Singapore welcomes China's growth and sees it as a great
opportunity for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),
Asia and the whole world, Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong
said in Singapore on Tuesday.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on the eve of his
official visit to China, Goh stressed the importance of China's
growth, saying that China's phenomenal growth of an average of
about 8.5 percent for the past 10 years is a key driving force of
the regional economy.
Describing China as both a huge investment destination and
market for overseas enterprises, Goh said that China, with its
export industries relying on materials and components supplied from
other Asian countries, has become a locomotive for the rest of East
Asia.
At the same time, China's growing domestic market is fueling
imports from other countries and opening up opportunities for
foreign investors, Goh said.
Goh also emphasized that the emergence of China has reshaped the
political and economic landscape of the Asian-Pacific region and
the world.
The increasing integration of China into global markets and its
participation in regional and international forum are positive
developments, he added.
Goh said China's rapid economic development since embarking on
its reform and opening up drive 27 years ago is at the same time a
great boon for its own people and a great inspiration for other
countries to re-examine their own growth strategy.
"It has inspired hitherto closed countries to open up and embark
on the path of reform. The growth of China will lift the poorer
Asian countries to middle income status, provided they too follow
an open and constructive economic strategy," he said.
Goh noted that China's rise adds new dynamism and vitality to
Asia and the world.
As for Sino-ASEAN relations, he said that the strengthening of
ASEAN's relations with China is win-win for all, and it will
contribute to a peaceful, prosperous and vibrant Asia.
Saying that China has become an important engine of growth for
ASEAN, he detailed that in 2005, China's total trade volume reached
US$1.42 trillion, and more than half of the trade was with
Asia.
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China is now one of the largest trading partners for a growing
number of ASEAN economies such as Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and
Vietnam, and these countries would continue to benefit from China's
growth, he noted.
He also expressed hopes for an early clinching of the service
and investment agreements between ASEAN and China, which he says
will greatly facilitate the deepening of business linkages and
people-to-people exchanges between ASEAN and China.
Goh noted that in strategic and security issues, ASEAN and China
have stepped up dialogue to enhance mutual understanding and trust.
Working together, ASEAN and China can contribute much towards the
preservation of peace and stability in a broader region, Goh
said.
He added that 2006 marks the 15th anniversary of ASEAN-China
dialogue relations, which is an important milestone, marking the
maturing of the relationship.
With regard to Sino-Singapore ties, he said that relations
between the two countries are "excellent".
"Although it has only been 16 years since we two countries
established diplomatic ties, bilateral ties have matured and
flourished. We have extensive interactions at various levels, and
our relationship is multi-faceted," Goh said.
He also proposed that China and Singapore cooperate in maritime
security as both countries are heavily dependent on international
trade.
Talking about the purpose of his coming visit to China, Goh said
that his visit is to keep up contact with Chinese leaders and to
see China's development since his last visit in 2003.
Goh believed that it is necessary for both sides to continue
exchanges of high-level visits as new areas of cooperation can be
explored through such exchanges.
Goh will leave for China on Wednesday for a seven-day official
visit at the invitation of the Chinese government.
(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2006)
