Li's written interview with media from ASEAN countries
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E-mail Xinhua, October 8, 2013
Question: China-ASEAN relations have experienced a "golden decade". What do you think are the focus and growth areas for this relationship in the future?
Answer: Reviewing past development and looking into the future, we can see that China-ASEAN relationship now stands at a new historical starting point. We need to build on the achievements of the "golden decade", explore new strategic breakthroughs, and jointly build a closer China-ASEAN community of common destiny. To this end, we will propose a framework for wide-ranging, deep and high-level cooperation between China and ASEAN in the next decade so as to take our cooperation to a new height and bring more benefits to people in this region.
To achieve the goals under this framework of cooperation, I believe we need to focus our efforts in the following areas:
First, we need to remain committed to building good-neighborly relations. China is ready to actively discuss with ASEAN countries the signing of a treaty on good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation to consolidate the political foundation for our strategic mutual trust.
Second, we need to strengthen exchange and cooperation in the security field. We need to improve the mechanism of ASEAN-China defense ministers' meeting and deepen cooperation in disaster prevention and relief, cyber security, combating transnational crimes, joint law enforcement and other non-traditional security fields.
Third, we need to build an "upgraded version" of the China-ASEAN FTA. We need to take concrete steps in trade in goods, trade in services, investment cooperation and other areas to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation and achieve the goal of one trillion US dollars of two-way trade by 2020.
Fourth, we need to push forward connectivity and step up the linkage between "software" and "hardware". China proposes to establish an Asian infrastructure investment bank and meet, on a priority basis, some ASEAN countries' need for financial support in infrastructure building.
Fifth, we need to strengthen financial cooperation to jointly guard against new risks. We need to increase the size and scope of bilateral currency swap, expand the pilot program of settling cross-border trade with local currencies and enhance cooperation on the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization.
Sixth, we need to build a maritime cooperation partnership, intensify practical cooperation on marine economy, especially fishery, and in other areas such as maritime connectivity, marine environment protection and scientific research, and maritime search and rescue, and work together to build the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st century.
Seventh, we need to boost cultural exchanges. The two sides should jointly formulate the China-ASEAN Cultural Cooperation Action Plan to facilitate exchanges in culture and education, and between youth, think tanks and the media.
In a few days, I will attend the East Asia Leaders' meetings in Brunei. It will be my first visit to ASEAN countries as the Chinese Premier. I look forward to exchanging views with leaders of other participating countries on issues of common interest and, in particular, to hearing their views on the above-mentioned seven proposals. Together, we will build new consensus on elevating the China-ASEAN strategic partnership.
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