the Cambodian royal family.

"China is willing to join hands with Cambodia to step up mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas in a bid to bring bilateral relations to a new level," he said.

The China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) relationship has seen rapid development in recent years and China cherishes that very much, Wen said.

"We hope to see a united and strong ASEAN. We hope to make joint efforts with all ASEAN member states to promote regional cooperation and contribute to regional peace and prosperity."

Sihamoni said the leaders and peoples from the two countries have established profound friendship over the past years. His visit to China is aimed at carrying the traditional friendly relations into the future.

Sihamoni expressed the Cambodian people's appreciation for the great achievements gained by the Chinese people and are grateful for China's sincere support and help to them throughout the decades.

He said the current friendly exchanges and cooperation are down-to-earth, mutually beneficial and inspiring.

The Cambodian royal family, parliament, government and people will continue to consolidate the traditional friendship between Cambodia and China and to deepen bilateral exchanges and cooperation in all aspects.

He reiterated Cambodian's firm adherence to the one-China policy and objection to so-called "Taiwan Independence" in any form.

This is Sihamoni's first state visit to China since he took the throne last October. Enditem

People's Daily Online -- Full text of China-Indonesia joint statement

People's Daily Online -- Full text of China-Indonesia joint statement

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UPDATED: 09:20, July 30, 2005
Full text of China-Indonesia joint statement



China and Indonesia issued a joint statement during Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's ongoing state visit to China. The following is the full text of the document:

1.At the invitation of the President of the People's Republic of China H.E. Mr. Hu Jintao, The President of the Republic of Indonesia H.E. Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono paid a state visit to China on 27-30 July 2005. The visit followed President Hu's state visit to Indonesia on 25-26 April 2005 and marked an important milestone in the fifty-five years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

2.The Government, leaders and people of China accorded President Yudhoyono and the Indonesian Delegation warm and cordial reception. It was highlighted the significance of this first ever visit by President Yudhoyono as Head of State of the Republic of Indonesia in furthering the strategic partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Indonesia.

3.President Hu Jintao held bilateral talks with President Yudhoyono during his state visit to China, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council met with him. President Yudhoyono also met with business leaders from the two countries in Beijing and visited the city of Shenzhen.

4.In the bilateral discussion between President Hu and President Yudhoyono, the two leaders expressed satisfaction with the expansion of bilateral relations in all areas since the restoration of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Indonesia on 8 August 1990. The leaders also acknowledged the strong friendship between the two countries and peoples and emphasized the importance of consolidating and strengthening these friendly relations on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, mutual understanding and respect.

5.President Hu and President Yudhoyono stressed the continuous promotion of mutual understanding and support in our commitment to the principles of mutual respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of both countries. China supports the Government of the Republic of Indonesia in its efforts to maintain national unity and territorial integrity. Indonesia reiterates its continuing adherence to the one China policy and its recognition that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing all of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and supports the process of peaceful reunification of China.

6.President Yudhoyono, on behalf of the people of Indonesia, extended his appreciation for the material assistance and moral support given by the Chinese Government and people in the wake of the tsunami and earthquake disaster in Aceh and North Sumatera. Such assistance and support demonstrate the close ties existing between the two countries and peoples. Furthermore, President Yudhoyono welcomed China's continued participation in assisting the reconstruction process of areas affected by the disaster.

7.In the fields of economics and development, President Hu and President Yudhoyono noted that the volume of trade between China and Indonesia has increased steadily in the past few years. At the same time, the two countries need to promote a more attractive and favorable environment for greater trade and investment cooperation as well as open up of mutually beneficial new areas of economic cooperation. The two sides have together signed a number of documents in these fields, efforts have to be stepped up to ensure that they are implemented in a constructive and duly manner. Furthermore, the two sides agreed to explore the potential for the establishment of China-Indonesia investment promotion mechanism which would provide a means to address specific issues pertaining to the promotion of investment in both countries.

8.President Yudhoyono appreciated China's participation in assisting Indonesia's infrastructure development through the provision of grants and concessional loans. President Hu and President Yudhonoyo also noted with satisfaction the current cooperation in the energy sector between the two countries. The two sides stressed that closer people-to-people and business-to-business contacts are conductive to furthering the ties between the two countries and enhancing each other's economic development.

9.In the political and security fields, the two sides were of the view that terrorism continues to present a threat to peace and security in the region and beyond. President Hu and President Yudhoyono stressed on the need to counter, prevent and suppress all forms of terrorist acts in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other international law. The two leaders emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation, particularly in capacity building and technical assistance in combating terrorism and transnational organized crimes as well as in addressing non-traditional security issues as a whole. In addition, both leaders exchanged views on the ways and means to enhance maritime cooperation, particularly with regards to navigation safety and capacity building in this sector.

10. The two leaders are committed to intensify bilateral cooperation in defense and military fields. They agreed that the two countries will work together in developing each other's defense industries as well as in setting up a consultation mechanism for defense and security officials. President Hu and President Yudhoyono both welcomed the signing of the MOU on cooperation in defense technology as a good beginning for greater bilateral cooperation in mutually developing the two countries' defense industries.

11.In the socio-cultural field, President Hu and President Yudhoyono welcomed the signing of the arrangement concerning Chinese language teaching and emphasized the significance of increasing tourism cooperation in strengthening mutual understanding and friendship as well as in promoting greater people-to-people contacts. The two leaders also exchanged views on the possibility of establishing a center for Chinese culture and the teaching of Chinese language in Indonesia.

12.President Hu and President Yudhoyono also exchanged views on regional and international affairs of common concern and stressed the importance of greater China-Indonesia partnership in strengthening multilateralism as well as promoting regional and international peace, stability and economic development.

13.Within the regional framework, President Hu and President Yudhoyono emphasized the need for China and Indonesia to strengthen their cooperation with a view to coping with the challenges facing the region. Within the ASEAN Regional Forum, China and Indonesia agreed to work closely on disaster relief inter alia by co-chairing the fifth and sixth ARF Intersessional Meeting on Disaster Relief (ISM-DR) in 2005 and 2006. On the issue of the East Asian Summit, both leaders are of the view that ASEAN shall remain the main driving force within the EAS. China respects the consensus reached by the ASEAN on the EAS. Indonesia views that a prosperous, active and dynamic China is good for the stability of the region.

14. President Hu and President Yudhoyono highlighted the significance of the Asian-African Summit in Jakarta in April 2005 in enhancing and deepening inter-regional cooperation as well as among developing countries. Both leaders called for the implementation of action plan for the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) adopted during the Asian-African Summit through the development of concrete and feasible programs and initiatives.

15.The two leaders discussed the issue of reform of the United Nations and agreed that in order to ensure that the UN becomes a more democratic, fair and equitable body, reforms should be comprehensive and aimed at strengthening multilateralism and enhancing the UN's efficiency and effectiveness as well as its capacity to deal with new threats and challenges. The UN should also increase inputs in the field of development and facilitate the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Both leaders expressed support for reform of the UN Security Council and stressed that countries should not artificially set a time limit or force a vote on specific reform proposals and instead, should uphold the principle of democracy by seeking the most broadly-based consensus through full consultations.

16.Both Presidents expressed support for the Six-Party Talks process and the commitment of all parties concerned to the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. They also stressed the need for international support in realizing the Road Map towards a final, just and comprehensive settlement to the Middle East situation in accordance with relevant UN Resolutions.

17.At the conclusion of their bilateral discussion, President Hu and President Yudhoyono attended the signing ceremony of the following documents:

a) MOU on Research and Development in Defense Technological Cooperation Between the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia;

b) MOU Between the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China and Aceh and Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency of the Republic of Indonesia on Rebuilding Project in Tsunami-hit Areas Funded by Non-governmental Donations of China;

c) Agreement on Grant Assistance in Relation to Economic and Technical Cooperation Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia;

d) General Loan Agreement of 100 Million USD of Preferential Buyer's Credit from the Government of the People's Republic of China to the Government of the Republic of Indonesia; and

e) Arrangement between the China National Office for Teaching Chinese as Foreign Language of the People's Republic of China and the Directorate General for Primary and Secondary Education of the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Indonesia Concerning Chinese Language Teaching.

The signing of these documents would give substance to the implementation of the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Indonesia and the People's Republic of China.

18. President Yudhoyono expressed his sincere gratitude to President Hu and the Government and people of China for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to him and the Indonesia Delegation during this state visit, which reflects the bonds of long-standing friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries and peoples.