Database on Basic Documents of Japan-ASEAN Relations

Department of Advanced Social and International Studies, University of Tokyo

JOINT DECLARATION OF THE HEADS OF STATE/GOVERNMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS AND THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY

1. We, the Heads of State/Government of the Member Countries of ASEAN and the People's Republic of China have reviewed the development of bilateral relationship in recent years. We agree that since the issuance of the Joint Statement of the Meeting of the Heads of State/Government of the Member Countries of ASEAN and the President of the People's Republic of China in 1997, the relationship between ASEAN and China has seen rapid, comprehensive and in-depth growth and ASEAN and China have become important partners of cooperation.

a. Politically, our two sides respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and their independent choice of development path. Guided by the spirit of the Joint Statement of the Meeting of the Heads of State/Government of the Member States of ASEAN and the President of the People’s Republic of China in 1997, China has signed separately with the ten ASEAN countries political documents aimed at development of bilateral relations in the 21st century. In October 2003, China acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, which demonstrated that the political trust between the two sides notably enhanced.

b. Economically, the two sides have strengthened contacts and exchanges for mutually complementary and beneficial cooperation. Cooperation in the five priority areas: agriculture, information and telecommunications, human resources development, two-way investment and the Mekong River Basin development, has made steady progress. In 2002, the two sides signed the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between ASEAN and China, launched the process towards an ASEAN-China Free Trade Area and moved bilateral economic cooperation towards greater scope and depth.

c. In security, ASEAN and China have worked to actively implement the concept of enhancing mutual trust through dialogue, resolving disputes peacefully through negotiations and realizing regional security through cooperation. With a view to securing peace and stability in South China Sea, the two sides signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and agreed to work on the basis of consensus towards the eventual attainment of this objective. The two sides have issued the Joint Statement on Cooperation in the Field of Non-Traditional Security Issues, under which active cooperation on transnational issues has been conducted, opening new areas of security cooperation.

d. In regional and international affairs, ASEAN and China have engaged in productive cooperation. The two sides have joined hands in promoting the sound development of the ASEAN Plus Three cooperation, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) and other regional and trans-regional cooperation mechanisms. The two sides have good communication and cooperation on issues of mutual interest and concern and have rendered each other support and cooperation in the United Nations, World Trade Organization, and other international organizations with mutual understanding.

2. We are pleased with the depth and scope of the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides. We agree that ASEAN-China relations have seen important and positive developments, extensive and substantive cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. We highlight the strategic importance of ASEAN-China relations to peace, development and cooperation in our region and recognize the positive contribution of such relations to world peace and development.

3. In today’s world that is undergoing complex and profound changes, the enhanced cooperation between ASEAN and China, as two important partners in the Asia-Pacific region, will serve the immediate and long-term interests of both sides and is conducive to peace and prosperity in the region. To this end, we agree that ASEAN and China establish "a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity".

4. We declare that the purpose of the establishment of a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity is to foster friendly relations, mutually beneficial cooperation and good neighbourliness between ASEAN and China by deepening and expanding ASEAN-China cooperative relations in a comprehensive manner in the 21st century, thereby contributing further to the region’s long-term peace, development and cooperation. This strategic partnership is non-aligned, non-military, and non-exclusive, and does not prevent the participants from developing their all-directional ties of friendship and cooperation with others.

5. We reiterate that ASEAN-China cooperation will continue to take the UN Charter, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and other universally recognized norms governing international relations as its guidance, and the Joint Statement of the Meeting of the Heads of State/Government of the Member States of ASEAN and the People’s Republic of China in 1997 and other cooperation documents the two sides have signed in various fields as its basis.

6. We agree that ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity is a comprehensive and forward-looking cooperation focusing on politics, economy, social affairs, security and international and regional affairs. To this end, we agree to:

1. Political Cooperation

a. Strengthen high-level exchanges and contacts, consolidate and deepen understanding and friendship among the peoples of ASEAN and China and give fuller and more effective play to the role of dialogue and consultation mechanism at different levels.

b. Proceed from the new starting point of China’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia to further enhance mutual trust and lay a solid foundation for bilateral relations.

c. Continue consultation on China’s intention to accede to the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone.

2. Economic Cooperation

a. Give full play to the respective strength of their markets and maintain the rapidly growing momentum of their economic relations and trade in order to achieve the goal of US$100 billion of two-way annual trade by 2005.

b. Speed up talks on ASEAN-China FTA, which has become a key pillar in ASEAN-China economic cooperation, so as to ensure its smooth establishment by 2010, and hereby assist ASEAN’ s new members (CLMV) to effectively participate in and benefit from the ASEAN-China FTA.

c. Deepen cooperation in key areas, such as agriculture, information and telecommunications, human resources development, two-way investment and the Mekong River Basin development, and earnestly implement long and medium-term cooperation programmes.

d. Support each other’s endeavour for economic growth and development. China undertakes to strongly support ASEAN’s drive in narrowing down the development gap and to assist the new members in the exercise. To this end, China shall increase its input in the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and support cooperation at sub-regional level, including the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), West-East Corridor (WEC), and the Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam Growth Triangle. ASEAN is prepared to participate in China’s western region development.

3. Social Cooperation

a. Implement the consensus of the Special ASEAN-China Leaders’ Meeting on SARS, which was held in April 2003, such as strengthening cooperation in the public health sector. A 10+1 special fund for health cooperation will be set up and the 10+1 Health Ministers meeting mechanism will be launched.

b. Further activate exchanges in science and technology, environment, education, and culture as well as personnel exchange, and improve cooperation mechanisms in these areas. Efforts will also be made to enhance tourism cooperation and deepen understanding and friendship between the peoples of their countries.

c. Attach importance to and strengthen youth exchanges and cooperation and establish a 10+1 Youth Ministers meeting mechanism to broaden the base for everlasting friendship.

4. Security Cooperation

a. Expedite the implementation of the Joint Statement on Cooperation in the Field of Non-Traditional Security Issues and actively expand and deepen cooperation in such areas.

b. Hold, when appropriate, ASEAN-China security-related dialogue to enhance mutual understanding and promote peace and security in the region.

c. Implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, discuss and plan the way, areas and projects of follow-up actions.

5. Regional and International Cooperation

a. Cooperate on major regional and international issues for the maintenance of regional peace and stability, while maintaining the authority and central role of the UN.

b. Maintain close coordination and cooperation under the framework of ARF and promote its healthy development. China supports ASEAN’s role as the primary driving force of the ARF and its commitment to move the overlapping stages of ARF at a pace comfortable to all.

c. Make the ASEAN Plus Three mechanism as the main channel to move forward cooperation and regional economic integration in East Asia and Asia as a whole so as to promote sustainable development and common prosperity there.

d. Further promote ACD, APEC, ASEM, FEALAC and other regional and trans-regional cooperation schemes.

e. Work for free and fair trade worldwide as well as a well-balanced development of economic globalization. China strongly supports an early WTO membership for Lao PDR and Viet Nam.

f. Respect the diversity in the Asia Pacific, particularly the differences in development path, security concern, values, culture and traditions of the countries in the region. Work jointly to create an environment of tolerance and openness for cooperation and development in the region.

g. Have a periodic review of the present Joint Declaration when necessary, taking into due consideration the dynamic development in the region and in the world.

Done on the Eighth Day of October in the Year Two Thousand and Three in Bali, Indonesia.