Page 2 - ON BUILDING A HUMAN COMMUNITY WITH A SHARED FUTURE

THE 21ST-CENTURY MARITIME SILK ROAD

development.
We should respect one another’s right to choose independently
our own social system and development path, respect the explorations
and endeavors of each to pursue economic and social development and
improve the lives of its people, and cement our confidence as to one
another’s choices on strategic direction. We should support each other on
respective major issues of concern, and have a firm grasp of the general
direction of China-ASEAN strategic cooperation.
China is ready to negotiate with ASEAN countries the conclusion
of a treaty on good-neighborliness, friendship, and cooperation, to sketch
out together a blueprint for building good-neighborly relations. China
will continue as always to support ASEAN in developing its strength, in
building the ASEAN community, and in playing a central role in regional
cooperation.
Second, we need commitment to mutually beneficial cooperation.
There is a saying in China: “On aspiring to seek benefits, the benefits
aspired to should be benefits for all.” China is ready, on the basis of
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equality and mutual benefit, to open wider to the ASEAN countries and
to see that its own development does more to benefit them. China is
prepared to upgrade the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and will work
to get two-way trade up to US$1 billion by 2020.
China is dedicated to strengthening its connections with the
ASEAN countries. China proposes establishing an Asian Infrastructure
Investment Bank and is ready to support the developing countries of
our region, including the ASEAN member states, in their infrastructural
development initiatives for greater connectivity.
Southeast Asia has, since ancient times, been an important hub
along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. China wishes to strengthen
maritime cooperation with the ASEAN countries, and to put to work
the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund set up by the Chinese
government to develop maritime partnership in a joint effort to build a
21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. China is open to expanding pragmatic
cooperation in every field with the ASEAN countries, to meet each
other’s needs and complement each other’s strengths, to unite with
ASEAN countries to enjoy opportunities together and meet challenges
together in the interest of common development and prosperity.

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