China Calls For Asian Community of Shared Future

Delegates from 34 member countries of Asia Co-operation Dialogue (ACD) gathered in Bangkok to talk about Asian co-operation, development and integration during the 2nd ACD summit held here on Monday. China called for an Asian community of shared future for the continent.

“It is time for us to vigorously build an Asian community of shared future driven by the two wheels of co-operation and dialogue,” said Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao at the summit, under the theme “one Asia, Diverse Strength.” Mr Li said the Asian community of shared future is about facilitating common development, promoting common interests, enhancing common security and taking on common responsibilities. According to him, to build the Asian community of shared future, Asian countries need to enhance unity and co-ordination to maintain stability in the continent, strengthen connectivity to deepen integration and promote beneficial co-operation to boost development. “China supports a multitiered Pan-Asian connectivity network to facilitate comprehensive integration of infrastructure in Asia,” Li said. In the opening ceremony of the summit, Prayut Chan-o-cha, prime minister of the host country Thailand, highlighted the need for countries to realise the Vision 2030, to try to achieve an “Asian Community”. Prayut also mentioned six pillars of co-operation in his speech, namely interrelation of food, energy and water security, connectivity, science technology and innovation, education and human resource development, tourism and culture and alternative approaches to sustainable development, which, he said, could be promoted together to create inclusiveness that will move Asia towards sustainable growth. Mr Li said China is willing to serve as the prime mover in interrelation of Food, Water and Energy Security. The second ACD summit adopted three outcome documents, namely Bangkok Declaration, the Vision for Asia Cooperation 2030, and ACD statement on reigniting growth for partnership for connectivity. According the the Thai ministry of foreign affairs, key elements of the Vision for Asia Co-operation 2030 are developing the ACD regional connectivity, regrouping areas of cooperation into the six pillars above, establishing partnership with private sector, promoting academic cooperation further and further studying the proposal to establish Permanent ACD Secretariat to facilitate activities under the six pillars. Mr Li also expressed China’s support for the ACD in deepening practical cooperation and the establishment of a permanent secretariat of the ACD Secretariat. The first summit was held in 2012 in Kuwait. The 3rd Summit will be held in Iran in 2018.