Premier Zhu Rongji said yesterday that China backs the strengthening of cooperation in Asia.

Zhu made his remarks at the opening session of this year's annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia, which started yesterday in Boao.

More than 2,000 people from 48 countries and regions participated in the two-day conference themed "New Century, New Challenge, A New Asia: Economic Development and Co-operation."

Zhu suggested that economic co-operation should be the starting point for co-operation in all fields in Asia.

The premier said co-operation in trade, transportation, agriculture, information technology and energy resources should be given priority.

Zhu urged the expansion of co-operation on the basis of the current channels, saying that sub-regional co-operation should be encouraged to lay a foundation for Pan-Asia co-operation.

Zhu said further development in bilateral co-operation will enhance the basis of regional co-operation.

The premier also said it must be a two-way street.

The call for intensifying co-operation in Asia has simmered since the 1997 Asian financial crisis that crippled economies in many Asian countries. But due to the diversity of countries across Asia, experts said sub-regional co-operation should be the first step towards continental co-operation.

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have already embarked on efforts to build a free-trade zone in the next decade.

The economies of China and ASEAN complement each other, and reciprocal co-operation can be conducted in areas such as agricultural produce, Zhu said.

Zhu also said the establishment of the China-ASEAN free trade zone will push the economic development of China and ASEAN countries.

He also voiced China's support for co-operation in other regions in Asia, in addition to that in East Asia.

Zhu's remarks were echoed by his counterparts from Thailand, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

"For so long, the Asian economies have concentrated more on fighting each other in price wars and less on forging Asian unity," Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said.

"We must learn to rely on each other and reinforce both intra and inter-Asian trade. We must stand up and be counted as one in order to turn the world trade regulatory system into a fair regime for all," he said.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stressed the need for reform and co-operation and conveying Asia's message to the world.

ROK Prime Minister Lee Han-dong called for regional co-operation in trade, investment, culture, education and techniques as well as joint efforts to eliminate poverty and ensure stability in the regional financial and exchange markets.

When answering an audience member's question about China's efforts to protect the environment, Zhu said China has put in an unprecedented amount of funds and efforts into environmental protection and to achieve sustainable development.

He cited the reduction of the country's carbon dioxide emissions, saying China will follow the Kyoto Protocol to further reduce the gas.

"China will be responsible not only for itself, but also the world," Zhu said.

(China Daily April 13, 2002)