Big-power contest ‘unwelcome’
Xi envisages better roadmap for SE Asia
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against making the Asia-Pacific region an “arena for a big-power contest” and made a commitment that China will jointly promote development to bring cooperation in the region to new heights.
Mr Xi conveyed his thoughts in a written speech released on the eve of the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit that kicks off today in Bangkok. His speech was distributed for the Apec CEO Summit yesterday.
He is among more than a dozen world leaders to descend on Bangkok, for the last of the three major summits this month that have seen discussions range from climate change to the war in Ukraine and rising food and energy prices.
Mr Xi is expected to have several more face-to-face meetings with leaders including Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern.
There will be at least one notable absence from the Bangkok meetings as US President Joe Biden heads back to the White House for his granddaughter’s wedding on Saturday. He will be represented by Vice President Kamala Harris at Apec. Ms Harris was expected to arrive late yesterday.
The Asia-Pacific region, especially its small and medium-sized economies, has been able to embark on a fast track towards modernisation and create an economic miracle after being freed from the shadow of the Cold War, Mr Xi said in his speech.
“The Asia-Pacific is no one’s backyard and should not become an arena for [a] big-power contest,” Mr Xi said. “No attempt to wage a new Cold War will ever be allowed by the people or by our times.”
Any attempt to disrupt or dismantle the industrial and supply chains formed in the Asia-Pacific over the years will only lead Apec to a dead-end, Mr Xi said.
He said members should follow the path of solidarity. “The Asia-Pacific miracle has been created by all of us working hand-in-hand and overcoming difficulties and obstacles.
“Over the years, we in the AsiaPacific have stayed together as one big family,” he said.
“We have met challenges head-on in solidarity, defused various risks and navigated the surging tides of the global economy.
“Through cooperation, we have forged a sense of community, which has laid a solid foundation for steady progress,’’ he added.
Mr Xi said the region has entered a crucial stage of post-Covid recovery. Its economies are confronted with disrupted supply chains, strained food and energy supplies, growing inflationary pressure and other difficulties.
“We should strengthen cooperation, support and help each other, and enable the Asia-Pacific to be a leader in boosting global economic recovery,” he said.
Facing these new developments, Mr Xi said all Asia-Pacific countries should draw on past experiences and lessons, respond to the challenges of the times and advance regional economic integration to break new ground in development and build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.
He called for higher-level openingup and deeper cooperation within the Apec framework, a stronger push for a regional free trade area, and the implementation of the Putrajaya Vision, adopted at the 27th Apec summit in Malaysia in 2020.
“We need to engage fully and deeply in the reform of the World Trade Organization, achieve better alignment among the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, and build an open Asia-Pacific economy,” Mr Xi added.
Meanwhile, Thailand is seeking to push for the bio-circular-green (BCG) economic model to promote sustainable development in the region.
All 14 leaders and six representatives of Apec member countries arrived in the kingdom yesterday to attend the two-day summit.
The special guests from two nonmember countries are Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and French President Emmanuel Macron.
They have been invited to attend to discuss ways to promote trade and investment between Apec countries and trading partners outside the region.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Apec leaders and delegates and the special guests will today attend the summit’s first session which focuses on balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
In the evening, Apec leaders, representatives, the special guests and their spouses will be granted an audience with Their Majesties the King and Queen in the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall at the Grand Palace.
Apec leaders will attend the second session tomorrow and Gen Prayut will hold a press conference afterwards.
Chile is looking for ways to promote closer ties with Thailand in terms of culture and education, as well as boost trade, the country’s president said in Bangkok yesterday.
Speaking at Chulalongkorn University on the topic of “Chile, Latin America and Asia Relations: Future Prospects” held in conjunction with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font said his country only has a rudimentary grasp of Thai culture and is keen to foster deeper relations.
“We do not know much about Thailand. I know that Thailand has around 70 million people. The only thing we know is pad thai or what happened in the 2004 tsunami. So, the first thing to strengthen our relationship is learning more about the [respective] culture of the two countries,” he said. He said he was glad to learn that Chile’s ambassador to Thailand will introduce literature and poems translated into Thai so people here can also learn more about Chilean culture. He suggested the two sides should seek more cultural and education agreements, such as launching student, teacher or cultural exchange programmes. “This is another way to strengthen our partnerships, not just only by trade or commerce. We are enriched with natural resources such as copper, lithium and manganese. We can become a hub or door for Asian countries to explore more opportunities in Latin and South America,” he said.
“We want to go deeper on trade, but we want to focus on other things as well. We would like to know what you think about democracy or Thai people’s lives. I would like to invite Thai students and teachers to our country,” he added.
He also highlighted student movements that were important for social change and democracy. As a former student activist, he suggested the younger generation should not take democracy for granted.
“Democracy is not about voting every four or five years. It is about believing that your opinion and your organisation are actually making a difference.”