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| http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/significant-move-forward/1466732.html |
(From left) Ho Ching, wife of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
Hsien Loong (2nd-L), Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng
Liyuan pose for a group photo before the dinner hosted by Xi for APEC
leaders on Nov 10, 2014. (Photo: AP/Ng Han Guan)
BEIJING: The Beijing-backed Free Trade Area of the
Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) is a long-term ideal, and not a Chinese idea. But
China has done the APEC member economies a favour by pushing forward the
FTAAP process, said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as he met
the media on Tuesday (Nov 11), the last day of his China visit.
From lighting up the night sky with a spectacular fireworks display to pulling out all stops to clean up the air, Beijing has done all it can to ensure that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting is a success.
"It was a good agenda. We talked about the FTAAP, and we have agreed to launch a study on the issues related to it, which is a very significant move forward.," said Mr Lee.
On the Beijing-backed FTAAP, Mr Lee said it is not just beneficial to China, but also to other countries. When established, it would be one of the largest free trade areas in the world.
Some see the proposal as a way to divert attention from the more comprehensive US-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership plan being negotiated by 12 countries, excluding China.
"The FTAAP is not a Chinese idea. This is an idea which was there at the beginning. It was the reason we created APEC back in 1989," Mr Lee noted. "But it was a long-term ideal. You cannot get there in one jump. I think the time is right for us to take it another step forward."
Mr Lee also said the rise of China will be a major factor in the landscape of not just Asia, but also the world. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank which China proposed is one way to show that it can be helpful, and at the same time, extend its influence and soft power.
"China is growing and they will continue to grow with difficulties and ups and downs,” he said. “But as long as they make progress on the reforms and I think they are absolutely serious about working at them, then I think their reforms will enable them to grow rapidly for quite a long time to come."
From lighting up the night sky with a spectacular fireworks display to pulling out all stops to clean up the air, Beijing has done all it can to ensure that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting is a success.
"It was a good agenda. We talked about the FTAAP, and we have agreed to launch a study on the issues related to it, which is a very significant move forward.," said Mr Lee.
On the Beijing-backed FTAAP, Mr Lee said it is not just beneficial to China, but also to other countries. When established, it would be one of the largest free trade areas in the world.
Some see the proposal as a way to divert attention from the more comprehensive US-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership plan being negotiated by 12 countries, excluding China.
"The FTAAP is not a Chinese idea. This is an idea which was there at the beginning. It was the reason we created APEC back in 1989," Mr Lee noted. "But it was a long-term ideal. You cannot get there in one jump. I think the time is right for us to take it another step forward."
Mr Lee also said the rise of China will be a major factor in the landscape of not just Asia, but also the world. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank which China proposed is one way to show that it can be helpful, and at the same time, extend its influence and soft power.
"China is growing and they will continue to grow with difficulties and ups and downs,” he said. “But as long as they make progress on the reforms and I think they are absolutely serious about working at them, then I think their reforms will enable them to grow rapidly for quite a long time to come."
After China, Mr Lee is
heading to Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar where he will attend the 25th
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit and related
summits. The leaders of China, Japan and the United States are also
slated to be there. While there, the leaders will be exchanging views on
a range of regional and international issues. - CNA/xy
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